2021 Ford F-150 Seat Belt Webbing Recall (21V653)
Ford Motor Company · 16,430 vehicles · Reported August 23, 2021
Ford Motor Company is recalling 16,430 2021 Ford F-150 vehicles. The front seatbelt webbing may be incorrectly routed. A misrouted seatbelt may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V653 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V653000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 21C20 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | August 23, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021 Ford F-150 |
| Units affected | 16,430 |
| Component | Seat Belts > Front > Webbing |
| Safety risk | A misrouted seatbelt may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Ford F-150 in recall 21V653?
The front seatbelt webbing may be incorrectly routed.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 Super Cab vehicles. The front seatbelt webbing may be incorrectly routed.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 F-150 with recall 21V653?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A misrouted seatbelt may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A misrouted seatbelt may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the webbing.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V653?
Recall 21V653 covers 16,430 vehicles: 2021 Ford F-150.
NHTSA lists 16,430 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 seat belt webbing recall?
Yes. Owners are advised to perform a preliminary self-inspection of the front seatbelts.
Owners are advised to perform a preliminary self-inspection of the front seatbelts. If the passenger-side seatbelt fails inspection, owners should not use the passenger seat until the repair is performed. If the driver-side seatbelt fails inspection, owners should not drive their vehicle until the repair is performed. Dealers will inspect the front seatbelts and, if the webbing is misrouted, will replace the seatbelt retractor and pretensioner, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 14, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C20.
When was recall 21V653 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 21V653 to NHTSA on August 23, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| August 23, 2021 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V653000. |
| October 14, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 62 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 21V653?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V653 is open on your F-150, 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 21V653000. 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-150 owners do about recall 21V653?
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 21V653000 applies to your F-150.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Ford dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any webbing 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, 5 of them about the seat belts.
Since recall 21V653 was reported on August 23, 2021, owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the seat belts on these vehicles. 1 of them (20%) 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 seat belts and were received on or after August 23, 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 seat belts 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 5 of them involve the seat belts. 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, 5 about the seat belts
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 21V653000 (SEAT BELTS), 23V509000 (PARKING BRAKE), 22V142000 (VISIBILITY) and 23V163000 (VISIBILITY). The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the parking brake independently activated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11666857, filed June 13, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the contact was cut off by another vehicle that had pulled out in front of the vehicle. The contact depressed the brake pedal with force to keep from crashing into the vehicle.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, AZ, NHTSA complaint 11696090, filed October 28, 2025
I was pulling into my spot at work and the power steering assist light and pre collision assist lights cam on along with advance trac. At this point I had no power steering. Luckily I was basically stopped. I cycled the key on and off twice and it finally went back to normal.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11434627, filed September 28, 2021
Can recall 21V653 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 seat belt that does not latch or retract correctly on the 2021 Ford F-150 affects safety directly, and a failed recall repair is a repair attempt 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.
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 21V653
Did the recall 21V653 fix work?
Since recall 21V653 was reported on August 23, 2021, owners have filed 5 complaints with NHTSA about the seat belts on these vehicles. 1 of them (20%) 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 21V653000 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 21V653000?
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 21V653000 (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.