2021 Ford F-150: grinding or squealing brakes

Filed Aug 11, 2026 · Transmission · 100,650 miles · NH

The contact's son owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that after her son shifted from park(P) to drive(D), the vehicle failed to respond as needed. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact's son was able to drive to the residence nearby after several attempts. While at the residence, the failure recurred after shifting to drive(D), and the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, and it was determined that the passenger’s side rear axle was fractured. The failure was associated with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train). The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where the diagnosis was confirmed; however, parts were unavailable for the recall repair. The vehicle remained unrepaired, and no rental vehicle was provided. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 100,650.

Filed May 13, 2026 · Transmission · VA

My 2021 Ford F-150 with the 10-speed transmission has started shifting very hard and making grinding noises while accelerating. The truck will sometimes hesitate between gears and then slam into gear unexpectedly. I have also experienced sudden hard downshifts while driving at normal speeds. The issue seems to be getting worse over time. The grinding noise and harsh shifting are most noticeable during acceleration, but the transmission also feels rough during normal driving. At times it feels like the transmission is slipping before catching again. This creates a safety concern because the truck can unexpectedly jerk, hesitate, or downshift hard in traffic and at highway speeds. I have seen many similar complaints online involving the Ford 10R80 transmission, including issues related to harsh shifting and internal transmission problems. Ford has also issued technical service bulletins related to this transmission. No warning lights consistently appeared before the issue started. The problem has happened multiple times and can be reproduced during regular driving. The vehicle has not yet been fully repaired or diagnosed at the time of this report. The transmission and vehicle are available for inspection upon request.

Filed Apr 28, 2026 · Electrical, Fuel system · MI

Brought F150 in for scheduled service - oil change. Also asked for inspection of a problem with the fuel door hatch that was causing "Refuel Error" messages on the instrument panel and several grinding noises every time the fuel release button was pressed. Note that I have an active extended Ford Premiumcare warranty. Dealership diagnosis was that the fuel door solenoid was bad, verified that the gears could be heard grinding with this part. However, there is no separate motor part, therefore the entire fuel door assembly must be replaced. Ford warranty system does not cover this part because it is considered "Body and Structural". I called Ford Protect to discuss this, and explained the motor defect and problem, that this has nothing at all to do with wear & tear or body damage. They explained that in this case, the dealership should call and get the part pre-authorized with the justification. Seelye Ford called and tried to do this on 28 April 2026, but ultimately was still denied by Ford. The attached service report from Seelye describes the technician findings and confirms the bad solenoid and audible gear grinding sound coming from the fuel door assembly - and that the entire assembly must be replaced. As this is related to the fuel system and has a defective motor, this is an example a safety defect that should not only be repaired on this vehicle, but for other vehicles with similar problems. Note that the dealership also pointed out that Ford appears to have created this part layout with the intent of having the motor be a separate part, but ultimately did not offer that option, only a full housing replacement, which is excluded because it is mostly made of plastic and metal, which is considered to be structural in nature, despite being a part of the fuel system that has active motor buttons and instrumentation sensors for driver interaction.

Filed Apr 6, 2026 · Body, Transmission · 111,000 miles · TN · fire

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at 70 MPH, the contact noticed an unusual grinding sound. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact noticed a lot of unusual clicking or rattling sounds. In addition, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that upon exiting the vehicle, the contact noticed a fire underneath the vehicle. In addition, the drive shaft was detached. The contact stated that the fire burned out independently. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The contact stated that the drive shaft had scorching around it. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. In addition, the contact stated that the recall, the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V986000 (Power Train, Structure), was performed on the contact's VIN about six months ago. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.

Filed Oct 2, 2025 · Transmission · 150 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle made an abnormal clunking sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, but the cause of the failure could not be determined. The contact stated that the failure progressively worsened. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound and jolted erratically while driving, and upon coming to a stop. The dealer diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the transmission; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission, the catalytic converter, and other unknown parts had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150.

Filed Sep 19, 2025 · Transmission · 55,000 miles · WA

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, and the contact noticed an abnormal grinding sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with rear axle failure. The contact was informed that parts were not available. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact was advised not to drive the vehicle. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train); however, parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the dealer was contacted several times to schedule an appointment for the recall repair, however the parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.

Filed Sep 10, 2025 · Transmission · 45,000 miles · KS

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that there was an abnormal squeaking sound coming from the vehicle while driving at various speeds. The failure persisted, and the ABS, Hill Start Assist Not Available, Pre-Collision Assist Not Available, and several other messages appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the contact was informed that the wheel hub bolt in the rear axle was fractured and caused the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V896000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was on backorder. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and requested a status update on the part. The contact was then informed that the dealer would call the manufacturer and request the part to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

Filed Aug 29, 2025 · Electrical · 81,000 miles · LA

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while opening the front driver’s side door, there was an abnormal grinding coming from the motor for the retractable running board on the front passenger’s side, and the running board failed to deploy as designed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the motor in the retractable running board had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact attempted to replace the motor for the retractable running board himself and failed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 81,000.

Filed Jul 22, 2025 · Body, Engine · 48,000 miles · LA

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that the exhaust baffles were making an abnormal ticking sound while the vehicle was idling. The contact also stated that the A/C outlet vent tab had separated from the vehicle, and the other tabs were loose. Additionally, the contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated while responding. The contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal squealing sound while driving at various speeds and while idling. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the serpentine belt and one of the pulleys needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact the repairs could not be covered under the powertrain warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 48,000.

Filed Feb 27, 2025 · Transmission · 32,000 miles · PA

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission experienced hard shifting, gear grinding, and slipping gear while accelerating from a red light. The contact stated that the gear shift indicator showed that the transmission was in 10th gear and the vehicle started drifting backward. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 32,000.

Filed Nov 13, 2024 · Steering, Transmission · 86,000 miles · MI · crash

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number:Â 23V896000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH when a loud grinding noise was emitting from underneath the vehicle. The contact had lost power causing the vehicle to drift to the right. The vehicle ended up hitting a trash can nearby before it came to a stop. The air bags did not deploy. There were no injuries or medical attention needed. A police report was not filed. The contact had to place the vehicle in 4-wheel drive mode to be able to continue driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was not able to diagnose the vehicle at the time. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer had referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline to file a safety complaint. The failure mileage was 86,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Oct 5, 2023 · Engine · 2,966 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving over a speed bump at approximately 15 MPH, there was a loud grinding sound coming from the vehicle before the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact was unable to restart the vehicle and the vehicle was later towed to the local dealer. While at the local dealer, the mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The mechanic stated that parts of the piston and valve spring retainer were found inside the oil pan. The engine was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 2,966.