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NHTSA-Verified · Common Problems

2021 Ford F 150 Regular Cab
Common Problems

Ranked from 382 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.

8
High severity
5
Medium
1
Low

14 Common Problems

Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.

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  1. 1

    Steering and Lane Departure Issues

    113complaints
    High severitySteering

    Steering feedback and lane departure warnings intermittently fail, causing loss of control.

  2. 2

    Axle Bolt Failure

    91complaints
    High severityTransmission

    Axle bolts break or sheared off, causing instability and potential for increased wear on connected components.

    $200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  3. 3

    Daytime Running Lights (DRL) Failures

    88complaints
    High severityElectrical

    DRLs frequently fail, causing poor visibility during daylight driving conditions.

  4. 4

    Visibility and Wiper Issues

    57complaints
    High severityOther

    Windshield wipers malfunction and visibility systems fail, leading to poor visibility conditions.

  5. 5

    Transmission Harsh Shifting

    40complaints
    High severityTransmission

    The transmission experiences harsh and erratic shifting, particularly during deceleration, causing the vehicle to lunge and fail to upshift smoothly.

    $200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  6. 6

    Daytime Running Light Failure

    20complaints
    Medium severityOther

    Daytime running lights fail, reducing visibility during daytime driving.

  7. 7

    Electrical system failures causing vehicle shutdowns and malfunctions

    10complaints
    High severityElectrical

    The electrical system frequently fails, resulting in sudden vehicle shutdowns, loss of power, and other electronic malfunctions.

    $150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  8. 8

    Electrical System Issues

    8complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    Electrical system issues, including daytime running light failures and infotainment screen malfunctions, affect visibility and vehicle operation.

  9. 9

    Fuel system issues leading to engine stalling and performance degradation

    6complaints
    Medium severityFuel system

    The fuel system experiences issues such as engine stalling, jerking, and performance degradation, often requiring multiple recalls and repairs.

    $250–$700est. egr valve replacement · 1–3 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  10. 10

    Recall Issues

    6complaints
    Medium severityOther

    Multiple recalls have been issued for various systems, but the manufacturer has not provided a remedy, leaving owners without a solution.

  11. 11

    Hub Bolt Failure in Rear Axle

    5complaints
    High severitySuspension

    The rear axle hub bolt breaks, rendering the vehicle undriveable.

    $200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  12. 12

    Visibility issues with exterior lighting

    5complaints
    Low severityOther

    Exterior lighting, including daytime running lights and side strips, frequently burns out, reducing visibility during nighttime or inclement weather.

    $100–$900est. lighting assembly repair · 0.5–2 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  13. 13

    Axle failures leading to loss of power and potential rollaways

    4complaints
    High severityOther

    Axle failures result in loss of power, rollaways, and violent shifts in the vehicle, posing a significant safety risk.

    $200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  14. 14

    Brake system failure leading to abnormal sounds and reduced performance

    4complaints
    Medium severityBrakes

    The rear axle and brake systems produce abnormal sounds and fail, reducing overall vehicle performance and safety.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes

Other years & sources

2017 Ford F 150 Regular Cab2018 Ford F 150 Regular Cab2019 Ford F 150 Regular Cab2020 Ford F 150 Regular CabAll NHTSA complaints for this vehicle →

Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.