2021 Ford F-150 brake problems
77 of the 1,277 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford F-150 name the brakes (NHTSA’s “Service Brakes” heading — the hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist). Filed under the same heading: 1 recall. 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.
What owners filed about the brakes
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 77 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2021: 15 · 2022: 11 · 2023: 16 · 2024: 17 · 2025: 8 · 2026: 10
Half of the 16 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the brake problem between 6,000 and 45,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,277 complaints in all about the 2021 Ford F-150, 10 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 “Service Brakes” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford F-150 brake problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the brakes. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the ABS, auto collision, and traction control warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel while depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with a defective electronic brake booster.
Electronic parking brake activated unexpectedly at low speed after taking off from a stop. From a stop traveling downhill at a low rate of speed, the parking break activated and caused the truck to skid to a halt three times causing a safety issue for drivers around the vehicle.
2021 Ford F-150. Consumer writes in regards to safety recall 21s56. The consumer stated the vehicle began rolling while in park and the engine powered off. The vehicle struck a trash can. The vehicle was scheduled for an appointment to be diagnosed
Brakes failed to stop vehicle when entering my garage. Vehicles brake pedal went all the way to the floor board while truck continued to roll crashing into garage wall damaging personal items stored in garage as well as drywall, studs, and hair-line vertical cracks in exterior brick veneer. I have security video of the complete incident
1) Pre-collision assist not available---- when starting after vehicle has been sitting off for one hour. Service AvanceTrac----when starting after vehicle has been sitting off for one hour. Hill start assist not available-----when starting after vehicle has been sitting off for one hour.
What is on file about the brakes
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 21V533000 HighJul 15, 2021 · 56 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The electronic brake booster may leak brake fluid into the electronic control unit, which could result in reduced braking performance.
Other systems with a record on the 2021 Ford F-150
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 441 complaints
- electrical problems 176 complaints
- visibility and wiper problems 149 complaints
- engine problems 130 complaints
- exterior lighting problems 113 complaints
- fuel system problems 106 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre brake problems common on the 2021 Ford F-150?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 77 owner complaints naming the brakes on this model year (6% of everything owners filed about it), and 1 recall is 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 brakes on the 2021 Ford F-150?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 21V533000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do brake problems show up on the 2021 Ford F-150?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 40,000 miles; half of them between 6,000 and 45,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Service Brakes" heading cover?
The hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.