2021 Ford F-350 SD Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 13about this part
- Share
- 13%of 98 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 121,100miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 13 complaints about the electrical system of the 2021 Ford F-350 SD, 13% of the 98 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 121,100 miles.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“On my 21 f350 while towing a 36 foot gooseneck unloaded I noticed a burning wire smell. And I realized I had no more trailer brakes. After diagnosis of the system I found the factory trailer brake controller had melted on the inside. Causing it to loose braking.”
NHTSA complaint #11597337, filed 2024-06“Ford knew there was an issue back in 2021 as they so filed with your agency. Yet waited. Then warranty claims continued. Now, four years later they file as a safety issue, BUT have told me twice in phone calls that I can drive the truck, despite it could shut down on it's own while driving. I tow donated RV trailers to the North Carolina disaster, now I cannot as my dealership advised I not go on long trips. Ford refuses a like loaner, or any loaner at all. …”
NHTSA complaint #11636872, filed 2025-01“I was driving my truck home when it completely shut off, I lost all power to everything, including the power steering brakes. When I got home, I did some research on the Internet to see possible causes. Apparently there is a service bulletin for the fuse box having water getting into it from the cowl of the hood, which states it can do exactly what happened to my truck? You can also keep your truck running and not shutting off and just to hold host of other safety issues with the service bulletin. . …”
NHTSA complaint #11749077, filed 2026-07“Check engine light comes on almost everyday. After at least 5 minutes driving, this trucks engine will shut down with out notice. Usually when making a turn or coming to a stop light. When this happens you loose all steering control. You have to shift to neutral and try and restart. This has caused me to almost rearend a highway patrol vehicle. Very dangerous. I have had this vehicle in to the local Ford dealership on numerous occasions; however they will NOT run diagnostics to see what is happening. …”
NHTSA complaint #11473541, filed 2022-07“While driving my 21 F350 my truck would go into limp mode. The climate control stopped working, passenger window stopped, blind spot monitors, along with the mirror. After running forscan it showed every code possible. After an exhaustive search I finally found the main plug under the bed just above the spare tire. The wires inside of the insulation had corroded away to the point it had to be stripped back at least 1/2 inch before getting decent wires that wouldn't crumble when touched. This is a terrible place to put a plug that controls so much.”
NHTSA complaint #11596800, filed 2024-06Related service bulletins
- 11031263Apr 2, 2026Various 2020-2026 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with blind spot information system (BLIS) may experience an inoperative blind spot monitoring with a "Blind Spot System…
- 11029052Feb 24, 2026Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing…
- 11029595Feb 17, 2026Some 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC3 may experience various connectivity concerns with The Ford App Lincoln App including but not limited to: missing…
- 11025529Nov 6, 2025This article supersedes TSB 25-2119 to update the vehicles affected, parts list, and Service Procedure. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit an…
- 11024526Oct 21, 2025Some 2020-2025 various Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with blind spot information system (BLIS) may experience an inoperative blind spot monitoring with a "Blind Spot System…
- 11021803Aug 7, 2025Various 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may experience a partially or fully black center display screen at start-up using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto…
- 11020894Jul 18, 2025This article supersedes TSB 25-2200 to update the parts list to add the new camshaft and tappet service kit and add F-650/F-750. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model…
- 11019659Jun 11, 2025This article supersedes TSB 23-2076 to update the powertrain control module (PCM) software level addressing the condition. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement…
- 10250852Feb 29, 2024Some 2020-2023 Ford and Lincoln SYNC3 equipped vehicles may experience an inaccurate notification in the FordPassî/LincolnWayî app indicating Vehicle Has Entered Deep Sleep…
- 10244707Oct 5, 2023Some 2019-2020 Edge/F-150/Fusion/Continental/MKZ/Nautilus, 2019-2021 Mustang/Ranger/Transit Connect, 2020-2021 EcoSport/Escape/Expedition/Explorer/F-Super…
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 50% |
| 2025 | 4 | 29% |
| 2024 | 17 | 38% |
| 2023 | 13 | 32% |
| 2022 | 30 | 27% |
| 2021 | 13 | 13% |
| 2020 | 11 | 6% |
| 2019 | 16 | 3% |
| 2018 | 12 | 6% |
| 2017 | 30 | 5% |
| 2016 | 10 | 5% |
| 2015 | 16 | 8% |
| 2013 | 1 | 11% |
| 2012 | 2 | 7% |
| 2011 | 2 | 5% |
| 2010 | 2 | 4% |
| 2009 | 1 | 5% |
| 2008 | 5 | 5% |
| 2007 | 1 | 4% |
| 2006 | 9 | 7% |
| 2005 | 28 | 13% |
| 2004 | 29 | 22% |
| 2003 | 15 | 11% |
| 2002 | 16 | 13% |
| 2001 | 20 | 13% |
| 2000 | 15 | 10% |
| 1999 | 10 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2021 Ford F-350 SD
40 complaintsEngine
15 complaintsOther or unknown
10 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
10 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
7 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
5 complaintsSuspension
5 complaintsBrakes
4 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
4 complaintsSteering
4 complaintsBody and structure
3 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2021 Ford F-350 SD
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology