2021 Ford F-150 driver assistance & safety tech problems

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

86 owners have reported driver assistance & safety tech problems with the 2021 Ford F-150, 8% of all complaints about this model year. The typical problem appeared around 35,000 mi.

Driver Assistance & Safety Tech complaints
86
Crashes
6
Fires
0
Injuries
2
Related recalls
2
Median mileage
35,000 mi

Specific components reported

Driver Assistance & Safety Tech covers: Automatic emergency braking, lane keeping, backup camera, stability and traction control.

ComponentComplaints
Back over prevention24
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking20
Forward collision avoidance: warnings17
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control14
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera10
Lane departure: blind spot detection7
Back over prevention: warnings5
Lane departure: assist5
Lane departure: warning4
Back over prevention: rearview system braking4

Driver Assistance & Safety Tech complaints across Ford F-150 years

1200621200816201014720121828201434422016183920188942202086322022361620242852026
Driver Assistance & Safety Tech complaints by model year. The 2021 is highlighted.

Mileage when the problem appeared

4Under 10k510k–30k930k–60k560k–100k2100k–150k150k+
Complaints that list mileage, grouped by odometer reading.

Related recalls

  • Recall 26V489000Jul 28, 202647,587 vehicles
    BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION · BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 and 2023-2026 F-250 SD vehicles equipped with 8-inch SYNC infotainment screens. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to be obstructed by the infotainment home screen menu when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk: An obstructed rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 7, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C37. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 31, 2026.

  • Recall 25V315000May 9, 20251,076,138 vehicles
    BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco, F-150, 2021-2024 Edge, 2022-2025 Escape, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, 2022-2024 Expedition, 2022-2025 Transit, 2021-2023 Mach-E, 2024 Ranger, Mustang, 2021-2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022-2024 Navigator, and 2023-2024 Corsair vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.

    Risk: A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on June 26, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Owner notification letters were sent on October 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S49.

What owners say

  1. Filed Oct 6, 202661,000 miCADriver Assistance & Safety TechFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
    The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera was inoperable. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) and 26V489000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were 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 failure mileage was…
    NHTSA complaint #11769381 · source
  2. Filed Aug 25, 2026OKDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
    Vehicle Information 2021 Ford F-150 XL Supercrew approximately 35,000 miles. While traveling southbound on [XXX] near [XXX], Ok, I was operating my 2021 Ford F-150 XL at approximately 75 mph with the cruise control engaged. As I approached slower traffic ahead, I attempted to disengage the cruise control by pressing the cruise control cancel/off button on the steering wheel. Despite pressing the button multiple times, the cruise control would not disengage. Same thing while…
    NHTSA complaint #11759473 · source
  3. Filed Aug 24, 2026MNDriver Assistance & Safety TechSteering
    My 2021 F-150 has been diagnosed with a failed electric steering gear Code PSCM C1B00 49 2F. I understand there was a recall on some 2021 trucks with similar steering issues, although my VIN is not included. The part is on national backorder and my dealer says there are approximately 150 vehicles ahead of mine. This is a safety-related steering component, part number "ML3Z3504G"
    NHTSA complaint #11759149 · source
  4. Filed Aug 22, 2026TXDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
    Adaptive cruise control, truck keeps trying to change from lane swerves left and right outnof control sometimes. Automatic Braking Rear camera did a reset after changing the battery and the 360 cameras alignment misaligned and truck send a message When placed on reverse , cameras are misaligned on the screen.
    NHTSA complaint #11758754 · source
  5. Filed Aug 16, 2026MIDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical System
    When backing up, the rear camera display shows a gray filter over the rear image on the display cluster and the right side warning sensors indicate a blue trapezoid on the cluster for the right side of the vehicle. The driver dashboard also has an alert that the rear brake assist feature is inactive
    NHTSA complaint #11757313 · source
  6. Filed Jun 11, 2026IADriver Assistance & Safety TechSteering
    The EPAS (Electric Power Assisted Steering) module experienced an internal sensor failure, causing a sudden and complete loss of power steering assist. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request and the EPAS module has been retained. The loss of power steering occurred without warning while the vehicle was in motion, requiring significantly greater physical force to maintain control of the steering wheel. This creates a serious risk of losing vehicle control,…
    NHTSA complaint #11743418 · source
  7. Filed Jun 10, 2026FLBrakesDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical System
    My 2021 Ford F-150 intermittently displays the warning message “Reverse Brake Assist Not Available – See Manual” when the vehicle is placed in reverse. When this message appears, the reverse brake assist / parking collision warning feature is not available, which may reduce safety while backing up. The vehicle was inspected by a Ford dealership. The dealership confirmed DTC U3000:49 in the IPMA module and identified Ford TSB 23-2040 as applicable to the concern. The dealer…
    NHTSA complaint #11743311 · source
  8. Filed May 29, 2026TXDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
    RECALL 25V-315/25S49 has not been fixed on my truck. ive taken in multiple times since last year and programming doesnt fix the issue. final conclusion from the dealer is replace camera system. which they want me to pay $800 for. Since this is a recall Ford should take care of these charges. info. below [XXX] =aXXX INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
    NHTSA complaint #11740900 · source
  9. Filed Mar 19, 2026ARDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
    We left home and only made it about 100 yards. There was not a trailer attached. We had already stopped at a stop sign, then took off again. As we were going up a slight hill giving it a little gas, there was a loud thud and a sudden jolt, and the truck rapidly slowed down. I tried to give it gas to continued and the engine reved up, but our movement stopped. I realized that the emergency brake had engaged for some reason, so I pressed the button to turn it off, then we were…
    NHTSA complaint #11725701 · source
  10. Filed Mar 19, 2026TXBrakesDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
    There is a warning on my dash when the vehicle is placed in reverse: reverse brake assist not available see manual. This concern has a tsb attached to it. My concern is that given the safety nature of this concern affecting f150s and ford mustangs; this should be covered by the manufacturer and not the consumer. Ford will repair, however, invoice the customer for the cost which i do not agree with. I am not certain how many vehicles are affected or if it rises to the…
    NHTSA complaint #11725583 · source
  11. Filed Mar 18, 202686,444 miVACrashDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
    The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while reversing, the camera became inoperable and blank, and she crashed into a cement base. Although the pole was in her view. There were no reported injuries, air bag deployment, or police reports filed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was determined that a software update was needed. The update was not completed. The vehicle was taken to another local…
    NHTSA complaint #11725212 · source
  12. Filed Mar 11, 2026120,000 miUTDriver Assistance & Safety Tech
    The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V315000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds and while in reverse(R), the infotainment screen froze and went black. The vehicle was taken to a dealer in October 2025, where it was diagnosed and determined that a software update was needed for the infotainment system, but the manufacturer had not yet provided a…
    NHTSA complaint #11723511 · source

Other 2021 Ford F-150 problem areas

Back to all 2021 Ford F-150 problems →

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology