The Biggest 2021 Ford F-150 Problems After 1 Year
Life with the insanely popular Ford F-150 has its advantages, but not every aspect is perfect. See what owners of the 2021 Ford F-150 struggled with after having their truck for an entire year. The F-150 PowerBoost hybrid is the model that critics spent time with.
The most annoying 2021 Ford F-150 problems
Spending a year with the 2021 Ford F-150 Hybrid provides plenty of time to learn everything about it. There are things to love, features that are just alright, and frustrating recalls. One disappointing feature involves the weak fuel economy.
The Ford F-150 PowerBoost starts at $46,500 and comes with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and an electric motor to crank out 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque.
The PowerBoost Hybrid should get an EPA-estimated 25 mpg in the city and up to 26 mpg on the highway. It offers an EPA-estimated ranger of 750 miles on a single tank of gas.
However, the team at Cars.com found that their truck only got about 16.6 mpg after traveling 12,015 miles. With premium fuel, the truck got around 17.7 mpg after traveling another 7,915.6 miles. That’s pretty far from 24 mpg.
The Ford F-150 faces plenty of recalls
The 2021 Ford F-150 PowerBoost Hybrid didn’t exactly arrive without its fair share of new truck problems. The F-150 currently has an open recall due to a driveshaft issue.
In affected trucks, heat and noise insulators could loosen and come into contact with the aluminum driveshaft. As a result, it could damage the driveshaft and cause a fracture. This could lead to the loss of drive power or loss of vehicle control.
Dealers will inspect the driveshaft and make repairs if necessary for free. However, this recall came out months ago, and the team at Cars.com still hasn’t received service. The truck hasn’t been repaired due to the ongoing parts shortage.
Other recalls for issues such as failing trailer brakes, inoperative windshield whippers, ineffective seatbelts, separating windshields, of loss of steering control were quickly corrected.
The team also faced a failed 12-volt battery and a chattering retractable gear selector. The failing battery caused power accessories such as the tailgate and running boards to stop working.
Daily driving F-150 issues
While there are plenty of things that critics enjoy about the 2021 Ford F-150, some people found it to be frustrating. One writer said the truck is giant, making it uncomfortable at highway speeds. It also seems impossible to park.
The steering could be more responsive while merging into traffic or changing lanes. Also, the brakes feel confident and not too grabby. The truck also has a bumpy ride, but that’s to be expected with a full-size option.
Sometimes the infotainment system could be slow to connect to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, but it’s intuitive and easy to use. Also, at times the windshield wipers and retractable mirrors wouldn’t operate.
The biggest Ford F-150 problem after a year seems to be the lackluster fuel economy. Also, it has 11 recalls so far this year, which is pretty frustrating. Your truck might have a problem to correct each time you turn around.
Other than that, once you learn how to park the truck, it’s smooth sailing from there. We found that the 360-degree camera and the parking sensors help.
