Ford F-150 Complaints (2021)

996 consumer complaints on file.

#11754280August 2, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Outer LED light burned out. Makes for lights to seem dimmer at night while driving.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754194August 1, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2021 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving, the transmission would unexpectedly hesitate before engaging the selected gear and then shift harshly with a noticeable bang. On multiple occasions, the engine RPM would flare before the transmission engaged, resulting in delayed or inconsistent acceleration. The transmission has also exhibited harsh shifts, delayed engagement, and unpredictable gear changes. These events occurred during normal driving, including accelerating from a stop, merging into traffic, and driving at highway speeds. The transmission did not respond as expected when I needed predictable acceleration, creating a potentially dangerous situation. Delayed engagement and sudden harsh shifts make it difficult to judge available power when entering traffic or changing lanes. I believe this incident may be related to the known 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve problem. Ford technical information identifies axial movement of the CDF sleeve that can cause hydraulic-circuit leaks, resulting in harsh or delayed engagement and shifting. This condition can cause slipping, RPM flares, delayed engagement, unexpected gear changes, harsh downshifts, lurching, or loss of propulsion. This is a safety concern, not merely a transmission quality or reliability issue. Unexpected hesitation, delayed engagement, or loss of propulsion while merging, accelerating into traffic, crossing an intersection, or traveling at highway speed creates an increased risk of a crash. Because I personally experienced these unexpected transmission events, I request that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration investigate the 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve condition in Ford F-150 vehicles. Please review Ford warranty claims, dealer repair records, transmission replacements, consumer complaints, and field-failure data to determine whether this represents a safety defect
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754193August 1, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2021 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission suddenly slammed into the next gear, i had never felt that before, it happens when it shifts from 2nd gear to 3rd, and someone’s after i have already been driving at highway speeds for a while it will rev up as if it’s slipping or missing a gear. This occurred while driving on a main highway, and also happens right when i leave my driveway, creating a potentially dangerous situation because the truck did not respond as expected when I needed predictable acceleration or propulsion. A loss of power in the middle of busy traffic could cause an accident. This happens every single time i drive my truck, currently my truck has less than 55k miles. I believe this incident may be related to the known 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve problem. Ford technical information identifies axial movement of the CDF sleeve that can cause hydraulic-circuit leaks and harsh or delayed engagement and shifting. This condition can result in slipping, RPM flares, delayed engagement, unexpected gear changes, harsh downshifts, lurching, or loss of propulsion. This is a safety concern, not merely a transmission quality or reliability issue. Unexpected loss of propulsion or unpredictable shifting while merging, accelerating into traffic, crossing an intersection, turning, or traveling at highway speed can create a collision hazard. Because I personally experienced this unexpected transmission event, I request that NHTSA investigate the 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve condition in Ford F-150s. Please review Ford warranty claims, dealer repair records, transmission replacements, consumer complaints, and field-failure data to determine whether this is a safety defect requiring a recall. I believe owners should not have to wait for a potentially dangerous transmission failure before this known condition is addressed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754168August 1, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2021 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission suddenly downshifts aggressively resulting in the rear tires locking up and sliding for a moment. This occurs while driving in stop and go traffic as well as coming to a stop light/sign, creating a potentially dangerous situation. I believe this incident may be related to the known 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve problem. Ford technical information identifies axial movement of the CDF sleeve that can cause hydraulic-circuit leaks and harsh or delayed engagement and shifting. This condition can result in slipping, RPM flares, delayed engagement, unexpected gear changes, harsh downshifts, lurching, or loss of propulsion. This is a safety concern, not merely a transmission quality or reliability issue. Unexpected loss of propulsion or unpredictable shifting while merging, accelerating into traffic, crossing an intersection, turning, or traveling at highway speed can create a collision hazard. Because I personally experienced this unexpected transmission event, I request that NHTSA investigate the 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve condition in Ford F-150s. Please review Ford warranty claims, dealer repair records, transmission replacements, consumer complaints, and field-failure data to determine whether this is a safety defect requiring a recall. I believe owners should not have to wait for a potentially dangerous transmission failure before this known condition is addressed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754159August 1, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem l experienced with my 2021 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission suddenly will shift gears violently, unexpectedly downshifted. This occurred while accelerating, merging onto a highway, turning, crossing an intersection, traveling at highway speed, stop-and-go traffic, creating a potentially dangerous situation because the truck did not respond as expected when I needed predictable acceleration or propulsion. I believe this incident may be related to the known 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve problem. Ford technical information identifies axial movement of the CDF sleeve that can cause hydraulic-circuit leaks and harsh or delayed engagement and shifting. This condition can result in slipping, RPM flares, delayed engagement, unexpected gear changes, harsh downshifts, lurching, or loss of propulsion. This is a safety concern, not merely a transmission quality or reliability issue. Unexpected loss of propulsion or unpredictable shifting while merging, accelerating into traffic, crossing an intersection, turning, or traveling at highway speed can create a collision hazard. Because I personally experienced this unexpected transmission event, I request that NHTSA investigate the 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve condition in Ford F-150s. Please review Ford warranty claims, dealer repair records, transmission replacements, consumer complaints, and field-failure data to determine whether this is a safety defect requiring a recall. I believe owners should not have to wait for a potentially dangerous transmission failure before this known condition is addressed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754154August 1, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2021 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission suddenly violently jerks from 2nd to 3rd gear I believe this incident may be related to the known 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve problem. Ford technical information identifies axial movement of the CDF sleeve that can cause hydraulic-circuit leaks and
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754148August 1, 2026
POWER TRAIN
For about a year the transmission has been having an issue that has resulted in it now needing to be replaced. Started as periodic hard downshifting between 4th and 3rd gears. Now it periodically up and down shifts hard or skips gears between 2nd and 4th gears.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754146August 1, 2026
POWER TRAIN
My truck has spent 80 days in the shop over 11 visits attempting to repair the transmission since 2023. The truck has a hard downshift from 5-4, 4-3, and sometimes 3-1 while light braking coming to a stop. Sometimes it’s several times per day and sometimes not in an entire week. On average it occurs 2-5 times per week. I drive 40 miles to work mostly on the freeway with little traffic with two stop signs going and one stop sign + 4 lights returning so I don’t have that many locations for the condition to be repeated which means the frequency it occurs is pretty high. It is an hard enough downshift where it clunks real bad and sometimes shutters the truck. The transmision cannot last long term and is likely loosening / damaging other components. One of the hardest downshifts I have felt occurred 2 months ago. It shuttered so bad, it felt something could have been damaged. The same day I was holding speed going downhill and it had a hard shift from 3-2. On several occasions in the last 3 years it had a clunk from 5-6 while accelerating on the freeway. Every few weeks it has a hard shift from 4-3 going uphill for power. The adaptive tables have been reset multiple times. Sometimes that helps for a little bit, sometimes not. Long term it is not a solution. The pan was dropped at one of the last visits and a repair made inside. This did not make any significant changes. The hardest downshift I have ever felt (above) occorred several days after this.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11754132August 1, 2026
POWER TRAIN
I am reporting a safety-related transmission failure I experienced with my 2021 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission suddenly failed to engage and then shifted violently, causing an unexpected loss of power and then a change of propulsion. This occurred while merging at highway speed, creating a potentially dangerous situation because the truck did not respond as expected when I needed acceleration. I believe this incident may be related to the known 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve problem. Ford technical information for 2021–2022 F-150s identifies axial movement of the CDF sleeve that can cause hydraulic-circuit leaks and harsh or delayed engagement and shifting. This can result in slipping, RPM flares, delayed engagement, unexpected gear changes, harsh downshifts, lurching, or loss of propulsion. This is a safety concern, not merely a transmission quality issue. Unexpected loss of propulsion while merging, accelerating into traffic, crossing an intersection, or turning could leave a driver unable to accelerate as expected and create a collision hazard. An unexpected downshift or lurch can also abruptly alter vehicle behavior. Because I personally experienced this unexpected transmission event, I request that NHTSA investigate the 10R80 CDF clutch-cylinder/sleeve condition in 2021 F-150s. Please review Ford warranty claims, dealer repair records, transmission replacements, consumer complaints, and field-failure data to determine whether this is a safety defect requiring a recall. I believe owners should not have to wait for a potentially dangerous transmission failure before this known condition is addressed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753799July 30, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
*Brake system failure, complete shut down of vehicle. *Vehicle unable to start. *Vehicle was taken directly to Peoria Ford ( 9130 W Bell Rd, Peoria, AZ 85382) via tow truck on XXX Confirmed when dropped off of brake system failure and vehicle not functioning. *Vehicle was inspected on XXX which we were originally told it was the battery. Although the vehicle was in for trailer software recall on XXX and during inspection at that time battery was in good health. *No warnings until attempting to use the vehicle on XXX and received the brake system failure alert. Vehicle would also not lock. *After battery was replaced by Peoria Ford I was then told the brake system would not release and would need Actuator misalignment reset/replaced.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753682July 30, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Day Running Lights in headlights fail. The side LED fails completely requiring the entire headlight housing needing to be replaced. This is a common failure and Ford is not doing anything to help the thousands of customers this is affecting. This failure is widely reported online, in forums and chat rooms. Dealer acknowledges it is a part failure but Ford will not pay for replacement even though it is a design or manufacturing problem with this particular year and style of headlights.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753461July 29, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Passenger side LED Headlight assembly daytime running LED's, the vertical led has gone out in my 2021 Ford f150, while not a major problem, LED daytime running lights increase visibility of other drivers to help in safety. From research, it seems that many of these headlights, the led daytime running lights in the 2021 year model are failing.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11753448July 29, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Fuel Pump Failed. Ford has stopped sale on the Fuel Pump because of recall 25S75. I need a fuel pump to operate my vehicle. Ford has offered no solution. It has been 10+ months since my fuel pump failed. Why is there no urgency? What am I supposed to do? Ford doesn't care, you at NHTSA don't care.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751803July 21, 2026
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available for the recall repair. 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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751516July 20, 2026
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted from 10th gear to 8th gear and then independently shifted into 9th gear and downshifted to 8th gear before independently shifting back into 10th gear. The contact stated that there was an abnormally loud bang. The power train and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road and turned off. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle started. The check engine and power train warning lights were off. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was in the process of being repaired. The contact was informed that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11751398July 19, 2026
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The verticals led daytime running light (DRL) on the passenger side has stopped working.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11749767July 11, 2026
POWER TRAIN
Transmission has harsh shifts all the time this is dangerous and well known by ford
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11749663July 10, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle is subject to open NHTSA recall 25V455 for fuel pump failure that can cause loss of fuel pressure and engine stall. Vehicle is now completely non-drivable — will not start at all. Dealer confirmed awareness of the recall but stated the manufacturer has not yet provided parts or a repair procedure. Recall status shows incomplete, remedy not yet available. Vehicle owner currently has no working transportation and no timeline for repair from the manufacturer.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11749262July 9, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE
Truck has just started misfiring out of the blue, have had Ford dealerships look at it, have changed all 6 spark plugs and one ignition coil. The recall NHTSA 2025-366 may be the reason, it states there still is no remedy for this, recall was issued 1 year ago, July 2025. I need this remedy.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11749178July 8, 2026
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Recall has been issued on my fuel pump for one year now and there is still no remedy. I do not feel safe traveling far from home knowing this is still an issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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