2021 Ford F-150 Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 29 NHTSA recalls and 1,299 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
F
10/100
Very High Reported Activity — 2021 Ford F-150
The 2021 Ford F-150 shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.
Own or buying a 2021 Ford F-150?
Check your specific VIN free for recalls and specs. Full vehicle history report: one-time $4.99, no subscription, no auto-renewal.
29
NHTSA Recalls
29 recalls on record
1,299
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
18
Crash Reports
7 fire reports
⚠️
NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Ford F-150 (29)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Ford dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Power Train: Driveline: Driveshaft
A fractured driveshaft can cause a loss of drive power, or a loss of vehicle control if the driveshaft contacts the ground. Additionally, unintended movement could occur while parked if the parking brake is not engaged. Any of these scenarios…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the driveshaft as necessary, and properly attach the underbody insulators, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 4, 2022. Owners may contact Ford…
🔧 Visibility: Windshield: Critical Fasteners
In the event of a crash, if the windshield separates from the vehicle, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove and reinstall the windshield, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's…
🔧 Air Bags: Sensor: Side Impact
An air bag that does not deploy properly during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver and passenger front door side impact sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 3, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…
🔧 Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Reduced braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the electronic brake booster assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 28, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number…
🔧 Seat Belts: Front: Webbing
A misrouted seatbelt may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Owners are advised to perform a preliminary self-inspection of the front seatbelts. If the passenger-side seatbelt fails inspection, owners should not use the passenger seat until the repair is performed….
🔧 Power Train: Driveline: Driveshaft
Driveshaft separation may result in a sudden loss of drive power, or unintended vehicle movement if the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the driveshaft, and replace it if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 15, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332….
🔧 Steering: Gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)
Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised to not drive their vehicles until the repair is complete. Vehicles will be towed in for service, and dealers will remove and replace the steering gear, free…
🔧 Visibility: Windshield Wiper/Washer: Motor
Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front windshield wiper motor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 22, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for…
🔧 Electrical System: Integrated Trailer Brake Control
Loss of trailer brake functionality could result in extended stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the integrated trailer brake control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's…
🔧 Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
An unexpected shift into neutral will cause a loss of drive power and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 12, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's…
Showing 10 of 29 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →
💬
Most Common Problems — 2021 Ford F-150
Based on 1,299 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
📊
Ford F-150 — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.
→ Recently checked Ford F-150 VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.
→ Decode a Ford VIN — free Ford VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.
⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2016, 2018 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2024, 2025 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
❓
Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Ford F-150
Is the 2021 Ford F-150 reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Ford F-150 has 29 recall campaigns and 1,299 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2021 Ford F-150 have?
The 2021 Ford F-150 has 29 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ford F-150?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Ford F-150 are: Power Train, Electrical System, Exterior Lighting, Unknown Or Other. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2021 Ford F-150 safe to buy?
The 2021 Ford F-150 has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 29 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Ford F-150 should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Ford F-150 are: 2024, 2025. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2016, 2018.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update.
For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls.