2021 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 80owner reports
- 35,000median miles
- $2,800median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
561 of the 1,015 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 80 of those describe stalling.
Tick what matches of 80 reports
Stalling on other F-150 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the fuel pump (16 reports), the battery (6 reports) and the alternator (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
15 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2021 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may lose communication with the vehicle, possibly causing a loss of brake and turn signal lights, or a loss of brake function.
The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving.
The Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for low transmission fluid pressure may falsely activate and cause the transmission to unexpectedly shift into neutral.
Due to a software error, a towed trailer equipped with an electric or electric-over hydraulic brake system may not brake.
The engine intake valves may break while driving, which can result in engine failure and a loss of drive power.
An over-the-air software update to the body control module (BCM) may have disabled both reverse lights.
The rear axle hub bolt may fatigue and break, which can result in damage to the axle hub splines.
Contact with the rear axle housing may damage the wiring harness, causing the electric parking brake to activate unexpectedly.
Underbody heat and noise insulators may loosen and contact the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture.
A single vehicle may have been assembled without a fuel tank front attachment resulting in an unsecured fuel tank attachment strap.
Due to a software error, a towed trailer equipped with an electric or electric-over hydraulic brake system may not brake.
The Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for low transmission fluid pressure may falsely activate and cause the transmission to unexpectedly shift into neutral.
Underbody heat and noise insulators may loosen and contact the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture.
The two-piece driveshafts may have been improperly assembled, which could result in driveshaft separation.
All 29 recalls on the 2021 Ford F-150, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the F-150
Unintended transmission downshift and rear wheel lock-up. Open, led to recall 26V-237.
Unintended transmission downshift and rear wheel lock-up. Closed jan 30, 2026.
Low-pressure fuel pump failure. Closed sep 19, 2025, led to recall 25V-455.
Unintended transmission downshift. Closed jul 29, 2024, led to recall 24V-444.
Loss of motive power. Closed oct 31, 2024, led to recall 24V-635.
Unexpected transmission downshift. Closed oct 22, 2019, led to recall 19V-075.
Reduced power during hard acceleration. Closed apr 7, 2014.
Fuel tank strap failure due to corrosion. Closed aug 19, 2011, led to recall 11V-385.
Fuel tank strap corrosion/rust. Closed may 23, 2011.
Cng regulator leak. Closed feb 27, 2009.
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head. Closed jan 4, 2006.
Engine compartment fires. Closed aug 2, 2006, led to recall 05V-388.
Ford f-series dual fuel tank leakage. Closed nov 4, 1999, led to recall 93V-125.
Automatic transmission control. Closed aug 27, 1998, led to recall 97V-147.
Failure transmission park engagement/loc. Closed sep 16, 1997, led to recall 97V-147.
Idle air spd ctrl vlv malf. Closed aug 31, 1994.
Idle air spd ctrl vlv malf. Closed jul 30, 1993.
Transmission fluid fires. Closed jul 5, 1991.
What owners paid
12 of the 80 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,200 to $4,500.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 26,000 and 65,000 miles, from the 19 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 5 service bulletins or notices for the 2021 Ford F-150 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Quality Improvements include: -Eliminates potential Emergency Parking Brake activation when wire harness experience a short.
Software Update PU1009-SS-NS for 2021-2023 MY F-150 vehicles is now available. Quality Improvements include: - Robustness action in operation of vehicle to detect low-state-of-charge battery and prevent engine stall, as well as provide improved warning to ...
Software Update PU1009-SS-NS for 2023 MY F-150 vehicles is now available. Quality Improvements include: -Eliminate incorrect Fuel System Lean PCM Fault DTC/MIL setting.
Some 2021 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 2.7L EcoBoost engine and built on or before 14-Jun-2021 may experience lack/loss of power with an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) and diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0299 in the powertrain control module ...
1 more on the 2021 Ford F-150 page.
What owners wrote
“The truck stalled while driving on back road in the middle of the night we thought it was pout of gas but we still had 100 miles 2nd night same thing but had 250 miles left 3rd day while hearting up in the morning it began to sputter and then quit will not restart now Ford does not seemed concerned nor will offer any help”
Filed Dec 3, 2025
“Pulling onto [XXX] , with cars coming at me at 55 MPH or more, the transmission slammed into gear and caused it to stall. Dealership diagnosed CDF failure and recommended replacement of the transmission. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”
Filed Oct 13, 2025
“The truck hesitated at a section in the highway where it almost stalled out and I needed to cross over and almost got hit by on coming traffic. Also it has happened multiple times going down the highway the vehicle will start to stop and go it feels like the vehicle is going to stall out. This is very dangerous and I feel like this needs immediate attention”
Filed Sep 2, 2025
“Mostly when pulling out of parking lot but entering traffic at slow speeds complete loss of power for 4 to 5 seconds or longer.”
Filed Aug 7, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 80 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 94 reports
- Driveshaft, axle or transfer case problems 85 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 72 reports
- Headlights too dim or fail 67 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 64 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 51 reports
- Windshield wipers stop working 35 reports
- Fuel pump failure 31 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 30 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 29 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 26 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 25 reports