2021 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 94owner reports
- 60,000median miles
- $6,959median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 16, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
314 of the 1,015 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 94 of those describe transmission shudder, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2021 F-150.
Narrower sheets: Transmission jerks, lurches or bangs into gear (58 reports) · Transmission slips (31 reports)
Tick what matches of 94 reports
Transmission shudder 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: 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This is the biggest drivetrain group on the site: a transmission that shudders, slips, hesitates or bangs into gear. It's the everyday version of transmission trouble, where the car still drives but doesn't drive right, and it has three narrower sheets of its own for jerking, hesitation and slipping.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the clutch (11 reports), the transmission (9 reports), the torque converter (4 reports) and the valve body (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
7 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.
The Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) for low transmission fluid pressure may falsely activate and cause the transmission to unexpectedly shift into neutral.
The rear axle hub bolt may fatigue and break, which can result in damage to the axle hub splines.
Underbody heat and noise insulators may loosen and contact the aluminum driveshaft, which could damage the driveshaft and cause it to fracture.
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.
Unintended transmission downshift. Closed jul 29, 2024, led to recall 24V-444.
Unexpected transmission downshift. Closed oct 22, 2019, led to recall 19V-075.
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.
Transmission fluid fires. Closed jul 5, 1991.
None of these investigations covers the 2021 model year.
What owners paid
6 of the 94 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $400 to $9,400.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 41,000 and 81,000 miles, from the 27 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 21 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.
Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: Harsh engagement Delayed engagement Harsh shift Delayed shift Illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes ...
7L vehicles. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model Statement may exhibit a vibration/shudder felt during light throttle tip in at highway speeds (8,9,10 gear) with no diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) present.
Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit all of the following conditions: * Harsh engagement * Delayed engagement * Harsh shift * Delayed shift * Illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) ...
This bulletin supersedes TSB 25-2474 for 3 Part List corrections. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: * Harsh engagement * Delayed engagement * Harsh shift * Delayed shift * ...
17 more on the 2021 Ford F-150 page.
What owners wrote
“My 2021 Ford F-150 has been having trouble with the transmission. Hard shifting, shifting to 10th gear at 40mph and unable to downshift after slowing down. I have also had issues with the daytime running lights not working since around 45k miles. My truck only has 59K miles at the time of me typing this.”
Filed Jun 1, 2026 · 45,000 miles
“The transmission was slipping in 2nd and 10th gear. This was confirmed by the dealer. A full transmission had to be replaced at 66,000 miles. The vehicle had an excellent maintenance record and well kept. Ford did pay half of the cost but I still ended up spending $6k out of pocket and my vehicle was in the shop for 27 days.”
Filed Dec 26, 2025 · 66,000 miles
“Transmission, hard shifting,shifting out of gear wrong when towing sometimes when not Transmission was already overhauled under factory powertrain warranty at around 42000 miles”
Filed Mar 26, 2025 · 42,000 miles
“Truck has 30,129 miles driven. As car shifted into gear to drive, it suddenly went into neutral gear while driving. This was following a loud bang like sound followed by a rough shift into neutral. Truck eventually shifted back into gear. Truck has been at dealership for about a month, waiting for parts to repair/replace the transmission. Dealer service provider stated that this was a manufacturing problem.”
Filed Feb 24, 2023 · 30,129 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 94 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
- Driveshaft, axle or transfer case problems 85 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 80 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