FORD F-450 SD · model year

2021 FORD F-450 SD

24 NHTSA complaints, and 12 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2021FORDF-450 SD carries 24 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2021 F-450 SD is electrical system with 5 filings, followed by structure:body (3) and power train (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 12 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 2021 F-450 SD, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

24
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

24 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5
STRUCTURE:BODY3
POWER TRAIN3
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH2
SERVICE BRAKES2
ENGINE2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
TRAILER HITCHES1
UNKNOWN OR OTHER1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL1

Recalls (12)

25V04800031/01/2025

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Expedition, 2021-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The rearview camera may display a blank or distorted image.

21V39000025/05/2021

POWER TRAIN:AXLE HUBS

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-350, F-450, F-550, and F-600 vehicles equipped with dual rear wheels and front wheel hub extenders. The front wheel hub extenders may be improperly attached to the front rotor hub assemblies, which could result in separation of the wheels and whe

21V37900024/05/2021

TRAILER HITCHES:FIFTH WHEEL ASSEMBLY

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Super Duty F-350 and F-450 vehicles equipped with a fifth wheel left-hand mounting bracket that may be cracked.

24V95700020/12/2024

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 F-Super Duty F250, F350, F450, F550, F600, and 2021-2022 F-650, F750 vehicles. Biodiesel deposits may form on the pump drivetrain roller components, which could lead to failure of the high pressure fuel pump.

25V62600019/09/2025

STEERING:COLUMN

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-250, F-350, and F-450 vehicles. The steering column upper shaft may detach from the steering column and result in a loss of steering control.

21V09000018/02/2021

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD:CRITICAL FASTENERS

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 and 2020-2021 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requi

26V15800017/03/2026

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 F-Super Duty F250, F350, F450, F550, 2021-2022 F600, and 2022 F750 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 24V957. Biodiesel deposits may form on the pump drivetrain roller components, which could lead to failure of the hi

22V25000014/04/2022

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-150, Expedition, 2020-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, and 2020-2021 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.

22V01300014/01/2022

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, and Medium Duty F-650 and F-750 vehicles equipped with 6.7L diesel engines. A small void may be present in the top-center of the vehicle's underhood secondary fuel filter cap, which may progress to a p

25V68600010/10/2025

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, and F-450 SD vehicles. The 360-degree view camera system may not display a rearview image properly in certain lighting conditions.

23V42000009/06/2023

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with third-row seating; and 2019-2023 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCab vehicles. The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head re

25V45500007/07/2025

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, 2021-2022 Lincoln Navigator, Mustang, F-150, and 2022 Expedition vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving.

Recent Complaints

20250915FirePOWER TRAIN

The contact owned a 2021 Ford F-450 Super Duty. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH on an 8 percent decline and pulling a trailer, the vehicle slightly responded upon depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, the transmission failed to downshift and was stuck in 10th gear. The contact pumped the brakes; however, the failure persisted. The contact drove into the shoulder of the roadway, and the vehicle was able to stop. The contact noticed smoke, and upon inspecting underneath the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear brakes were on fire. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was towed to the residence of the contact's friend, where the trailer was detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was driven to the dealer, where it was test-driven, and the contact was informed that no failure was found. The vehicle was taken back to the residence of the contact's friend. The contact stated that upon depressing

Mileage: 78,000

20250915FireSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

The contact owned a 2021 Ford F-450 Super Duty. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH on an 8 percent decline and pulling a trailer, the vehicle slightly responded upon depressing the brake pedal. Additionally, the transmission failed to downshift and was stuck in 10th gear. The contact pumped the brakes; however, the failure persisted. The contact drove into the shoulder of the roadway, and the vehicle was able to stop. The contact noticed smoke, and upon inspecting underneath the vehicle, the contact noticed that the rear brakes were on fire. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher. There was no injury sustained. The vehicle was towed to the residence of the contact's friend, where the trailer was detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was driven to the dealer, where it was test-driven, and the contact was informed that no failure was found. The vehicle was taken back to the residence of the contact's friend. The contact stated that upon depressing

Mileage: 78,000

20250915FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-450 SD. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V957000 (Fuel System, Diesel); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

20250728ENGINE

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY WHICH CAUSED FOR BRAKES AND STEERING TO FAIL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUN STATE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DID A DIAGNOSIS. THEY FOUND EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF METAL IN THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM PLUS REPLACED ALL INJECTORS WHICH NOW HAS AN OPEN INVOICE OF $15,923.97. AFTER RESEARCH WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE CP4 WHICH IS THE MANUFACTIRE RECALL NUMBER 24S78 AND NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 24V957. FORD IS NOT WILLING TO COVER THE COST OF THE RECALL REPAIRS AND THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT COOPERATING AS WELL. THIS IS A COMPANY VEHICLE LOSING THE COMPANY $3K PER DAY.

20250728FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY WHICH CAUSED FOR BRAKES AND STEERING TO FAIL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUN STATE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DID A DIAGNOSIS. THEY FOUND EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF METAL IN THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM PLUS REPLACED ALL INJECTORS WHICH NOW HAS AN OPEN INVOICE OF $15,923.97. AFTER RESEARCH WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE CP4 WHICH IS THE MANUFACTIRE RECALL NUMBER 24S78 AND NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 24V957. FORD IS NOT WILLING TO COVER THE COST OF THE RECALL REPAIRS AND THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT COOPERATING AS WELL. THIS IS A COMPANY VEHICLE LOSING THE COMPANY $3K PER DAY.

20250728POWER TRAIN

VEHICLE SHUT DOWN WHILE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY WHICH CAUSED FOR BRAKES AND STEERING TO FAIL. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SUN STATE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY DID A DIAGNOSIS. THEY FOUND EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF METAL IN THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL SYSTEM. THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FUEL SYSTEM PLUS REPLACED ALL INJECTORS WHICH NOW HAS AN OPEN INVOICE OF $15,923.97. AFTER RESEARCH WE FOUND OUT THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE CP4 WHICH IS THE MANUFACTIRE RECALL NUMBER 24S78 AND NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 24V957. FORD IS NOT WILLING TO COVER THE COST OF THE RECALL REPAIRS AND THE DEALERSHIP IS NOT COOPERATING AS WELL. THIS IS A COMPANY VEHICLE LOSING THE COMPANY $3K PER DAY.

20250716SERVICE BRAKES

My 2021 Ford F 450 will not actuate the electric over hydraulic brakes on my gooseneck trailer. I was hauling my tractor to one of my hay fields when a car pulled out in front me. I apply my foot to the brake pedal and the truck and trailer did not slow down liked it use to and I almost rear ended the vehicle that pulled out in front of me. After this I try to apply just the trailer brakes using the brake actuator on the dash and the trailer brakes never operated. I check my fuses and they were good and I checked the trailer using another truck and they worked. I then checked the trailer wiring connections on my truck and they were good. I have done a manual reset on my trucks programming and the truck still will not activate the trailer brakes. Please help.

20250716ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My 2021 Ford F 450 will not actuate the electric over hydraulic brakes on my gooseneck trailer. I was hauling my tractor to one of my hay fields when a car pulled out in front me. I apply my foot to the brake pedal and the truck and trailer did not slow down liked it use to and I almost rear ended the vehicle that pulled out in front of me. After this I try to apply just the trailer brakes using the brake actuator on the dash and the trailer brakes never operated. I check my fuses and they were good and I checked the trailer using another truck and they worked. I then checked the trailer wiring connections on my truck and they were good. I have done a manual reset on my trucks programming and the truck still will not activate the trailer brakes. Please help.

20250221POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-450 SD. The contact stated that the vehicle was designed with a feature known as neutral idle control (NIC), where the vehicle automatically shifted into neutral(N) while at a complete stop to reduce fuel consumption. The contact stated that while at a stop with the feature engaged, the vehicle abruptly jerked, or hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the transmission was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure was a normal characteristic of the feature and that no additional repairs could be made to the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 2,763.

Mileage: 2,763

20250102ENGINE

High pressure fuel pump failed while driving towing a trailer. Was able to pull over safely, entire fuel system needs to be replaced. Unknown if anything else was damaged yet. Vehicle is still in for repairs, estimate is between 9-13k parts and labor. I hope it didn't destroy the entire engine.

20250102FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

High pressure fuel pump failed while driving towing a trailer. Was able to pull over safely, entire fuel system needs to be replaced. Unknown if anything else was damaged yet. Vehicle is still in for repairs, estimate is between 9-13k parts and labor. I hope it didn't destroy the entire engine.

20240716ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-450 SD. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked on the side of the road, the driver attempted to start the vehicle, but the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the battery junction box harness had failed. The dealer replaced the battery junction box harness assembly, engine module, fuse junction box, and the wiring assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact related the failure to TSB Number: 20-2298. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 124,483.

Mileage: 124,483

20231026ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-450 SD. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the electronic brake control became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called another local dealer, Ray's Ford Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram 385 Bypass Rd., Brandenburg, KY 40108, and was informed that the vehicle was not covered under a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V193000 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

Mileage: 95,000

20231026ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-450 SD. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the electronic brake control became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called another local dealer, Ray's Ford Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram 385 Bypass Rd., Brandenburg, KY 40108, and was informed that the vehicle was not covered under a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V193000 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

Mileage: 95,000

20231026SERVICE BRAKES

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-450 SD. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the electronic brake control became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called another local dealer, Ray's Ford Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram 385 Bypass Rd., Brandenburg, KY 40108, and was informed that the vehicle was not covered under a recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V193000 (Electrical System). The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.

Mileage: 95,000

20230617STRUCTURE:BODY

My F-450 has had the tailgate recall 19S48 completed. However, this did not correct the problem and the tailgate still unlatches and extends without warning while driving. In this latest incident, a cargo trailer I was towing was severely damaged as a result.

20230617LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH

My F-450 has had the tailgate recall 19S48 completed. However, this did not correct the problem and the tailgate still unlatches and extends without warning while driving. In this latest incident, a cargo trailer I was towing was severely damaged as a result.

20220628UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The tailgate opened while I was traveling down the road! I did Not hit any buttons. It causes damage to my RV and my truck.

20220225TRAILER HITCHES

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-450. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V379000 (Trailer Hitches). The contact called multiple local dealers, Texas Country Ford (321 E Coke Rd, Winnsboro, TX 75494: (903) 342-3700), Tyler Ford, LTD (2626 S SW Loop 323, Tyler, TX 75701:(800) 788-7876) and Pegues-Hurst Motor Company (200 TX-63 Spur, Longview, TX 75601: (903) 758-6211) and was informed that the dealer was not equipped to perform the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

20210816LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH

While towing my gooseneck horse trailer the tailgate opened randomly. I had towed for about 20 miles and got off the freeway and was driving through a parking lot when it happened. When I turned the tailgate struck the horse trailer causing body parts to fall in the roadway which could be dangerous to other motorist. Normally when the tailgate is open a message appears on the dash. No message was received, no buttons on keys or dash were depressed to cause this to occur.

Compare 2021FORDF-450 SD to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2021 FORD F-450 SD have?
The 2021 FORD F-450 SD has 24 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2021 FORD F-450 SD?
Yes, the 2021 FORD F-450 SD has 12 recall(s). The most common affected component is BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 FORD F-450 SD?
The most-complained component for the 2021 FORD F-450 SD is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:BODY and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2021 FORD F-450 SD safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.