The contact owns a 2021 Forest River Sunseeker RV built on a 2021 Ford E-450 Chassis. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45-50 MPH uphill, the vehicle made a loud banging and rapping sound and lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated during the failure. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with catastrophic engine failure caused by cylinder and lifter failures. The vehicle was repaired. The contact associated the failure with Ford Customer Satisfaction Program: 24B27 - Supplement #2 (Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Software Update) and the federal safety agency Action Number: DP26011 (Engine). The manufacturer was notified of the failure but denied assistance. The failure mileage was 26,300.
The worst 2021 Ford E-450 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
Specific symptoms reported on the 2021 Ford E-450
Recalls 6
Engine
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 E-350 and E-450 vehicles that received an incomplete software update under recall 20V795. The engine cover may become excessively hot.
- Risk
- Direct contact with certain areas of engine cover surface in the passenger compartment may increase the risk of injury or burns to the skin of the driver or front seat passenger.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the powertrain calibration for heat management under elevated idle conditions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC7. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on beginning December 22, 2025.
Recall number 25V793000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 E-350 and E-450 vehicles equipped with dual rear wheels. An inadequate connection between the power steering pressure line and the brake hydroboost unit may result in a sudden loss of power steering fluid.
- Risk
- A sudden loss of power steering fluid can result in a loss of power steering and power brake assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the power steering pressure line and the hydroboost jumper line, free of charge. Vehicles in this recall were previously recalled under 22V‑089 and owners will need to have the new remedy completed even if their vehicle was remedied under the prior recall. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 21, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S07.
Recall number 24V097000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 E-350 and E-450 vehicles equipped with dual rear wheels. An inadequate connection between the power steering pressure line and the brake Hydroboost unit may result in a sudden loss of power steering fluid.
- Risk
- A sudden loss of power steering fluid can result in a loss of power steering and power brake assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the connection between the power steering lines and the Hydroboost unit, and replace the power steering lines, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 18, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S08.
Recall number 22V089000 · Recall details
Engine
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 E-350 and E-450 vehicles. The underside of the engine cover may have mispositioned insulation, allowing the cover to get excessively hot.
- Risk
- Direct and continuous contact with certain areas of engine cover surface in the passenger compartment may increase the risk of injury or burns to the skin of the driver or front seat passenger.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine cover for gaps between the rubber seal and the insulation. If gaps are present, the dealer will install engine cover insulation patches in the right hand and left hand inner lower corners of the engine cover. The dealer will also update the powertrain calibration for heat management under elevated idle conditions should a vehicle be equipped with SEIC or BCP, free of charge. The recall began February 15, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S73.
Recall number 20V795000 · Recall details
Electronic stability control (ESC)
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 E-350 and E-450 vehicles. A wire harness in the rear of the vehicle may contact the vehicle frame, resulting in damage to the circuits that support the fuel pump and the anti-lock braking system (ABS).
- Risk
- Damage to the fuel pump circuit in the wiring harness could result in an unexpected engine stall. Damage to the ABS wiring can lead to reduction of ABS functionality and a loss of roll stability control (RSC) functionality. These scenarios increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wire harness for damage. If no damage is found, dealers will apply anti-abrasion tape over the area and ensure clearance to surrounding components. If damage is found, dealers will splice in new wire and apply anti-abrasion tape over the area and ensure clearance to surrounding components. All services will be performed free of charge. The recall began May 18, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S13.
Recall number 20V175000 · Recall details
Power train: driveline: differential unit
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 F-550 and 2021 E-350 and E-450 vehicles. The rear axle differential fluid may be below the minimum level, possibly resulting in a failure of the rear axle assembly and driveshaft separation.
- Risk
- If the driveshaft separates, there may be a loss of drive, increasing the risk of crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied, unintended vehicle movement can occur and increase the risk of injury or crash.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear axle differential fluid level and adjust it, or replace the rear axle as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S09.
Recall number 20V099000 · Recall details
See all 6 recalls for the 2021 Ford E-450
Defect investigations
Loss of Power Brake/Steering Assist Post Recall 22V089 Inspection.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query (RQ) 24003 on February 27, 2024, to evaluate the scope and remedy effectiveness of the federal safety agency recall 24V097. On February 16, 2022, Ford Motor Company (Ford) issued a safety recall, the federal safety agency recall 22V089, for certain 2021-2022 Ford E-350 and E-450 vehicles equipped with dual rear wheels. According to the filing, specific hydraulic lines could leak resulting in a sudden loss of power steering and power brake assist, increasing the risk of a crash. The remedy involved a dealer inspection of the lines and their replacement as necessary. Only vehicles that failed the inspection received updated parts. On February 9, 2024, Ford issued a new recall, the federal safety agency recall 24V097, to replace the specific hydraulic lines on any vehicle that had not yet been inspected and on any vehicle which had passed inspection within the previous twelve months. However, vehicles which had passed the inspection more than twelve months ago would not be included within the scope of the new recall, as Ford deemed them to have a low likelihood of failure. ODI opened this RQ to better understand Ford's scoping of recall 24V097, specifically concerning the inspected-only vehicles not included in the new recall filing. ODI sent Ford an information request letter on April 18, 2024. Ford responded, in full, on May 31, 2024. ODI reviewed Ford's data which showed that the vehicles not included in the new recall had a predicted failure rate of less than 0.25% within 10 years from the date of inspection. By comparison, the vehicles included in the new filing have had a failure rate of approximately 2% prior to being recalled again. ODI analysis of complaint and warranty data further supports Ford's assessment that vehicles that passed inspection more than twelve months prior to recall 24V097 are unlikely to experience the defect condition. ODI is closing this RQ without a manufacturer action. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to
RQ24003
Technical service bulletins for the 2021 Ford E-450 39
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- This article supersedes TSB 25-2572 to update the Parts List to correct the part number LC3Z-6006-L to...
- Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless...
- This article supersedes TSB 25-2322 to update the Service Procedure, Labor Operations and Parts List
- This is a proactive investigation program by Ford Motor Company to inspect a limited number of affected...
- Rattle/scraping noise from the bellhousing area on start-up. Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-00 Engine...
- Rattle/scraping noise upon startup that may remain after the engine is running
- Incorrectly illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0420 and/or...
- This article supersedes TSB 25-2200 to update the parts list to add the new camshaft and tappet service...
- Some 2021-2024 Edge/Nautilus, 2021-2025 Bronco/Bronco...
- Upper engine ticking or tapping noise at idle
What 2021 Ford E-450 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Airbag module casing is cracked.
Engine camshaft and lifters failed. Truck is at a Ford dealer. Engine could fail in the middle of the road, causing an accident. This is our eighth vehicle with the same issue taken to a ford dealer in the past year. A little knocking noise started that quickly turned into a loud knocking/rattling noise. No lights came on the truck.
See attached document for complaint.
This is one of 4 of my 2021 ford econoline fleet vehicles purchased in 2021 that have had engine failure. I am one of many contractors in my area and others around the country who have had this issue with the same F59 engine. Ford has failed to issue a recall.
Engine Camshaft and lifters failed, unit was inspected by ford dealer and engine had to be replaced. Engine can stop working and truck could break down in the middle of the road. No warning lamps, just a loud knocking sound when brakes were applied and truck was downshifting to stop. A lot of other people that purchased these ford light duty trucks with the 7.3L engine are having the same issue.
Engine camshaft and lifters failed and were inspected by Ford dealer, which corrected the issue by replacing the engine. Engine can failed and truck get stuck in the middle of the road. In the past 6 months its our 4th Ford truck with the same issue and a lot of other Fedex contractors that purchased a Ford truck with the 7.3L engine are reporting the same issue. No warning light was on in this vehicle, just started with a knocking sound that got worse until it got to the dealer and engine had to be replaced
The contact owns a 2021 Ford E-450. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, the steering wheel and brake pedal became stiff, and the vehicle failed to slow down as intended. The contact stated that the brake pedal was continuously depressed for the vehicle to come to a stop. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering hose and fluids needed to be flushed and refilled. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,104.
Component= Traction control and cruise control. Safety risk=Driving a Ford e-450 Class C RV on interstate at 63 MPH going generally up hill with cruise control on, the "Service AdvanceTrac" warning light came on dashboard. I Immediately lost cruise control capability and steering became a little shakey. Pulled into rest area shut vehicle off. A few minutes and started again. Error went away and cruise control was functioning. Happened again a few hours later and I did the same thing and continued on. What happened=As I was driving, the " Service Advance Traction" light came on and the cruise control stopped, my class c rv immediately slowed at a high rate, a semi was behind me trying to get over to the middle lane. When I slowed down suddenly due to the cruise control going out, the semi had no choice but to change lanes quickly missing the back of my vehicle by a foot or so. If he was not alert as to what was happening, I most assuredly would not be typing this letter. It was that close!! Note= This also happened last year as we only take the RV out a few weeks out of the year. I brought it to Klammer Ford in New Port Richey F1l immediately after we got back from the last trip. They could not reproduce issue or find anything wrong Lamps= The only warning light that came on was a "Service Advance traction" light. No prior indication of any kind.
My RV is make from 2021 Ford E-450. The power steering fluid leaked out and hard to steer the RV, and lost break. Ford has a recall 2021E-450 under similar situation, but my Vin did not received any recall notice.
Compare the 2021 Ford E-450
Other model years
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Questions about the 2021 Ford E-450
Is the 2021 Ford E-450 reliable?
Owners have filed 28 complaints about the 2021 Ford E-450, 2.3 times a typical E-450 model year.
What is the 2021 Ford E-450 year score?
The 2021 Ford E-450 scores 40 out of 100 (below average). The score compares it with the other model years of the Ford E-450: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Ford E-450?
Steering, with 11 complaints, typically around 8,000 miles. Next is brakes (10).
How many recalls does the 2021 Ford E-450 have?
6 recalls, covering engine, service brakes, hydraulic and electronic stability control (esc).
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