2021 Ford F-550 SD Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other F-550 SD years
- Far more complaints than other years 11th of 32 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 9 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 12 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford F-550 SD. That ranks 11th out of 32 F-550 SD model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is fuel system, diesel (8 complaints, 67%), typically at around 195,000 miles. Complaints mention 2 fires. There are 9 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 12owner complaints
- 9safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2021 Ford F-550 SD problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Diesel | 8 | 67% | 195,000 | — | — |
| Engine | 2 | 17% | — | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 8% | 101,000 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 8% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2021 Ford F-550 SD recalls (9)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, diesel:delivery:fuel pump
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 F-Super Duty F250, F350, F450, F550, 2021-2022 F600, and 2022 F750 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 24V957. Biodiesel deposits may form on the pump drivetrain roller components, which could lead to failure of the high pressure fuel pump.
Risk: High pressure fuel pump failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed mailed April 7, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S17. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 18, 2026.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, 2021-2022 Lincoln Navigator, Mustang, F-150, and 2022 Expedition vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving.
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump on super duty vehicles and update the powertrain control module (PCM) software on all other affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 27, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S75.
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Expedition, 2021-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The rearview camera may display a blank or distorted image.
Risk: Rearview camera failure can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 18, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S05.
Fuel system, diesel:delivery:fuel pump
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 F-Super Duty F250, F350, F450, F550, F600, and 2021-2022 F-650, F750 vehicles. Biodiesel deposits may form on the pump drivetrain roller components, which could lead to failure of the high pressure fuel pump.
Risk: High pressure fuel pump failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) and Transmission Control Module (TCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S78.
Equipment:other:owners/service/other manual
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with third-row seating; and 2019-2023 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCab vehicles. The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."
Risk: Without instructions, the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Ford will mail the Owner's Manual addendums that describe how to adjust and remove the head restraints for the center seating positions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C20.
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:linkages
Problem: 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: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Fuel system, diesel
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, and Medium Duty F-650 and F-750 vehicles equipped with 6.7L diesel engines. A small void may be present in the top-center of the vehicle's underhood secondary fuel filter cap, which may progress to a pinhole over time, allowing fuel to leak from the top of the secondary fuel filter.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire or injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the primary and secondary fuel filters, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 28, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S01.
Power train:axle hubsDo not drive
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-350, F-450, F-550, and F-600 vehicles equipped with dual rear wheels and front wheel hub extenders. The front wheel hub extenders may be improperly attached to the front rotor hub assemblies, which could result in separation of the wheels and wheel extenders from the vehicle.
Risk: A detached wheel and wheel extender can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Owners are instructed not to drive their vehicles until the torque of the wheel extender nuts can be verified. Dealers will inspect and tighten the front wheel hub extender nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 18, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S26.
Visibility:windshield:critical fasteners
Problem: 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: In the event of a crash, if the windshield separates from the vehicle, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Sogefi Secondary Diesel Fuel Filter Leak (PE24014) — opened May 9, 2024, still open.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Parts Not Available Complaint: The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-550. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V957000 (FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL) however upon having the vehicle diagnosed by a local dealer where the following code was displayed "P2291" The contact was advised that…
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-550 SD. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V957000 (Fuel System, Diesel). The local dealer was contacted several times for more than a year, and the contact was advised that the part was not yet available and that the manufacturer had paused…
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-550. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V957000 (Fuel System, Diesel); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount…
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-550 SD. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V957000 (Fuel System, Diesel); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the remedy was not available. The contact stated…
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-550 SD. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V957000 (FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall…
Other Ford F-550 SD years
← 2020 F-550 SD · 2022 F-550 SD →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 F-550 SD | 1 | 3 |
| 2025 F-550 SD | 1 | 3 |
| 2024 F-550 SD | 2 | 2 |
| 2023 F-550 SD | 1 | 9 |
| 2022 F-550 SD | 9 | 12 |
| 2021 | 12 | 9 |
| 2020 F-550 SD | 4 | 8 |
| 2019 F-550 SD | 4 | 5 |
| 2018 F-550 SD | 0 | 3 |
| 2017 F-550 SD | 2 | 8 |
| 2016 F-550 SD | 3 | 3 |
| 2015 F-550 SD | 11 | 3 |
| 2014 F-550 SD | 9 | 6 |
| 2013 F-550 SD | 2 | 9 |
| 2012 F-550 SD | 6 | 10 |
| 2011 F-550 SD | 3 | 12 |
| 2010 F-550 SD | 1 | 7 |
| 2009 F-550 SD | 1 | 5 |
| 2008 F-550 SD | 26 | 4 |
| 2007 F-550 SD | 23 | 1 |
| 2006 F-550 SD | 44 | 1 |
| 2005 F-550 SD | 32 | 4 |
| 2004 F-550 SD | 49 | 2 |
| 2003 F-550 SD | 33 | 5 |
| 2002 F-550 SD | 22 | 4 |
| 2001 F-550 SD | 29 | 6 |
| 2000 F-550 SD | 72 | 5 |
| 1999 F-550 SD | 61 | 8 |
| 1998 F-550 SD | 0 | 2 |
| 1997 F-550 SD | 2 | 3 |
| 1996 F-550 SD | 0 | 2 |
| 1995 F-550 SD | 0 | 2 |
See all Ford F-550 SD problems by year, every Ford model, or the Ford VIN decoder.
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ford F-550 SD?
Owners most often report fuel system, diesel, engine, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, fuel system, diesel, accounts for 8 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Ford F-550 SD?
Yes, 9 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2021 Ford F-550 SD a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other F-550 SD model years, the 2021 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.