2021 Ford F-150 acceleration & cruise control problems

Related recalls

No recalls on file.

What owners say

1. Filed Sep 2, 2026OKAcceleration & Cruise Control

   On [XXX], I was driving westbound from Missouri into Oklahoma in my 2021 Ford F-150 XL. While traveling approximately 75 mph on the highway, I moved into the passing lane to overtake another vehicle. As I accelerated and applied additional throttle to pass, the transmission downshifted into passing gear. After completing the pass, the vehicle continued to accelerate on its own even after I released the accelerator pedal. The engine remained at a high throttle setting, and…

   NHTSA complaint #11761702 · source
2. Filed Aug 20, 2026GAElectrical SystemAcceleration & Cruise Control

   Due to a dangerous design flaw in the 2021 Ford F150, I was put in a potentially dangerous situation by completely losing all power in the vehicle on a backroad. Design flaw is the DCN module, which floods into the vehicles electrical system/body of vehicle through the cowel drain that can supposedly be blocked by a singular piece of pine straw. Due to the design flaw, the vehicle completely lost all power and all electronics failed while driving down the road at 45 mph,…

   NHTSA complaint #11758129 · source
3. Filed Jan 1, 2026TXAcceleration & Cruise Control

   This report is being made within 1 1/2 hours after the incident. It has not been inspected by a dealer, service center, nor any other agency. I was stopped at a local fast food restaurant waiting to pay for my purchase. The 2021 Ford F-150 was in drive with my foot on the brake. No warning lights or other indication were present. Without warning, the engine revved to a high rpm and the truck shot forward about 15-20 feet before I could react by putting my full weight on the…

   NHTSA complaint #11708240 · source
4. Filed Dec 31, 2025MOAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

   Loss of engine power when transmission shifts from 3rd gear to 2nd gear. Truck will unexpectedly loose ability to accelerate, typically until shift to 1st or 3rd gear occurs. Return of power can cause vehicle to accelerate rapidly and unexpectedly. Malfunctions typically happens in parking lots and while yielding to make a turn, but also happens in stop and go traffic. Concerned of loss of acceleration while pulling out in traffic. No warning lamps or error codes when…

   NHTSA complaint #11708107 · source
5. Filed Dec 23, 2025COEngineAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

   Description of Incident: The vehicle exhibits a severe and unpredictable transmission "shudder," "stutter," and hesitation during gear synchronization, specifically during 1st–3rd and 8th–10th gear transitions. This manifest as a violent "shaking" sensation and a loss of momentary acceleration while merging into high-speed traffic. This issue was first reported to an authorized Ford dealership on December 17, 2024. At that time, the vehicle exhibited harsh shifting and…

   NHTSA complaint #11706853 · source
6. Filed Dec 7, 2025AKAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & DrivetrainWheels & Tires

   Ford has refused, on multiple occasions and at multiple dealerships, to address the NHTSA Recall Number 23V896 (MFG. Recall Number 23S65) issue with the Wheel End Hub Bolt in the rear axle. Well, this weekend, the bolt on the passenger side rear axle broke off, rendering the vehicle undriveable. I brought it in to the Lithia Ford Dealership (who's online information said they were open) to get it addressed. They were closed, no one was there, and they won't even give me a…

   NHTSA complaint #11703551 · source
7. Filed Jul 17, 2025CAElectrical SystemAcceleration & Cruise ControlWheels & Tires

   Drove it out to CA from Texas. Purchased for Planet Ford who told me the truck was k to drive and no axel problem. Drove it out to CA from Texas when we moved in late April - after that went to Santa Barbara and dashboard controls went dead. Speedometer and may other controls stopped working. Truck felt sluggish. Took it into Tuttle Click Ford Lincoln in Irvine and they said they real axel was about to fall off and took the truck away. They've had it for a month and said…

   NHTSA complaint #11674327 · source
8. Filed Jul 10, 2025KYEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV PropulsionAcceleration & Cruise Control

   I was turning left from a side street onto a divided highway and stopped in the middle to wait for an opening in traffic. When one came I hit the gas and nothing happened. Pressed it again, to the floor and nothing happened. I then put the truck into reverse to back out of the way of traffic because the truck rolled forward a bit when I attempted to accelerate. I then waited for a very large opening and attempted to accelerate again. Pushed the pedal and again nothing. I…

   NHTSA complaint #11672568 · source
9. Filed Jul 7, 2025TXDriver Assistance & Safety TechAcceleration & Cruise Control

   Numerous times my vehicle has suddenly came to a stop pit itself in park and turned off the engine while I was driving at a speed of 25 mph. Several times while cruise control was active my vehicle increased in speed and pressing the break didn't deactivate my cruise control I had to manually turn it off. My crash detection has gone off several times when there was nothing around my vehicle.

   NHTSA complaint #11671610 · source
10. Filed Jun 18, 2025CAOther / UnknownAcceleration & Cruise Control

    My gear shifter was sticking, making hard to shift gears. I had to pay $1100. 00 dollars to get it fixed. The truck has only 37,000 miles. This seems like a defect not a random component gone bad.

    NHTSA complaint #11667723 · source
11. Filed Apr 13, 2025OKEngineAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

    Multiple times now while driving at low speed and usually making a right hand turn, the throttle becomes totally unresponsible to driver input. Pressing the throttle does not increase ICE rpm and does not accelerate the vehicle. This has occured while entering active roadways and has created a dangerous situation multiple times. Someone will be injured with these vehicles, it is only a matter of time if this failure to accelerate issue is not recalled and fixed. The date…

    NHTSA complaint #11654325 · source
12. Filed Dec 9, 2024FLElectrical SystemEngineAcceleration & Cruise Control

    I was stopped at red light intersection my truck went into idle mode (start/stop) when light changed I tried to proceed through the truck engine/electrical transmission locked up. I had to turn the truck completely off and open one of the doors to be able to restart the truck and move through the intersection. it has done this repeatedly I have taken it to Ford they have tried to charge me an astronomical amount to diagnose it.. with no guarantee of it being fixed. I have…

    NHTSA complaint #11629600 · source

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