2021 Ford F-450 SD Recalls, Complaints & Specs

12 safety recalls list the 2021 Ford F-450 SD, and owners have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA. At least one recall carries a do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. Check your own VIN below.

safety recalls

owner complaints to NHTSA

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complaints citing a crash / fire

12 safety recalls for the 2021 Ford F-450 SD

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

Fuel pump (fuel system)

NHTSA 26V158000 Reported March 17, 2026 9,839 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

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 high pressure fuel pump.

Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed mailed April 7, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number…
Software (back over prevention)

NHTSA 25V686000 Reported October 10, 2025 291,901 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

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.

Remedy: Dealers will update the image processing module software, free of charge.This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Interim letters notifying owners of…
Column (steering)

NHTSA 25V626000 Reported September 19, 2025 115,539 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

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.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering column, and repair or replace the upper shaft as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 20, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…
Fuel pump (fuel system)

NHTSA 25V455000 Reported July 7, 2025 850,318 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

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.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump on super duty vehicles and update the powertrain control module (PCM) software on all other affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July…
Camera (back over prevention)

NHTSA 25V048000 Reported January 31, 2025 91,580 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

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.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 18, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
Fuel pump (fuel system)

NHTSA 24V957000 Reported December 20, 2024 295,449 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

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.

Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) and Transmission Control Module (TCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service…
Owners/service/other manual (equipment)

NHTSA 23V420000 Reported June 9, 2023 691,133 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

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 restraints. As such, these vehicles fail…

Remedy: Ford will mail the Owner's Manual addendums that describe how to adjust and remove the head restraints for the center seating positions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may…
Linkages (visibility)

NHTSA 22V250000 Reported April 14, 2022 652,996 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

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.

Remedy: Dealers will replace both front windshield wiper arms, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 24, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available 3rd…
Fuel system, diesel

NHTSA 22V013000 Reported January 14, 2022 19,697 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

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 pinhole over time, allowing fuel to leak…

Remedy: Dealers will replace the primary and secondary fuel filters, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 28, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
Axle hubs (power train) Do not drive

NHTSA 21V390000 Reported May 25, 2021 17,616 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

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 wheel extenders from the vehicle.

Remedy: Owners are instructed not to drive their vehicles until the torque of the wheel extender nuts can be verified. Dealers will inspect and tighten the front wheel hub extender nuts, free of charge. Owner notification…
Fifth wheel assembly (trailer hitches)

NHTSA 21V379000 Reported May 24, 2021 1,796 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

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.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the mounting bracket, and replace the bracket if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 16, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
Critical fasteners (visibility) and windshield (visibility)

NHTSA 21V090000 Reported February 18, 2021 79,017 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

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 requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety…

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove and reinstall the windshield, free of charge. The recall began April 16, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall…

18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2021 Ford F-450 SD have filed 18 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a fire. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 43,242 miles. Complaints peaked in 2025 with 6 filed that year.

Most-reported components

Electrical system5
Power train4
Structure: body3
Engine2
Fuel/propulsion system2
Latches/locks/linkages: latch2
Service brakes2
Unknown or other2

What owners are reporting

“Unknown. This vehicle when driving and come to a complete stop will jerk forward. It has been to 2 different ford dealerships to assist with this issue and has been "covered" under transmission contro”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 16, 2026 · Power train

“Failure of a $70 thermocouple sensor in the air conditioning unit requires replacement of the entire evaporative cooler, which requires removal and reinstallation of the entire dash from the vehicle.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 9, 2026 · Unknown or other

Compare Ford F-450 SD model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Ford F-450 SD model year in NHTSA's database.

Model year	Recalls	Complaints
1991 Ford F-450 SD	0	6
1992 Ford F-450 SD	1	3
1993 Ford F-450 SD	3	5
1994 Ford F-450 SD	2	3
1995 Ford F-450 SD	2	2
1996 Ford F-450 SD	2	2
1997 Ford F-450 SD	3	4
1998 Ford F-450 SD	2	1
1999 Ford F-450 SD	9	66
2000 Ford F-450 SD	5	43
2001 Ford F-450 SD	7	23
2002 Ford F-450 SD	4	14
2003 Ford F-450 SD	5	16
2004 Ford F-450 SD	2	33
2005 Ford F-450 SD	4	40
2006 Ford F-450 SD	1	35
2007 Ford F-450 SD	1	16
2008 Ford F-450 SD	3	68
2009 Ford F-450 SD	5	3
2010 Ford F-450 SD	6	3
2011 Ford F-450 SD	8	6
2012 Ford F-450 SD	7	3
2013 Ford F-450 SD	8	2
2014 Ford F-450 SD	4	1
2015 Ford F-450 SD	4	1
2016 Ford F-450 SD	3	1
2017 Ford F-450 SD	11	1
2018 Ford F-450 SD	7	0
2019 Ford F-450 SD	9	3
2020 Ford F-450 SD	10	0
2021 Ford F-450 SD	12	18
2022 Ford F-450 SD	14	24
2023 Ford F-450 SD	13	5
2024 Ford F-450 SD	3	8
2025 Ford F-450 SD	4	2
2026 Ford F-450 SD	3	1

Checking a specific 2021 Ford F-450 SD

How do I know if my 2021 Ford F-450 SD has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 12 campaigns currently list the 2021 Ford F-450 SD; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 21V090000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Ford models

F-15037,961 complaints
Explorer34,566 complaints
Escape27,430 complaints
Fusion22,405 complaints
Focus22,096 complaints
Taurus18,159 complaints
Windstar14,158 complaints
Edge14,065 complaints

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.