2021 Ford F-350 SD Fifth Wheel Assembly Recall (21V379)
Ford Motor Company · 1,796 vehicles · Reported May 24, 2021
Ford Motor Company is recalling 1,796 2021 Ford F-350 SD; 2021 Ford F-450 SD vehicles. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Super Duty F-350 and F-450 vehicles equipped with a fifth wheel left-hand mounting bracket that may be cracked. A cracked mounting bracket could result in the fifth wheel detaching from the vehicle while towing, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V379 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V379000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 21S23 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | May 24, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021 Ford F-350 SD; 2021 Ford F-450 SD |
| Units affected | 1,796 |
| Component | Trailer Hitches > Fifth Wheel Assembly |
| Safety risk | A cracked mounting bracket could result in the fifth wheel detaching from the vehicle while towing, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Ford F-350 SD in recall 21V379?
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Super Duty F-350 and F-450 vehicles equipped with a fifth wheel left-hand mounting bracket that may be cracked.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Super Duty F-350 and F-450 vehicles equipped with a fifth wheel left-hand mounting bracket that may be cracked.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 F-350 SD with recall 21V379?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A cracked mounting bracket could result in the fifth wheel detaching from the vehicle while towing, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A cracked mounting bracket could result in the fifth wheel detaching from the vehicle while towing, increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your F-350 SD shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the fifth wheel assembly, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V379?
Recall 21V379 covers 1,796 vehicles: 2021 Ford F-350 SD; 2021 Ford F-450 SD.
NHTSA lists 1,796 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Ford | F-350 SD |
| 2021 | Ford | F-450 SD |
What is the fix for the F-350 SD fifth wheel assembly recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect the mounting bracket, and replace the bracket if necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect the mounting bracket, and replace the bracket if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 16, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S23.
When was recall 21V379 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 21V379 to NHTSA on May 24, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 24, 2021 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V379000. |
| June 16, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 65 months ago. If your F-350 SD was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my F-350 SD is part of recall 21V379?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V379 is open on your F-350 SD, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 21V379000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should F-350 SD owners do about recall 21V379?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V379000 applies to your F-350 SD.
- Call a Ford dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the fifth wheel assembly happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are F-350 SD owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 114 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 5 of them about the suspension, wheels and tires.
Since recall 21V379 was reported on May 24, 2021, owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the suspension, wheels and tires on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the suspension, wheels and tires and were received on or after May 24, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related suspension, wheels and tires issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 114 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 5 of them involve the suspension, wheels and tires. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Ford F-350 SD: 96 complaints in total, 5 about the suspension, wheels and tires
- 2021 Ford F-450 SD: 18 complaints in total, 0 about the suspension, wheels and tires
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
The rear axle repair was not completed and yet they reported that the dealer fixed it. Not true. The truck was taken in for repairs but the dealer was not able to fix it and told me that. They said I will have to get it fixed on my own.
2021 Ford F-350 SD owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11475328, filed July 22, 2022
While driving on a road with moderate potholes at about 45 miles per hour the steering wheel and front end stared violently shaking and did not stop until i came to a stop.
2021 Ford F-350 SD owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11491815, filed November 1, 2022
Driving down the highway at a speed of 70,truck began to vibrate uncontrollably changed lanes. Continue to vibrate uncontrollably in the front of the truck. Pulled safely to side of road. Expected to see flat tires. No flat tires. Turn truck off. Turn truck back on no issues again.
2021 Ford F-350 SD owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11565751, filed January 16, 2024
Can recall 21V379 make my F-350 SD a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this fifth wheel assembly recall means their F-350 SD qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Suspension, wheel and tire defects can affect handling and control. Clunks, pulling and vibration that return after a repair point to a defect that has not been fixed.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Ford F-350 SD has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the F-350 SD went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your F-350 SD been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford F-350 SD recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V379
Did the recall 21V379 fix work?
Since recall 21V379 was reported on May 24, 2021, owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the suspension, wheels and tires on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 21V379000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my F-350 SD is part of recall 21V379000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V379000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.