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Owner complaints · Power Train

2021 Ford F-150 transmission and drivetrain problems

441 of the 1,277 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford F-150 name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 137 manufacturer bulletins, 7 recalls. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.

441 complaints 35% of this model year’s 3 reports a crash 2 a fire typically at 55k miles

What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain

Source: NHTSA complaint database

441complaints name the transmission and drivetrain

3 of the 441 reports a crash · 2 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.

Filed per year: 2021: 7 · 2022: 79 · 2023: 83 · 2024: 52 · 2025: 99 · 2026: 121

55kmiles, typically

Half of the 85 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 25,000 and 82,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.

35%of this model year’s complaints

1,277 complaints in all about the 2021 Ford F-150, 121 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →

Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.

Across model years: Ford F-150 transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →

In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

Broken retaining bolt holding the wheel on the right rear axle. Dealer said too dangerous to drive so they replaced axle. Dealer has old axle and broken bolt. This problem exists in the 2021 F150 Powerboost truck with 9.75 in 3/4 floating axle. Several postings on F150 forum of this happening to others with same truck.

Power Train Jul 29, 2022 NHTSA owner report

When drive train goes into electric drive mode, the vehicle will jump/lurch/bang after stopping like I was hit by another car pretty hard. This will only happen when the engine either goes into hybrid electric mode or engine turns off after a stop in sport and other modes. It will not happen in tow mode where the engine stays on.

Power Train Jul 26, 2022 NHTSA owner report

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the gear shifter seized while shifted in park(P) and was unable to shift to the intended gear. Additionally, the gear shifter fractured when the contact forcefully shifted out of the park(P).

Power Train at 1,500 miles Jul 25, 2022 NHTSA owner report

Truck does not always does not always downshift to a lower gear at a stop and instead remains in 8th gear. This poses a safety risk do to a lack of acceleration and also causes an unanticipated sudden jerk when it does finally does engage in a lower gear

Power Train Jul 21, 2022 NHTSA owner report

I took the vehicle in for a tire rotation and oil change at approximately 18,000 miles. The dealer informed me that the passenger side rear axle bolt had sheared off and that the bolt had to be drilled out and replaced. The repair did not solve the problem and now the axle has to be replaced

Power Train Jun 16, 2022 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

Recalls filed under this heading

26V402000 High
Jun 24, 2026 · 741,195 vehicles
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
25V169000 High
Mar 14, 2025 · 567 vehicles
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 22V-188. The Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for low transmission fluid pressure may falsely activate and cause the transmission to unexpectedly shift into neutral.
23V896000 Critical
Dec 22, 2023 · 112,965 vehicles
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with the Trailer Tow Max Duty package and a 9.75-inch heavy duty axle with a 3/4 float axle design. The rear axle hub bolt may fatigue and break, which can result in damage to the axle hub splines.
22V623000 High
Aug 12, 2022 · 58,203 vehicles
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 F-150 vehicles. Underbody heat and noise insulators may loosen and contact the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture.
22V188000 High
Mar 25, 2022 · 47,084 vehicles
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for low transmission fluid pressure may falsely activate and cause the transmission to unexpectedly shift into neutral.
21V986000 High
Dec 16, 2021 · 184,698 vehicles
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 F-150 vehicles. Underbody heat and noise insulators may loosen and contact the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture.

137 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading

TSB 26-2395 Service bulletin
Aug 26, 2026
This article supersedes 26-2287. Reason for update: update the labor operation numbers to add MT to operations C, F, G, H, J, K, L and M, and correct the part number LIMZ-4A015-B to L1MZ-4A015-B. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: Harsh engagement Delayed engagement Harsh shift Delayed shift Illuminated malfuncti

The 1 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.

Trouble codes named on this system

P076F P07F7 P0729 P0731 P0732 P0733 P0734 P0735

Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2021 Ford F-150 names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.

Other systems with a record on the 2021 Ford F-150

Source: the same files

electrical problems 176 complaints
visibility and wiper problems 149 complaints
engine problems 130 complaints
exterior lighting problems 113 complaints
fuel system problems 106 complaints
brake problems 77 complaints

From here

Every 2027 model on file, by price Compare two vehicles, trim vs trim See what a VIN was priced at See what owners reported

Common questions

Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communications

Are transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2021 Ford F-150?

They are documented: NHTSA holds 441 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (35% of everything owners filed about it), and 137 manufacturer bulletins, 7 recalls are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.

Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2021 Ford F-150?

Yes — 7 campaigns are filed under this heading: 26V402000, 25V169000, 23V896000, 22V623000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2021 Ford F-150?

Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 55,000 miles; half of them between 25,000 and 82,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.

What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?

The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.