2021 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails
- 72owner reports
- 35,000median miles
- $1,000median quote
- 3involved a crash
Newest report Aug 16, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
365 of the 1,015 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 72 of those describe infotainment.
Narrower sheets: Backup camera goes black or freezes (26 reports)
Tick what matches of 72 reports
Infotainment 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
Screen complaints read like a list of small betrayals. The display goes black or freezes, the backup camera shows nothing when you shift into reverse, CarPlay or Android Auto keeps dropping, or the radio changes volume on its own. Many owners had a software update that didn't fix it. A narrower sheet covers backup camera failures on their own, and another covers screens that freeze.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the camera (44 reports), the head unit or screen (33 reports), the software (13 reports) and the module (7 reports).
Recalls and investigations
13 recalls on the electrical system cover the 2021 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
A software error may cause the rearview camera image to be obstructed by the infotainment home screen menu when the vehicle is placed in reverse.
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 moonroof wind deflector clips may be inadequately attached to the moonroof frame, which can result in the wind deflector detaching from the vehicle.
A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.
Due to a software error, a towed trailer equipped with an electric or electric-over hydraulic brake system may not brake.
An over-the-air software update to the body control module (BCM) may have disabled both reverse lights.
Contact with the rear axle housing may damage the wiring harness, causing the electric parking brake to activate unexpectedly.
The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.
The front windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.
The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.
Due to a software error, a towed trailer equipped with an electric or electric-over hydraulic brake system may not brake.
The front windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.
During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash.
All 29 recalls on the 2021 Ford F-150, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the F-150
Rearview camera fmvss 111 noncompliance. Open.
Engine compartment fires. Closed aug 2, 2006, led to recall 05V-388.
None of these investigations covers the 2021 model year.
What owners paid
5 of the 72 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $500 to $1,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 25,000 and 70,000 miles, from the 28 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 80 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.
This bulletin updates 26-2206. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) C1001:31, U3000:89, and/or U3000:49 stored in the image processing module A (IPMA) and at least one of the following ...
Some 2021-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an "Updating SYNC" message on the vehicle center display screen after an over the air (OTA) update.
Some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above equipped with SYNC4 may experience a blank center display screen or black center display after welcome animation.
Various 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 Fault" message displayed in the instrument panel cluster (IPC).
76 more on the 2021 Ford F-150 page.
What owners wrote
“360.Camera System has failed and is having the same known issues as the other recalled Ford vehicles.”
Filed Jun 11, 2024
“The vehicle will occasionally freeze on the infotainment splash screen. This prevents the rear view camera from activating when the vehicle is in reverse. Furthermore, the vehicle has already been serviced for a prior issue where the infotainment system (and rear view camera video) would momentarily freeze (1-4 seconds) when the camera was activated”
Filed Apr 10, 2024
“The reverse camera either doesn't work while backing up, or it freezes while backing up. I have video of it screen frozen showing in reverse while driving forward down the road.”
Filed Sep 4, 2023
“Rear camera becomes inoperable which poses risk to others and myself. Screen just goes black.”
Filed Jul 8, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 3 of 72 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. 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
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 80 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