Diagsheet

2021 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet

Windshield cracks or distorts

  • 51owner reports
  • 46,000median miles
  • 1involved a crash

Newest report Aug 25, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

163 of the 1,000 complaints on this car are about the windshield and wipers. 51 of those describe windshield.

Tick what matches of 51 reports

2
2
1
5
3

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the windshield (51 reports).

Recalls and investigations

6 recalls on the windshield and wipers cover the 2021 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.

25V-729Oct 24, 2025
Visibility:Sun/Moon Roof Assembly

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, 2021-2023 F-150, 2022 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, and F-450 SD vehicles. The moonroof wind deflector clips may be inadequately attached to the moonroof frame, which can result in the wind deflector detaching from the vehicle.

Risk and remedy
Risk: A detached wind deflector can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the moonroof wind deflector as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SB7. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 30, 2025.
23V-163Mar 10, 2023
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.

Risk and remedy
Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the wiper arms, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 13, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S10. This recall expands previous recall number 22V-250.
22V-842Nov 15, 2022
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 F-150 vehicles. The front windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.

Risk and remedy
Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front windshield wiper motor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 30, 2023. Remedy parts are expected in the 3rd Quarter of 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S71. This recall expands previous recall number 22V-142.
22V-250Apr 14, 2022
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Linkages

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.

Risk and remedy
Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S26.
22V-142Mar 11, 2022
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The front windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.

Risk and remedy
Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the front windshield wiper motor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 22, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S12.
21V-090Feb 18, 2021
Visibility:Windshield:Critical Fasteners

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 Standard (FMVSS) number 212, "Windshield Mounting."

Risk and remedy
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the windshield separates from the vehicle, it can increase the risk of injury.
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 is 21C06.

NHTSA investigations into the windshield and wipers on the F-150

PE23-001opened Jan 27, 2023
Structure · model years 2019

Windshield trim molding item detachment. Closed feb 8, 2024, led to recall 24V-031.

NHTSA summary
On January 27, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-001 to investigate allegations of A-pillar trim panel detachment on model year (MY) 2011-2019 Ford Explorer vehicles. At the time of opening, the office had received 164 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) reporting this failure. ODI has received 671 VOQs regarding this failure, including 1 alleged crash and 2 alleged injuries. Some consumers have reported that the failure occurred while they were driving at highway speeds, with the detached trim panel entering the path of travel of the vehicle behind them, requiring the driver of the following vehicle to take evasive action. It is noteworthy that motorists who experience this type of road hazard are less likely to accurately identify the subject vehicle the item detached from and report the event to the NHTSA. In its April 17, 2023 response to ODI’s information request, Ford provided 175 consumer complaints (including field reports) and 14,162 warranty claims related to A-pillar trim panel detachment. Ford relayed that the subject vehicles utilize a plastic A-pillar bracket, which is bolted to the vehicle structure during assembly. The A-pillar trim panel is attached to the bracket utilizing 7 plastic clips. Contributory factors which have been identified by Ford as leading to the subject defect include incomplete installation at the assembly plant, inadequate part stack up, damage to fasteners during installation, and failure to follow proper repai
PE99-019opened Mar 4, 1999
Structure · model years 1998

Spare tire wear. Closed jul 27, 1999.

NHTSA summary
DP99-002opened Mar 2, 1999
Structure · model years 1998

Spare tire mounting. Closed mar 17, 1999.

NHTSA summary
THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WAS PETITIONED TO COMMENCE A DEFECT INVESTIGATION OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES BY A LETTER SIGNED BY WILLIAM F. ALLARD AND DATED 15-FEB-98.THE PETITION ALLEGES THAT THE SPARE TIRE MOUNTING PLACES THE TIRE SIDEWALL DIRECTLY IN CONTACT WITH THE METAL UNDERCARRIAGE CAUSING WEAR AND DAMAGE OF THE SIDEWALL.THE PETITION FURTHER ALLEGES THAT WHEN THE DAMAGED TIRE IS USED, BLOWOUT COULD RESULT ON AN INTERSTATE PLACING VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND OTHERS AT RISK.

None of these investigations covers the 2021 model year.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 20,000 and 60,000 miles, from the 25 reports that gave a mileage.

121
1122
1323
1124
1225
326

What owners wrote

“Windshield wiper motor failure during a heavy rain driving down [XXX] at night with children in truck on the way to a soccer tournament in Tulsa Oklahoma. Had new wiper motor replaced at dealership due to failure. No symptoms or warning prior to the failure. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”

Filed Apr 15, 2025

“I was driving to in the morning and my entire rear window randomly shattered and glass flew everywhere in my truck and on me in the drivers seat.”

Filed Apr 1, 2025

“Just bought this truck. I was driving down the highway and my sunroof had exploded and blew off the top of my truck. I also noticed that my windshield is wavy and hard to see through.”

Filed Jan 31, 2025

“My rear passenger window shattered. My niece opened the door and the glass shattered. The window pane was held together by after market tint. It then fell under the vehicle. The vehicle is available for inspection until Friday, July 27, when it is scheduled for repair. The safety of the passengers was putt in jeopardy sure to the nature of the incident.”

Filed Jul 18, 2024

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 51 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.

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