2021 Ford F-350 SD Axle Recall (21V536)
Ford Motor Company · 27,604 vehicles · Reported July 15, 2021
Ford Motor Company is recalling 27,604 2021 Ford F-350 SD vehicles. 7L diesel engines and Dana model 275 rear axles. The rear axle housing may not support the load of the pickup truck and deform, which could result in driveshaft separation. Driveshaft separation may result in a loss of drive power, or unintended vehicle movement if the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V536 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V536000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 21S31 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 15, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021 Ford F-350 SD |
| Units affected | 27,604 |
| Component | Power Train > Axle Assembly |
| Safety risk | Driveshaft separation may result in a loss of drive power, or unintended vehicle movement if the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Ford F-350 SD in recall 21V536?
7L diesel engines and Dana model 275 rear axles.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-350 Super Duty pickup trucks equipped with 6.7L diesel engines and Dana model 275 rear axles. The rear axle housing may not support the load of the pickup truck and deform, which could result in driveshaft separation.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 F-350 SD with recall 21V536?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Driveshaft separation may result in a loss of drive power, or unintended vehicle movement if the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Driveshaft separation may result in a loss of drive power, or unintended vehicle movement if the vehicle is in park without the parking brake applied, 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 axle assembly, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V536?
Recall 21V536 covers 27,604 vehicles: 2021 Ford F-350 SD.
NHTSA lists 27,604 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 |
What is the fix for the F-350 SD axle recall?
Yes. Dealers will inspect the axle housing for deformities, and repair or replace the housing, as necessary, free of charge.
Dealers will inspect the axle housing for deformities, and repair or replace the housing, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 3, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall 21S31.
When was recall 21V536 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 21V536 to NHTSA on July 15, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 15, 2021 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V536000. |
| September 3, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 63 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 21V536?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V536 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 21V536000. 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 21V536?
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 21V536000 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.
- Keep a simple log of any axle assembly 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-350 SD owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 96 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 9 of them about the transmission.
Since recall 21V536 was reported on July 15, 2021, owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 2 of them (22%) 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 transmission 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 transmission issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 96 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 9 of them involve the transmission. 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, 9 about the transmission
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
Ford knew there was an issue back in 2021 as they so filed with your agency. Yet waited. Then warranty claims continued.
2021 Ford F-350 SD owner, PA, NHTSA complaint 11636872, filed January 19, 2025
I have owned the truck for just over a year and in that time occasionally when I put my vehicle in park and get out of the truck it will start moving without me touching it. It has happen 5 or 6 times within the year.
2021 Ford F-350 SD owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11462415, filed April 27, 2022
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
Can recall 21V536 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.
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 transmission defect affects the core job of the 2021 Ford F-350 SD: moving reliably. Owners often see the same symptom return after a repair, and those repeat visits are the kind of history California's lemon law looks at.
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.
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.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
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 21V536
Did the recall 21V536 fix work?
Since recall 21V536 was reported on July 15, 2021, owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 2 of them (22%) 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 21V536000 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 21V536000?
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.
Will a transmission software update fix the problem for good?
Sometimes. Many owners report that shifting problems return after an update. If yours does, go back to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up.
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.
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 21V536000 (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.