2021 Ford F-250 SD Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report diesel fuel-system troubles, especially high-pressure fuel pump and fuel-injector problems that leave the truck hard to start, in reduced-power mode, or stalled. A second common theme is 10R140 automatic transmission complaints — rough or delayed engagement and slipping — with reports spread across a wide mileage range. Camera, wiper, and steering-column items also appear, several of them tied to open recall campaigns.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Diesel high-pressure fuel pump failure and no-start

   • 21 complaints (13%)
   • median 115,000 mi at 4.6 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe trucks that crank without starting, lose power while driving, or drop into reduced-power mode and then stall. Dealers have diagnosed failed high-pressure (CP4-style) fuel pumps, sometimes with fuel-system contamination requiring pump, injector, or module replacement. Many reports mention that parts for the related recall were not yet available when they contacted a dealer. Mostly reported between about 55,000 and 135,000 miles; several owners describe the first symptom as a no-start after the truck sat.

   Recall 24V957000Recall 26V1580001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether recalls 24V957 and 26V158 have been completed and whether the fuel filters were serviced on schedule. A fuel sample and a look for metal debris in the filter housing are worth requesting.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-250. 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 contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of automotive power, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was scanned by an independent mechanic, and DTC: P0087; was retrieved. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11661251, filed 2025-05, 133,071 miles

   “The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-250. The contact stated that upon attempting to start the vehicle, the engine was struggling to turn over, and the vehicle failed to start. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed because the contact was unable to take the vehicle to the dealer. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11641413, filed 2025-02, 67,994 miles
2. 2
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Rearview camera blank, blue or distorted

   Mentioned in 7 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the backup camera showing a blue or black screen, a distorted or flickering image, or a 'camera not available' message when reversing, sometimes worse in hot weather or low light. Several owners say the dealer told them their vehicle was not covered by the related camera recall. Reported from about 8,000 to 77,000 miles, often intermittently and in hot or low-light conditions.

   Recall 25V686000Recall 25V442000Recall 25V0480001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the camera image in reverse in daylight and after the truck has sat in the sun. Confirm whether the camera-related recalls were applied to the vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The back up camera and detection system glitches out when the weather is hot outside. When the cameras goes from working to not working or giving glitching screen effects it really affects the safety of being able to see what’s behind you while backing up. I’ve had no system alerts on this issue it just has a mind of its own. There is a recall out for this issue but I was told it was a vin specific issue and that’s not the case. There is a clearly a problem with the software that’s affecting my same year model.”

   NHTSA complaint #11664443, filed 2025-06

   “The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V686000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rear-view camera went black and failed to operate. Additionally, the Blind Spot Monitoring indicators on both the driver’s and passenger’s side exterior mirrors were inoperable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 48,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11709898, filed 2026-01, 48,000 miles
3. 3
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Windshield and wiper concerns

   • 10 complaints (6%)
   • median 41,500 mi at 3.6 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Owners report windshield wipers detaching or failing while driving, and some describe water entering the cab near a loose windshield that led to corrosion at the body control module and loss of horn and airbag function. Several complaints note that the windshield-bonding and wiper recalls had no parts available at the time. Reported from about 8,000 miles upward, including trucks that had not yet shown a failure but were awaiting recall parts.

   Recall 22V250000Recall 21V090000

   What to check: Inspect the windshield edges for gaps or water staining and confirm both the wiper and windshield-mounting recalls were completed. Cycle the wipers and check the horn and airbag indicator.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-250. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V250000 (Visibility) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. 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 stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed the windshield wipers detached from the vehicle. The approximate failure mileage was 8,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”

   NHTSA complaint #11468167, filed 2022-06, 8,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-250. The contact stated that upon routine State Inspection at the local authorized dealer, the horn and the air bags failed to operate as intended. Upon further inspection, corrosion was found on the body control module from water leaking into the unit. The contact stated that the front passenger’s side windshield was loose, and pressure was applied, possibly causing the water to leak into the unit. The vehicle was not repaired because the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V090000 (Visibility). …”

   NHTSA complaint #11746498, filed 2026-06, 75,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, delayed or harsh engagement

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the 10R140 automatic slipping on start-up, hesitating before the truck moves, shifting erratically, or engaging harshly between reverse and drive. Owners report the truck may not respond when the accelerator is pressed even as engine speed rises, and some dealers declined to diagnose when no warning light was stored. Reported from a few thousand miles up to roughly 95,000 miles, with several low-mileage examples.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a cold start, let the truck sit overnight if possible and note how long it takes to engage drive and reverse. Ask whether any transmission software updates or repairs were performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-250. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the transmission was slipping. The contact wait for a while before the vehicle responded as needed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11601534, filed 2024-07, 2,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-250. The contact stated that while at a stop and attempting to accelerate, the RPMs rapidly increased, but the vehicle failed to respond as intended and experienced a loss of motive power. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 70,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11595676, filed 2024-06, 70,000 miles
5. 5
   Suspension

   Front-end wobble or shaking at highway speed

   • 18 complaints (11%)
   • median 37,250 mi at 3.2 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2021–2025

   Owners describe violent steering-wheel shake and vibration after hitting a bump or expansion joint at highway speed, sometimes requiring the truck to be slowed and pulled over. Others report the truck pulling hard to one side over uneven pavement, and some mention a related steering damper customer program that their vehicle was not covered by. Reported from about 11,000 to 43,900 miles, typically at highway speeds over rough or uneven pavement.

   Recall 25V626000

   What to check: Test drive at highway speed over uneven pavement and watch for steering shake. Ask whether the steering damper and front-end components have been inspected or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While Driving down the highway at ~75 MPH, the highway had a bit of a bumpy patch and when the truck went over this bumpy section of road the steering wheel started to wobble horribly and uncontrollably. It felt like a harmonic imbalance in the front end and continued until slowing down and pulling over. This is a very dangerous situation when this problem occurs- the vehicle cannot be effectively controlled. When I returned home I researched this condition and come to find out this issue is well known as the F250 Death Wobble . …”

   NHTSA complaint #11491621, filed 2022-10

   “The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-250. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle started shaking uncontrollably, without any warning. The contact was able to stop on the side of the roadway. The checked for a possible tire blowout however, there was no blowout. The vehicle then started operating as designed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 43,900.”

   NHTSA complaint #11495834, filed 2022-12, 43,900 miles

Buying note. For a used example, prioritize trucks with documented completion of the fuel-pump, camera, wiper, and windshield recalls, and get a cold-start and highway test drive to check transmission engagement and front-end stability. A fuel-system inspection and service history on the diesel are the most useful things to request before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.