2021 Ford F-150 Problems And Complaints

Ford F-150 user complaints and problems

Engine problems

• Abnormal consumption of engine oil: A few owners complained that their F-150 trucks were consuming an abnormally high amount of engine oil. Further inspections at the dealerships revealed that a faulty PCV was the reason behind the high oil consumption.
• Ignition coils fault: There are some complaints about faulty ignition coils that resulted in a vibration of the engine while accelerating. The fault triggered the “Check Engine” warning light on the instrument cluster and the issue was detected post a detailed inspection.
• Complete engine failure: Several owners complained about the 2.7-liter V6 of the truck failing without any indication and at very low mileage as well. The reports further stated that the engine would shut down completely while driving.
• Jerky transmission: A few owners reported about too much jerking from the transmission while driving. The jerking occurred while driving at low speeds especially. In some instances, the transmission forcibly shifted to Park mode from Drive leading to an engine stall. The issue also resulted in the trucks lunging forward as well.
• Parking brake problems: Several owners of the 2021 Ford F-150 reported about a faulty parking brake. The owners stated that the parking brake of their trucks activated randomly at low speeds causing the engine to stall. In some instances, the parking brake disengages randomly when required resulting in the truck rolling away.

Electrical problems

• Faulty instrument cluster: There are several complaints mentioning faults with the instrument cluster. The owners mentioned in their reports that the instrument cluster of their trucks went dead or didn’t work for a long time after starting the truck. This issue also disabled the important driver assistance features and warnings resulting in a safety concern too.
• Trailer brake issues: Plenty of Ford F-150s faced issues with their trailer braking system. The reports stated that the trailer brakes would work fine at the start, gradually failing to work after driving for some time. This posed a serious safety concern since the chances of a crash increased while towing a trailer.
• Power steering issues: There are a few complaints about the power steering system of the F-150. The complaints stated that the power steering would fail randomly while driving, making the driver lose all control of the vehicle. This issue also resulted in a case of death to date as well.

Safety problems

• Forward Collision Avoidance system problems: The forward collision avoidance system on the affected trucks activated suddenly despite the absence of any obstructions on the way. This issue resulted in hard braking while driving at low speeds. In some instances, the system failed to activate after the truck encountered near-crash situations while driving.

2021 Ford F-150 recalls

S.No.	Recall Date	NHTSA Campaign ID	Issues noticed	Additional remarks	Remedy
1.	February 18, 2021	21V090000	In the event of a crash, if the windshield separates from the vehicle, it can increase the risk of injury.	Improperly bonded windshield may detach during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. The affected units also fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 212, "Windshield Mounting”.	Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove and reinstall the windshield, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021.
2.	May 24, 2021	21V381000	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.	Improperly assembled two-piece driveshafts may separate causing loss in handling, increasing the risk of a crash.	Dealers will inspect the driveshaft, and replace it if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 15, 2021.
3.	May 29, 2021	21V407000	Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.	Internal damage in the steering gear could cause difficulty in steering the truck, increasing the risk of a crash.	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 of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 4, 2021.
4.	July 15, 2021	21V533000	Reduced braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.	Leakage of brake fluid from the electronic brake booster into the electronic control unit could reduce braking performance, increasing the risk of a crash.	Dealers will replace the electronic brake booster assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 28, 2021.
5.	August 23, 2021	21V653000	A misrouted seatbelt may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.	Incorrectly routed front seatbelt webbing may not properly restrain the occupants during a crash, increasing the risk of a crash.	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. If the driver-side seatbelt fails inspection, owners should not drive their vehicle until the repair is performed. Dealers will inspect the front seatbelts and, if the webbing is misrouted, will replace the seatbelt retractor and pretensioner, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 14, 2021.

Should you buy a used Ford F-150?

The Ford F-150 did face some troubles in its past model years yet, it had a decent start with its 2021 model year. Going via the used route, you need to scrutinize the used F-150 quite well to stay away from any surprises during the ownership tenure. Overall, the truck is a good option in its segment however, a few rivals are better.