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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
4,588 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2021 Ford F-150 electrical problems

electrical problem

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2021 Ford F-150 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #75

Aug 112024

F-150

  • 42,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the speakers were not working. The contact stated that the safety features were inoperable. The audio function failed to produce sound in the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to Customer Satisfaction Program: 22B08. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

- Pickens, SC, USA

problem #74

Jul 242024

F-150

  • miles
Over the air software updates failed and rendered the vehicle inoperable twice within a 3 day period. Both instances rendered the vehicle unusable and required a tow to the dealership. First occurrence was on 7/21/24, the second occurrence was on 7/24/24.

- Mount Clare, WV, USA

problem #73

Jun 192024

F-150

  • miles
While driving the parking break activated. I was in the middle of the road with my newborn. I believe my truck should have been recalled since this is something that other F150 had. I took it to the Ford dealership and they said there was no active recall on this vehicle. So I had them check it since it-??s such a high safety concern. And yes there was a default with the parking break system.

- Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

problem #72

Jun 222024

F-150

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

While operating the vehicle, I shifted into park, using the console shifter. With no warning, the vehicle malfunctioned. The console shifter indicator light started blinking next to the "P" and it would not let me shift back into gear. I turned off the vehicle and tried to restart it in the hopes that it would clear the error. The vehicle engine would not start, and told me to shift the vehicle into park. I was unable to shift the gear into park or any gear. A tow truck driver came and we were able to force the vehicle into neutral for towing, but the vehicle's parking brake engaged and would not disengage. Every time we turned off the parking brake, it immediately turned itself back on. Thus, we could not push the vehicle into a better position for the tow truck to get the vehicle and the tow truck operator had to drag the vehicle with its back tires not turning. At the Ford dealership, a service employee inspected the vehicle and said there was no physical damage to any component and that some kind of electronics error had caused the fault. He said it was a known issue with F150 transmissions and that a Ford service bulletin indicated a 6-hour "module" reprogramming process was necessary to make the truck operable. He said that it could recur. I spoke to Ford customer service. A representative there confirmed that this is a known issue with F150 transmissions but that no recall had been made. She also stated that Ford did not know why it happens and that, even after being "reprogrammed", it could happen again. Based on my experience and discussions with Ford, the F150 can suddenly become inoperable and (because of the parking brake) immovable. Thankfully, the transmission error occurred for me in a safe location near my home. It could have been very dangerous had the vehicle become immovable in an unsafe location or far from home or help. I am concerned it will happen again. The vehicle is currently at the Ford dealership in Grand Ledge, MI.

- Dewitt, MI, USA

problem #71

Jun 132024

F-150

  • miles
OTA updated stuck unable to complete. Stuck update continued to drain battery below threshold to allow the update to complete. Systems started conserving power, shutting off infotainment system, fordpass app, gateway, passenger door entry, etc. Required call to Ford. Ford dictated to bring to dealership. Dealership corrected multiple module software updates, with cost for services. Vehicle under extended warranty. Root cause: faulty and incomplete Ford software update. Impact: vehicle, as sold and advertised, rendered inoperative due to poor workmanship by Ford OTA update process.

- Windsor Locks, CT, USA

problem #70

May 032021

F-150

  • miles
At a stop, in electric mode, truck will lunge forward as if you were rear ended. Most of the time, transmission failure will occur after some time due to this lunging forward, and it has happened to many truck owners. Electric auxiliary transmission pump tends to be the cause.

- Baldwin Park, CA, USA

problem #69

Jun 102024

F-150

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When you start the truck the radio rear view camera does not turn on you drive a mile or two and it will come on. This does not happen all the time it is intermittent

- Hagerstown , MD, USA

problem #68

Apr 232024

F-150

  • 66,000 miles
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and braking, several safety features disabled independently. The contact stated that the Pre-Collision Assist, ABS, and other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred often. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.

- El Maton, TX, USA

problem #67

Apr 252024

F-150

  • miles
If you pull onto a road and try to accelerate, the vehicle is unresponsive. The RPMs will increase, yet the vehicle drive train (10 Speed Transmission) is unresponsive for several seconds. This has been an ongoing issue with the vehicle since new and was first reported to Ford Customer service on Jan 2022. Ford has made several attempts to fix this issue, yet the transmission continues to fail with the same issue. This is a critical safety issue that jeopardizes the passengers in the vehicle. Vehicle parking brake engages without notice. At any given time, the electronic parking brake engages without warning and you have to manually release. While sitting at a controlled intersection, on an inclined street, waiting for traffic light to change, with vehicle in Drive, foot on the brake, the electric parking brake engaged. Vehicle shift lever moved to the park position on its own. Vehicle engages it's parking brake and moves shift lever into Park while sitting in traffic is very dangerous. Vehicle shift column failed in drive and vehicle would not move or run. This caused drive train to lock in place, freezing all four tires. Ford had to drag truck onto flat bed with tires locked. It had to be dragged off flatbed when delivered to Ford dealer for repair. They had to put grease down on the flatbed so truck would slide off without tires rolling. While at the dealership, the mechanic had to manually disconnect the calipers in order to move vehicle. The safety backup features failed and would not release wheels (lever under steering column).

- Dunedin, FL, USA

problem #66

Apr 092024

F-150

  • miles
The Instrument Panel Cluster will reboot when driving leaving the panel blank with no speedometer or other vital information. The system will reboot after a short time, sometimes multiple times and has occurred when driving at speeds of 30, 35, 50, 65 mph. This reboot leaves the driver without vital information, causes confusion and is a distraction putting the safety of all occupants at risk. This has happened a multiple times and may be is similar to SSM 50294 where emojis causes the Instrument Panel Cluster to go blank or reboot during incoming or outgoing phone calls where there are emojis alongside the text of a name of contact. Unfortunately, I did not learn of this error until I had dropped the vehicle at the dealer and researched myself. I have a heart emoji next to my wife's name and would gladly remove this, but the dealer indicates a full $1000 reboot of multiple systems is the protocol in accordance with Ford manuals and diagnostic trees. I am working with a dealer, but they have been uncooperative in terms of recreating the problem and are only seeking a paid solution with the reboot the entire system an no assurance that this will work. As mentioned above, it seems that this is similar to SSM 502947 for other 2021 F-150s, but the dealership will not confirm and Ford indicates my vehicle is not effected by this error according to my VIN. System failure warnings are also sent to the Ford mobile app when this reboot happens, these warnings are for the Tire Pressure Monitor System, Restraints Indicator Lamp and Antilock Brake Fault. The Ford dealership has had my vehicle for over two weeks with this issue and has not communicated any inspection or attempt to recreate the issue. There is not a repair invoice yet.

- Denver, CO, USA

problem #65

Apr 222024

F-150

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Was slow rolling to stop light at intersection. Vehicle shut down and got an alert that said -??auto start stop shift to P, then restart engine-??

- Lexington, SC, USA

problem #64

Mar 272024

F-150

  • 78,000 miles
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle turned off and the vehicle decelerated. The vehicle independently automatically restarted; however, the failure recurred. The contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V267000 (Electrical System, Power Train) however, neither the year, make, model nor the VIN was included. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

- Freeburg, IL, USA

problem #63

Apr 012024

F-150

  • miles
Tire pressure sensor keeps coming on and says it is faulty. The driver side window will not completely roll down( we have done a reset and it will only work once or twice). With the radio it will sometimes not work(we have done a soft reset and it will work a few times and then stop). The last thing the heat shield that is underneath the truck had a recall we got it repaired and since it hangs down, we have taken to the dealership and they repaired it again and will still hand down.

- Patterson, GA, USA

problem #62

Apr 082024

F-150

  • miles
The vehicle will occasionally freeze on the infotainment splash screen. This prevents the rear view camera from activating when the vehicle is in reverse. Furthermore, the vehicle has already been serviced for a prior issue where the infotainment system (and rear view camera video) would momentarily freeze (1-4 seconds) when the camera was activated

- Plymouth, MI, USA

problem #61

Dec 112023

F-150

  • miles
2021 f150 POWERBOOST [XXX] Loss of engine power. Major electrical failure display on dash coast to a stop. Unable to restart, lock in park unable to be move from location. After 45 mins. of pushing restart button every 60 seconds get a restart, take to dealer unable to find problem.[XXX] Loss of engine power. Major electrical failure display on dash coast to a stop. Unable to restart, lock in park unable to be move from location. After 45 mins. of pushing restart button every 60 seconds get a restart. Notified dealer appt set for 20Jan2024 Special order pump was order for trans. {XXX] Truck was drop for the pump to be replace. [XXX] Dealership called, while the Tech was on a test drive, after the pump was installed, the Tech. had a Loss of engine power. Major electrical failure display on dash coast to a stop.Unable to restart, lock in park unable to be move from location. Dealer ship contacted Ford and and engineer has handle the repairs. The truck has been on the lot now for over 30days with now a needing a special order part on National back order. Have contacted Ford case # [XXX] with 2 attempts with no return phone calls. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Midlothian, VA, USA

problem #60

Mar 312024

F-150

  • miles
The on board generator auxiliary fails to work because of "ground fault". Complaint to dealer (McDonald Ford, Freeland, MI) who stated has been receiving numerous complaints of this failure but has no remedy nor direction from Ford. This has been a continuous problem for the last few months.

- Caro, MI, USA

problem #59

Mar 012024

F-150

  • miles
F150 is experiencing interior leaking from the windshield and other areas that Ford is unable to identify the cause. This can cause visibility issues and damage to electrical components resulting in a safety issue. The leaking causes the floor mats to be wet, which have also caused my foot to slip off the control petals. This could cause an accident. Ford is not able to identify the source, they were able to reproduce the leaks in the firewall but can't identify the source. Ford doesn't acknowledge this is a major issue and has only offered to caulk and seal in the most common areas. It was in the shop for four days March 25-27 and 22-23 2024. There are no warning issues just went floor mats and visible water on the interior of my windshield which I demonstrate to the dealership.

- Oak Creek, WI, USA

problem #58

Sep 142023

F-150

  • miles
OBDii reader which connect to vehicle ECM reads perfectly independently, however when connected to a state emissions inspection machine, machine indicates no vehicle information available and results in failures due to ECM not responsive. Ford says it is a known issue but will not replace ecm unless recall is issued.

- Conroe, TX, USA

problem #57

Mar 062024

F-150

  • 95,000 miles
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the vehicle failed the emissions test due to a gateway error. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed that the gateway module needed to be reprogrammed to the latest software. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

- Eagle, WI, USA

problem #56

Nov 162023

F-150

  • miles
My 2021 F-150 Powerboost randomly shuts down on the highway and while pulling out into traffic. When it shuts down the steering and brakes work but the engine is off/no acceleration and the truck displays a warning telling me to "Stop Safely Now". Truck has been look at many times by Ford and every time they give it back to me it happens again. There appears to be either and electrical or software issue but after 3 months Ford doesn't seem to know what's wrong with the truck even though they have reproduced the problem. It has happened over 20 times putting me and my family at risk of getting in an accident.

- Foxboro, MA, USA

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