Why would customers expect anything different from Ford?
The 2021 Ford F-150 continues to be a fan favorite with its comfortable interior and extreme towing capability. The automaker claims this model is “tougher than before,” but drivers have something else to say. In fact, this full-size pickup seems to struggle with the electrical system, powertrain, service brakes, structure quality and more.
Problems with the Electrical System
In today’s vehicles, the electrical system must be top-notch to power all of the latest innovations. However, the system found in the 2021 F-150 is sub-par at best.
One NHTSA complaint states, “The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 mph, the digital instrument cluster would inadvertently turn off and on, causing the speedometer and warning lights to become inoperable.”
Talk about driving in the dark. It is very difficult to operate a truck properly without all of this vital information. It turns out that there are even more electrical problems. In fact, these malfunctions make up the majority of the automaker’s service bulletins, with #SSM 49712 discussing defects with the climate temperature control. On top of turning up the heat in the cabin, things are about to get hot when Ford has to deal with these unhappy customers.
Problems with Service Brakes
Stopping the truck should be priority number one, especially when the driver is towing heavy equipment with the pickup. However, this seems to be another system that is causing trouble.
Another NHTSA review says, “I bought a new 2021 F-150 Powerboost exactly 60 days ago, drove approximately 1500 miles until I completely lost brakes on the car, almost causing an accident. I brought the car over to the [dealer] and after one day with my truck, they diagnosed the issue, made software updates to all modules, and returned the car. I got the car and within 5 minutes from the dealer, lost brakes again and had to manage to stop the vehicle… Returned to the dealer and it’s in for diagnosis again but they asked me to contact Ford. This is not acceptable, I put my family at risk twice and possibly others in the road with this truck.”
When it comes to handling, it seems that Ford is having some challenges. In fact, there is a recall related to steering issues. NHTSA Campaign Number 21V407000 illustrates affected trucks have a steering gear with internal damage. This problem turns into difficulty steering and stops the driver from turning the steering wheel as needed. Without this control, it becomes much easier for drivers to cause an accident, leaving defective F-150s as troublemakers on America’s roads. Maybe other drivers will just avoid getting near any F-150s on the road to protect themselves.
Problems with the Powertrain
A truck’s powertrain consists of the engine, transmission and other components that propel the vehicle forward. With the Ford F-150 models, both the engine and transmission seem to be causing trouble.
Here is a complaint about the engine from an Edmunds user. “I waited three years and was excited as he-l to get the new F150 King Ranch Powerboost hybrid. Was loving it when on day five while driving down the highway the speedometer started reading zero all the warnings started flashing and two or three times while headed back to the dealership the throttle stopped working. Been in the shop for the last three days and they’re trying to figure out what’s wrong and how to fix it. Incredibly disappointing. They won’t give me a new one. Almost $80,000.”
However, the issues go deeper when you look at a recent powertrain-related recall. NHTSA Campaign #21V381000 states that the two-piece driveshafts might separate because they weren’t assembled correctly. If the driveshaft separates, drive power can be lost and movement is possible even when the truck is in Park. At this point, some customers might be hoping the truck rolls away on its own. In fact, there are class action lawsuits on previous models, showing that some F-150 pickups also burned an excessive amount of fuel. With all of these factors in play, it’s hard to justify the cost of these Ford trucks. After all, it seems that the engine and powertrain are failing from multiple angles. Maybe that’s why more people have decided to jump ship from the Blue Oval to GM instead.
Problems with the Structure
With so many defects, it’s no wonder that the structure of the F-150 isn’t exceeding expectations either.
One Edmunds review states, “On a new 2021 Ford F150 – price range of $60-80K – should not have rust on the undercarriage – especially on the rear axle & diff. No excuse for that. The White trucks coming from the Kansas plant are like new but the Dearborn Plant in Michigan are nothing but rust. Totally unacceptable!”
In fact, there’s another recall that showcases the incompetence of Ford manufacturing. NHTSA Campaign Number #21V09000 states that more than 79,000 trucks have a windshield that wasn’t properly bonded at the factory. If the windshield were to separate during an accident, there could be serious injuries to the occupants. Of course, previous F-150 models also faced structure-related issues, such as the dashboard warping that prompted class-action lawsuits. If the 2021 Ford F-150 was built “tougher than before,” these issues wouldn’t exist. Maybe Ford hasn’t learned yet how to make a quality truck, causing everyone to wonder why people still flock to the brand.
Love is blind sometimes.