2021 Ford F-150 Transmission Shifts to Neutral Recall
Ford Motor Company has issued a recall for certain 2021 F-150 vehicles due to a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) that may falsely activate, causing the transmission to unexpectedly shift into neutral. This can result in a loss of drive power and increase the risk of a crash. The remedy involves a…
Why This Matters
An unexpected shift into neutral while driving can result in a sudden loss of motive power. This significantly increases the risk of a crash, as drivers may lose control or be unable to accelerate out of dangerous situations. This safety concern is central to the 2021 Ford F-150 recall.
What's Being Recalled
Ford Motor Company is recalling specific 2021 F-150 pickup trucks. The issue involves the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) and a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) related to low transmission fluid pressure. If this DTC falsely activates, it can cause the automatic transmission to unexpectedly shift into neutral. The affected component is identified as the POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM).
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Owners of affected 2021 Ford F-150 vehicles may experience the transmission unexpectedly shifting into neutral while driving. This condition is triggered by a falsely activated Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for low transmission fluid pressure. There might not be any prior warning before the shift occurs, leading to an immediate loss of drive power.
Manufacturer's Remedy
To address this safety concern, Ford dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software. This software update is designed to prevent the false activation of the low transmission fluid pressure DTC and, consequently, stop the transmission from unexpectedly shifting into neutral. This repair will be performed free of charge to vehicle owners.
Owner Action
Owner notification letters for this 2021 Ford F-150 recall were mailed on April 12, 2022. If you own an affected vehicle and have not yet had the repair performed, it is crucial to contact your local Ford dealer to schedule the PCM software update. You can also contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332, referencing Ford's recall number 22S15. For additional information, owners may contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visit www.nhtsa.gov.
Source: NHTSA Recall ID: 22V188000
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the problem with the 2021 Ford F-150 transmission?
- The problem is that a Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for low transmission fluid pressure may falsely activate, causing the transmission to unexpectedly shift into neutral. This leads to a loss of drive power.
- What is the safety risk associated with this F-150 recall?
- An unexpected shift into neutral can cause a sudden loss of motive power, significantly increasing the risk of a crash due to loss of control or inability to accelerate.
- How will Ford fix the transmission issue in the recalled F-150s?
- Ford dealers will perform a software update on the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) to correct the issue. This repair will be provided free of charge to vehicle owners.
- How do I know if my 2021 Ford F-150 is affected by this recall?
- Owner notification letters were mailed on April 12, 2022. You can also contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 and reference recall number 22S15, or check the NHTSA website with your VIN.
What Ford F-150 owners report
Counted from the records in our database across 46 model years.
- 39,812
- Owner complaints
- 226
- Recalls
- 2,759
- Service bulletins
- 1,679
- Crashes reported
- 2,104
- Fires reported
- 1,496
- Injuries reported
The 2021 model year
1,308 complaints, the 13th most of 46 model years on file. Owners reported 18 crashes, 7 fires and 13 injuries for this year, which also has 29 recalls on file.
Power Train, the system this article covers, accounts for 9,483 of 39,812 complaints (24%), including 447 for 2021.
Complaints by model year
| 1997 | 2,758 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 2,029 | |
| 2011 | 2,194 | |
| 2012 | 1,784 | |
| 2013 | 2,994 | |
| 2014 | 1,539 | |
| 2015 | 1,746 | |
| 2016 | 2,093 | |
| 2018 | 2,327 | |
| 2021 | 1,308 |
Most-reported systems
- Power Train — 9,483
- Engine — 4,618
- Electrical System — 4,362
- Service Brakes — 3,838
- Vehicle Speed Control — 2,924
Latest recalls for the 2021 model year
- 26V489000 — Back Over Prevention (Jul 2026)
- 26V402000 — Power Train (Jun 2026)
- 26V104000 — Electrical System (Feb 2026)
Recent owner reports about power train
My 2021 F-150 PowerBoost hybrid repeatedly lost propulsion while traveling on the highway in early October 2026, including four incidents on one trip around October 3.
Read owner complaints →The cdf is outdated and the truck would get stuck in the wrong gear and not work. I was only 3,800 miles over the 60k mile warranty and having to pay out of pocket for a updated cdf drum that ford has created because they know the old ones are faulty
Complaints are owner reports filed with NHTSA. They are unverified, and counts depend on how many vehicles were sold, so they are not a failure rate.
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