The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V315000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds and while in reverse(R), the infotainment screen froze and went black. The vehicle was taken to a dealer in October 2025, where it was diagnosed and determined that a software update was needed for the infotainment system, but the manufacturer had not yet provided a software update. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
2021 Ford F-150: screen or infotainment failure
16 of the 1,052 complaints about the 2021 Ford F-150 describe screen or infotainment failure.
- owner complaints
- 16
- of this car's complaints
- 2%
- typical mileage
- 60,000
- recalls
- 4
Screen or infotainment failure by model year
What owners say
1. Electrical System Failure: While traveling on highway, alternator failed suddenly within 2 minutes of “service soon” and “check electrical system” warnings. Caused complete loss of motive power, electronic parking brake locked up while driving, loss of power steering, all gauges failed, transmission shifted into park while in motion. Battery was damaged (“fried”). Engine continued running for several minutes after stop without ability to shut off ignition. Incident documented by Ohio State Highway Patrol. 2. Seat Belt Issue: Driver-side seat belt interlock sticks in unlocked position, creating risk of failure to lock during a crash. 3. Electronic Parking Brake: Intermittently engages while vehicle is moving downhill to a stop (mostly at or below 5 mph). Parking brake light flashes three times then turns solid while in motion. Ford TSB indicates vehicle not eligible for related recall. 4. Infotainment System: Intermittently freezes, requiring forced reboot. Preceded by audio glitches, laggy dash computerized systems. 5. Transmission: Severe clunk and physical jolt when decelerating from ~30 mph to 8 mph. Also occurs during acceleration, particularly upshifts from 2nd to 3rd and 3rd to 4th gears, more pronounced when turning. 6. 4WD System: Intermittently fails to disengage from 4WD HI to 2WD HI. “Failure to shift” message appears several minutes after command to return to 2WD HI. 7. Front Differential/Axle: Previously, faulty front differential housing fractured due to system malfunction, causing intermittent loss of front driveline engagement in 4WD LO (250-500ms delay then re-engagement under throttle). Ford replaced front differential and axle under warranty after vehicle out of service for 2.5 months. Abbreviations: 4WD HI = 4-Wheel Drive High Range; 2WD HI = 2-Wheel Drive High Range; TSB = Technical Service Bulletin.
Two things, the dash stopped displaying speed. As I was driving the dash glitched out and the digital speed would not display. It started only showing the top half of how fast I was going. Then it completely went out. Second, the radio also glitches. Won't let me change station or sources. I usually have to turn the truck off for 10 to 15 minutes, then it starts fixing the issues. This has been an ongoing problem. And no recalls for this issue have been placed
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated the infotainment center was frozen or blacked out intermittently, preventing the contact from being able to access the cameras and systems controlled through the infotainment system. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V315000 (Back Over Prevention); however, when the dealer was contacted, it was confirmed that the vehicle was not included. A second dealer was contacted, McClary Ford Inc (1104 US Hwy 72 E, Athens, AL 35611) and it was confirmed that the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the infotainment center failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the infotainment center displayed a black screen. The contact stated that during one failure, the infotainment center screen displayed a black screen; however the radio continued to play. The contact stated that the vehicle was turned off. The vehicle was started, and the system independently reset. In addition, the contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the engine was idling roughly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the contact stated that the computer system was reprogrammed, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. In addition, the contact feared driving the vehicle with his family inside the vehicle due to the failure. The contact received notifications of the federal safety agency Campaign Numbers: 25V315000 (Back Over Prevention) and 25V455000 (Fuel system, Gasoline); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 15,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving 45-50 MPH on the freeway, the navigation screen turned blank, and the speedometer decreased to zero. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the rear end of the vehicle was detaching. The dealer determined that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was then taken to unknown local dealer, where it was determined that the rear axle was in good condition. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and denied the contact's buyback request. The failure mileage was approximately 32,000.
Black screen on main vehicle screen. Ford has a Customer Satisfaction Program (12M02) that extended the warranty coverage for the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM), a key component of the SYNC system in certain Ford vehicles. This program covers the APIM for 5 years from the warranty start date, regardless of mileage, which is a longer coverage than the vehicle's original warranty provisions for this part. The coverage automatically transfers to subsequent owners. However, Ford is saying that I do not qualify and cannot define the qualification criteria. If some affected vehicles are eligible for repair under this CSP, then all affected vehicles should be.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while reversing into their driveway, the back over prevention display rear view camera was frozen, no warning lights were illuminated, and in the process, the contact crashed into the corner of their house with the rear passenger tail light. The image displayed 20 feet away in distance, however the house was closer than the image display. Property damage was not reported. The vehicle came to a stop upon impact. The air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was going less than 5 MPH at the time of the crash. The vehicle did not need to be towed. No warning lights were illuminated. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not destroyed. No injuries were reported. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was inspected however, it was not diagnosed, and the vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced the federal safety agency Campaign Number : 25V315000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION) as probable cause for the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
The contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2016 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V315000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION). However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact was the caller's son. The contact's mother stated that the rearview camera displayed a black screen while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The contact's mother stated that the failure had obstructed the driver's visibility, which prevented the driver from safely operating the vehicle. Due to the failure, the contact stated that her son had been involved in a low-speed, parking lot accident. Unknown if any warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that her son suffered from minor back pain. The contact's son has been going to a chiropractor. A police report was filed. Unknown if the vehicle was taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. Unknown if the failure persisted. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Since my truck was brand new, the infotainment screen very often blacks out so that I can not see navigation, back up camera, radio, etc. It keeps resetting itself until it comes back on. A couple of times when I brought it in for service I asked them to check it out and it was always "Seems to be working fine". Today I backed into a sign as the back up camera was frozen and I did not notice that it was not real time. After I hit the sign, the screen went black and then the Ford insigna came up and it repeated 3 times and then everything was fine. Ford service has never been able to fix it as the don't see it when they start the vehicle. I will start taking videos with my phone. Anyway now that the extended warranty just ran out, it is getting worse where it happens almost all the time. I talked to some friends and they tell me they have the same issue so you need to be aware that this dangerous situation might be a common problem.
In December 2024, I brought my vehicle to my local Ford service center to address an infotainment/display screen issue. My display screen went completely black giving me no access to basic vehicle functions like radio controls, climate, and most importantly, cameras. Since this time, my vehicle has been back for service on 4 separate occasions without any success. The longest service visit being 2-months while "Ford Engineering investigated the issue". During this time, they ran diagnostics, replaced the infotainment screen, and finally the APIM unit but to no avail. Ford assured me that this was an isolated issue and the first of it's kind. I am scheduled to go back to my service center on June 3rd to have "tokens" installed on my vehicle. This will allow Ford's Engineering team to recreate the issue on their end. Today I read that Ford opened a recall for 1.1m vehicles for display/camera software issues. Although I feel like I've been gaslit by Ford for +6 months, I'm happy to hear I'm not the only one that's been living through this ordeal.
My rearview backup camera blacks out won't load, cuts off and on. When in drive it still takes a while for it to still load the radio and navigation. It blacks out and won't load when I start the truck. By the time I back up, still not loading, and start to drive it takes a few minutes maybe 10 for it to finally start working and displaying the navigation and the radio. I've had this issue for a while. And if other makes and models are having the same issues, it has to also be affecting my make and model being it's the same issue.
Service bulletins that may apply
- A Cloud Assisted Diagnostic based on connected vehicle information is available for this VIN. The presence...
- This bulletin updates 26-2206
- Illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0A1E stored in...
- 25S75 Recall remedy -Powertrain Control Module update to introduce logic to prevent low pressure fuel pump...
- Various symptoms including but not limited to the auto start/stop system not operating as intended with a...
- This bulletin supersedes 25-2383
- Quality improvements include: -Addresses a false trailer brake fault message when starting the vehicle in...
- Quality improvements include: -Privacy robustness updates -Resolves various user interface and data...
Related recalls
Electrical system: integrated trailer brake control
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
- Risk
- Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on beginning March 17, 2026.
Recall number 26V104000 · Recall details
Electrical system: integrated trailer brake control
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 F-150, 2022 Maverick, Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 22V‑193. Due to a software error, a towed trailer equipped with an electric or electric-over hydraulic brake system may not brake.
- Risk
- Loss of trailer brake functionality can extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the integrated trailer brake control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S18.
Recall number 25V132000 · Recall details
Electrical system: body control module: software
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles equipped with the Onboard Scales feature. An over-the-air software update to the body control module (BCM) may have disabled both reverse lights.
- Risk
- Disabled reverse lights cannot alert others that the vehicle is reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are were mailed June 26, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S38.
Recall number 24V443000 · Recall details
Electrical system: integrated trailer brake control
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 F-150, 2022 Maverick, Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 vehicles. Due to a software error, a towed trailer equipped with an electric or electric-over hydraulic brake system may not brake.
- Risk
- Loss of trailer brake functionality could result in extended stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the integrated trailer brake control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S17.
Recall number 22V193000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2021 Ford F-150 screen failure
Is screen or infotainment failure a common problem on the 2021 Ford F-150?
16 of 1,052 owner complaints about the 2021 Ford F-150 (2%) mention screen or infotainment failure. The model year with the most reports is 2016.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2021 Ford F-150?
There are 4 recalls and 175 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2021 Ford F-150
Headlights 77Jerking 55Harsh shifting 53Wipers 53Loss of power 40Stalling 40Fuel pump 35Backup camera 32Check engine light 30Transmission failure 29Slipping 27Hesitation 25ABS 21Power steering loss 19Adaptive cruise 17Engine failure 17Collision warning 16Door locks 15Shudder 14Grinding brakes 13Knocking 11Overheating 10Won't shift 10Misfire 9Oil consumption 7Sudden acceleration 7Sunroof shattered 6Won't start 6Fire or smoke 5
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