2021 Ford F-150 complaints

Part DG9Z13A018E (Ambient Light Sensor) fails to properly read Daylight during warm months. Inverted value (reading of VERY DARK) persists for at least 10 minutes. Appears to be temperature dependent; meaning, the temperature of the sensor/dash/housing is very hot and skewing the reading. Instrument panel dim. 12" screen dim. Reverse image (parking assist) dim as 12" screen is dim. When occurs, can be disabled by turning auto-headlights to OFF position. When cycled back to AUTOMATIC, condition reasserts and dims both the cluster and screen. Issue has been verified at dealership since 2023. Cannot replicate issue when stored indoors, raining, overcast, cold, etc. Requires full sun and warm day. Vehicle cannot be spared for additional diagnostics without rental/loaner provision. Will ask to attempt to replicate during upcoming recall maintenance and other TSB/SSM diagnostics to correct lingering OTA update/software issues that cause low state of charge conditions.

Consistent issues with the 10 speed transmission. There a delay in shifting from 1st to 2nd gear then slams into gear causing a jerky acceleration of speed. Also constant clunking throughout the gears. Extremely flawed adaptive learning system for their 10 speed automatic transmission.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V509000 (Parking Brake). The contact called the local dealer on several occasions to have the recall repair performed and was informed that the vehicle needed to be inspected before the part could be ordered to perform the recall repair. The contact was also informed that the vehicle needed to remain with the dealer, and that a loaner vehicle would not be provided. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that the dealer information was incorrect, and that parts for the repair are available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the dealer was the nearest dealer and that calling another dealer would be an inconvenience. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V635000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while attempting to complete a turn, the steering wheel seized, with the "Steering Assist Fault Detected" message displayed. The vehicle was restarted and returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. The power steering warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V407000 (Steering), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 19,000.

Trucks been in to Ford for repairs 38 times for force motor shuts down while driving. Ford wasn’t able to duplicate so they kept blowing me off. Finally morries of Okemos actually drove truck 45 minutes like I requested because it only shuts down after truck warms up. They have got it to finally shut down and have realized the panic of not being able to start back up until it’s in park and how dangerous it is to be driving 70 on highway and if you break it does force motor shut down. Ford refuses buy back and vehicles not safe to drive. They still have no answers. At this point I’ve went 245 days without a vehicle while being in and out of shop. Mine isn’t the only one out there. There telling people if they can’t duplicate when they drive it they can’t fix it. Problem is these dealerships aren’t driving consecutive enough to fix it. Thankfully mirrors did thinking I was crazy and dealership says they have never seen this actually happen. Just from talking I know several people with same issue.

Transmission slipping when accelerating from complete stop and through 4th gear

Failure to remedy engine valve recall. Was informed that a remedy would be ready by Q1 of 2025. That deadline has passed and nobody at Ford has any information.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that on several occasions, the vehicle failed to start up. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred after the vehicle had not been driven for several days. The contact stated that the battery had been replaced several times; however, the failure returned shortly after the battery replacement. Upon investigation, the contact suspected that the failure may be caused by a parasitic drain inside the vehicle, which would run the battery even while the vehicle was turned off. The contact stated that recently,y there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the engine relay. The vehicle was taken to a dealer however, the dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V635000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Had ac on on the way out of town when the air from the vents smelled like mold and mildew and the smell is not healthy for any human beings and the ac drain has no elbow on it witch is the cause of water getting back into the system the smell made me sick and called ford and was told I would have to pay for it since it was pass 3 years truck has 29k miles on it should not be making that smell at so little miles it is a health Hazzard

Still no remedy from Ford regarding NHTSA Recall Number 23V896. They had stated the resolution would be in place by Q1 2025, and I have still not received any documentation with the fix. They already pushed it back once and looks like they are doing it again as I have waited nearly 2.5 years for a fix since the first bolt broke. This vehicle is not dependable and has no resale value due to this recall not being resolved. Thank you

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after attaching a trailer to the vehicle, the brakes were inoperable while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that the trailer not connected message was displayed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V193000 (Electrical System) and 25V132000 (Electrical System); however, the VIN was not included. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 57,425.

On Saturday (April 19th), I looked at my rear tire, passenger side, and noticed a bolt inside my hub. After seeing that I parked my vehicle. This morning I called Al Packer Ford East, told them I had this issue and know its a recall, the lady told me I needed to drive my vehicle in for them to be serviced, when I told her it was unsafe, she well that not my problem.

Due to a defective door (cheap plastic pin), the check engine light comes on with associated warnings on the fuel door not being shut. It is shut but not locked due to the defective pin (I believe plastic) that interacts with the warning light and warning message.

I pulled out of my driveway and the truck rapidly downshifted from 5th to second gear upon coming to a stop sign and threw my wife and I up in our seats and me into the steering wheel. . Then upon accelerating to come into the highway the truck RPM went way up but the truck didn’t accelerate and then it slammed into gear and took off. This happened on multiple occasions before I could get it into service.

Sometimes goes into neutral when accelerating. In a couple seconds, will then find a gear. From a dead stop, will sometimes shift to tenth gear, making it seem like the transmission is in neutral. Hard shift from 1st to 3rd.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the tailgate opened unexpectedly. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the tailgate unintendedly opened and closed independently. The vehicle was taken to a dealer and was diagnosed with a fault in the tailgate switch. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

Windshield wiper motor failure during a heavy rain driving down [XXX] at night with children in truck on the way to a soccer tournament in Tulsa Oklahoma. Had new wiper motor replaced at dealership due to failure. No symptoms or warning prior to the failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly decelerated and could only be driven at an excessively slow speed. The traction control, brakes, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to Kings Auto, where it was diagnosed that the ABS pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The mechanic related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V533000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

The leaf spring on the rear driver side is not lined up and off centered. Other trucks of this model year have also been reported on numerous forums.

Multiple times now while driving at low speed and usually making a right hand turn, the throttle becomes totally unresponsible to driver input. Pressing the throttle does not increase ICE rpm and does not accelerate the vehicle. This has occured while entering active roadways and has created a dangerous situation multiple times. Someone will be injured with these vehicles, it is only a matter of time if this failure to accelerate issue is not recalled and fixed. The date below is only the last incident. I now have over 120K miles and it has done this well over 50 times.

Once transmission gets to operating temperature it shifts funny between 8 9 &10, and when downshifting 7,6 and 5. It's really jerky when downshifting and goes into a kind of neutral on the highway when shifting into 10th

When driving the truck slips out of gear, most often when coasting at low speed, on at least 3 occasions while waiting for oncoming traffic to clear so I can make left turn across oncoming traffic.I ease forward and when coast is clear i hit the accelerator and the engine Revs up but truck does not accelerate until after I let off of the gas pedal and truck RPM go down and I press on gas again. The truck jerks and then the Transmission Grabs. Also when I'm driving and I Switch from normal mode to sport mode the truck says this option is not available and a little wrench icon shows up on the dash, this happened the first week I when purchased the truck, I took it back to the dealership I bought it from and they solved it. But now this(wrench warning) issue has started occur again and I get a message in my fordpass app. If piwertrain malfunction see dealer. When I take it to a Ford dealer they say that they can't reproduce the problem so in their eyes there is no issue, and a week later light comes back on, so I park the truck and make apartment with dealership but the next morning when I get in and start the truck the issue is gone the service power train light goes away. It happens at least 2 times a month lately, and I can't afford to pay the Ford Dealers $400.00 again just to tell me that they can't recreate the issue. Also my recall 23v896 has yet to be addressed and I think this(Powertrain)issue has something to do with it, im hearing the sound that the recall warns about

Ford refuses / is unable to resolve Safety Recall 23S65/23V896. Ford has stated solution will be available by 1st quarter 2025. It is now April 12, 2025 and Ford reports no solution date. Recall 23S65/23V896 is a Safety recall. Ford's description: Safety Risk This may initially result in a clicking noise as the bolt becomes loose and a rattle noise from the wheel cap if the bolt breaks. Vehicles with damaged axle hub splines may roll in park without the parking brake applied, or, alternatively, lose drive power, both of which may increase the risk of injury or a crash.

Power steering assist randomly stops working. has been going on for a while. The fault clears by stopping, shutting off the truck and restarting it. last time it occurred 05APR2025, it would not clear. Had to drive to dealer without power assist.

The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle turned off on several occasions, the message "Parking Brake Fault" was displayed. The contact stated that each time the vehicle was started, the message was no longer displayed. Additionally, the contact stated that on another occasion, the windshield wipers stopped midway and kicked back. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

The windshield wipers stop working after 1 wipe

The plastic clips that hold the keypad on the driver’s side door to the truck have failed allowing access to the trucks wiring and potentially gaining entry to the truck. Concerned with break-ins

The bolt on the recall has completely broke. we need a safe vehicle to drive. as stated in recall if continue to drive with broken part it may result in a crash. Manufacturer Recall Number23S65 NHTSA Recall Number23V896

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V635000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. An unknown local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

I was driving to in the morning and my entire rear window randomly shattered and glass flew everywhere in my truck and on me in the drivers seat.

Ford stated a solution to this would be available Q1 2025, but has not provided one. They had already pushed this back once before. THE WHEEL END HUB BOLT IN THE REAR AXLE MAY BECOME LOOSE OR BREAK. CONTINUED DRIVING WITH A BROKEN BOLT MAY LEAD TO WEAR WITHIN THE AXLE AND DAMAGE THE AXLE HUB SPLINES. THIS MAY INITIALLY RESULT IN A CLICKING NOISE AS THE BOLT BECOMES LOOSE AND A RATTLE NOISE FROM THE WHEEL CAP IF THE BOLT BREAKS. VEHICLES WITH DAMAGED AXLE HUB SPLINES MAY ROLL IN PARK WITHOUT THE PARKING BRAKE APPLIED, OR, ALTERNATIVELY, LOSE DRIVE POWER, BOTH OF WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY OR A CRASH.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle made an abnormal knocking sound. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing erratic transmission shifts and was making an abnormal knocking sound while driving. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the cause of the abnormal knocking sound could not be determined; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where an unknown diagnosis was provided, and unknown repairs were performed. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was difficult to start. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while shifting to reverse(R), the rear camera image was distorted. The contact stated that the image was blank, and blue intermittently. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer, or an independent mechanic, and was not diagnosed. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not repaired because it was not under recall. On a separate occasion, the console screen ceased to function and would not display data and shut off intermittently and turned on independently. The headlight warning lights, and Forward Collision Avoidance warning light was illuminated, and a message that the center sensor not active was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer made several software updates; however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000. The VIN was not available.

The factory-installed panoramic sunroof mesh air deflector is causing a water drainage issue. Water accumulates in the main channels, saturating the mesh and allowing it to retain moisture for an extended period. This prolonged dampness leads to mold growth, creating a health concern due to the mold odor inside the cabin after any rainstorm.

Daytime running lights quit working.

I’m reporting that this recall repair is overdue and not completed in a timely manner. I was first alerted to the recall in December 2023. There was supposed to be a fix by the first quarter of 2025 and I’ve heard nothing. I have been driving a truck with a defective axle for 4 years. Rediculous!

This recall has been out since August of 2024, this recall is extremely serious and should not be taken lightly, a remedy should absolutely already be developed!!!!!!!!!! This can cause serious accidents resulting in death especially at a high rate of speed!!!!!! Solve this issue!!!!!

My rearview backup camera blacks out won't load, cuts off and on. When in drive it still takes a while for it to still load the radio and navigation. It blacks out and won't load when I start the truck. By the time I back up, still not loading, and start to drive it takes a few minutes maybe 10 for it to finally start working and displaying the navigation and the radio. I've had this issue for a while. And if other makes and models are having the same issues, it has to also be affecting my make and model being it's the same issue.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

The back window of the Panoramic sunroof exploded, and spider webbed across the entire glass windowpane while going down the road. Pieces of glass shards immediately fell all over the truck interior and then a piece of glass fell out of the middle of the sunroof panel. I notified my Ford dealer immediately and took it in for observation and review. I also took pictures of the glass right away.

10 Speed Transmission has very harsh shifting when accelerating as well as when downshifting. Dealer has looked at it and have been told over and over that it is normal. When downshifting there are time where the shifting creates a lunge affect making you feel that you are going to hit the car in front of you.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera failed to display an image, compromising the backup prevention system. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the rear-view camera. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 29,000.

Terrible hard shifting

Transmission, hard shifting,shifting out of gear wrong when towing sometimes when not Transmission was already overhauled under factory powertrain warranty at around 42000 miles

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V635000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

While traveling on a local highway in the far left lane, the engine completely died (no engine light came on). I was trying to negotiate traffic while getting to the shoulder of the road, and the transmission began shifting itself into park. I grabbed the shift lever trying to prevent it from going into park; however, it did just as I reached the shoulder of the road. At this point, I had slowed to ~25 MPH, but it still locked the tires up and slid a few feet. After turning the key off, removing it from the truck, and opening the door, I was finally able to restart it and I went straight to my local mechanic. He attached a code reader; however, there were no codes displayed. He stated they probably cleared out when I restarted the truck. This happened a couple of months ago, but my wife has been fussing at me to report it.