2021 Ford F-150 Rack and Pinion Recall (21V407)
Ford Motor Company · 223 vehicles · Reported May 29, 2021
Ford Motor Company is recalling 223 2021 Ford F-150 vehicles. The steering gear may have internal damage, which could result in difficulty steering, or the inability to rotate the steering wheel while driving. Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash. The manufacturer is telling owners not to drive these vehicles until the recall repair is done.
Recall 21V407 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V407000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 21S28 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | May 29, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021 Ford F-150 |
| Units affected | 223 |
| Component | Steering > Rack And Pinion |
| Safety risk | Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Ford F-150 in recall 21V407?
The steering gear may have internal damage, which could result in difficulty steering, or the inability to rotate the steering wheel while driving.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The steering gear may have internal damage, which could result in difficulty steering, or the inability to rotate the steering wheel while driving.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 F-150 with recall 21V407?
No. NHTSA lists recall 21V407 as a Do Not Drive recall. Leave the vehicle parked until the repair is done.
NHTSA lists this as a Do Not Drive recall. The manufacturer is telling owners not to drive these vehicles until the recall repair is done. Call the dealer and ask for a tow and a loaner or rental.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Loss of steering control can increase the risk of a crash.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V407?
Recall 21V407 covers 223 vehicles: 2021 Ford F-150.
NHTSA lists 223 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-150 |
What is the fix for the F-150 rack and pinion recall?
Yes. Owners are advised to not drive their vehicles until the repair is complete.
Owners are advised to not drive their vehicles until the repair is complete. Vehicles will be towed in for service, and dealers will remove and replace the steering gear, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 4, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S28.
When was recall 21V407 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 21V407 to NHTSA on May 29, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 29, 2021 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V407000. |
| June 4, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 65 months ago. If your F-150 was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my F-150 is part of recall 21V407?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V407 is open on your F-150, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 F-150 vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should F-150 owners do about recall 21V407?
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 21V407000 applies to your F-150.
- Do not drive the vehicle. Ask the dealer to arrange a tow and a loaner.
- 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.
- Keep a simple log of any rack and pinion symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are F-150 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 1,015 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 41 of them about the steering.
Since recall 21V407 was reported on May 29, 2021, owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA about the steering on these vehicles. 7 of them (17%) 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 steering and were received on or after May 29, 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 steering issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 1,015 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 41 of them involve the steering. 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-150: 1,015 complaints in total, 41 about the steering
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The steering wheel would not turn. Similar to when cars did not have power steering but much worse. Had the truck taken to the Ford Dealership. They reprogrammed the computer and said that fixed the problem . Started to leave and didn’t even get off the lot when it basically’froze up’ again.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11635819, filed January 14, 2025
The ford is a ford F150 2021 with only 47,000 miles on it. It is a well taken care of truck with all routine maintenance done. The power control steering module has completely gone out in my truck.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, NV, NHTSA complaint 11636453, filed January 17, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact attempted to start the vehicle, and the electric steering fault message was displayed. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where is was diagnosed that the steering gear assembly needed to be replaced.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, MI, NHTSA complaint 11639081, filed January 28, 2025
Can recall 21V407 make my F-150 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.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
A steering problem on the 2021 Ford F-150 is the kind of safety defect that California law treats seriously. Fewer repair attempts may be needed for a claim than with a comfort or convenience defect.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
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-150 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford F-150 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V407
Did the recall 21V407 fix work?
Since recall 21V407 was reported on May 29, 2021, owners have filed 41 complaints with NHTSA about the steering on these vehicles. 7 of them (17%) 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 21V407000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my F-150 is part of recall 21V407000?
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 21V407000 (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.