2021 Ford F-150 Brake Recall (21V533)
Ford Motor Company · 56 vehicles · Reported July 15, 2021
Ford Motor Company is recalling 56 2021 Ford F-150 vehicles. The electronic brake booster may leak brake fluid into the electronic control unit, which could result in reduced braking performance. Reduced braking performance can increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V533 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V533000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 21S33 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 15, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021 Ford F-150 |
| Units affected | 56 |
| Component | Service Brakes, Hydraulic |
| Safety risk | Reduced braking performance can increase the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Ford F-150 in recall 21V533?
The electronic brake booster may leak brake fluid into the electronic control unit, which could result in reduced braking performance.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles. The electronic brake booster may leak brake fluid into the electronic control unit, which could result in reduced braking performance.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 F-150 with recall 21V533?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Reduced braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Reduced braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your F-150 shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the service brakes, hydraulic, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V533?
Recall 21V533 covers 56 vehicles: 2021 Ford F-150.
NHTSA lists 56 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 brake recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the electronic brake booster assembly, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the electronic brake booster assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 28, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S33.
When was recall 21V533 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 21V533 to NHTSA on July 15, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 15, 2021 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V533000. |
| July 28, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 63 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 21V533?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V533 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 21V533?
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 21V533000 applies to your F-150.
- 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 service brakes, hydraulic 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-150 owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 1,015 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 76 of them about the brakes.
Since recall 21V533 was reported on July 15, 2021, owners have filed 72 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 11 of them (15%) 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 brakes and were received on or after July 15, 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 brakes 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 76 of them involve the brakes. 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, 76 about the brakes
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly decelerated and could only be driven at an excessively slow speed. The traction control, brakes, and ABS warning lights were illuminated.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11654561, filed April 14, 2025
The same brake booster that allegedly only had 51 vehicles included in it? Same exact issue as this link: [XXX] not working seems like a pretty big safety issue.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, RI, NHTSA complaint 11665468, filed June 7, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the brake pedal became significantly hard to depress. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by depressing the brake pedal with added force. The contact stated that the failure recurred while driving.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, WI, NHTSA complaint 11669285, filed June 25, 2025
Can recall 21V533 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.
Owners often ask whether this service brakes, hydraulic recall means their F-150 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)).
If the 2021 Ford F-150 brakes have needed more than one trip to the dealer, keep every repair order. Brake defects are treated as serious safety problems under California law.
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-150 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-150 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-150 been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford F-150 recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V533
Did the recall 21V533 fix work?
Since recall 21V533 was reported on July 15, 2021, owners have filed 72 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 11 of them (15%) 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 21V533000 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 21V533000?
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 21V533000 (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.