2021 Ford F-150 Side Impact Recall (21V805)

Recall 21V805 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Ford F-150 in recall 21V805?

The front-door side impact pressure sensor modules may have been damaged during supplier assembly, which can cause the side impact air bags to not deploy properly in a crash.

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, 2021 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The front-door side impact pressure sensor modules may have been damaged during supplier assembly, which can cause the side impact air bags to not deploy properly in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214, "Side Impact Protection."

Is it safe to drive a 2021 F-150 with recall 21V805?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An air bag that does not deploy properly during a crash increases the risk of injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An air bag that does not deploy properly during a crash increases 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 side impact.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V805?

Recall 21V805 covers 777 vehicles: 2021 Ford Expedition; 2021 Ford F-150; 2022 Ford F-250 SD; 2022 Ford F-350 SD; 2021 Lincoln Navigator.

NHTSA lists 777 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the F-150 side impact recall?

Yes. Dealers will replace the driver and passenger front door side impact sensors, free of charge.

Dealers will replace the driver and passenger front door side impact sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 3, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C26.

When was recall 21V805 announced?

Ford Motor Company reported recall 21V805 to NHTSA on October 15, 2021. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as November 3, 2021.

This recall was filed 60 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 21V805?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V805 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 21V805?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V805000 applies to your F-150.
2. Call a Ford dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
4. Keep a simple log of any side impact symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. 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 1,517 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 11 of them about the air bags.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 1,517 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 11 of them involve the air bags. 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 air bags
• 2021 Ford Expedition: 235 complaints in total, 3 about the air bags
• 2022 Ford F-250 SD: 123 complaints in total, 3 about the air bags
• 2022 Ford F-350 SD: 111 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
• 2021 Lincoln Navigator: 33 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags

Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):

Confirmed through dealership that the Clock Spring in the steering column needs to be replaced as it is defective. Ford has indicated that my vehicle vin is not a part of the current clock spring recall.

2021 Ford F-150 owner, MN, NHTSA complaint 11648321, filed March 14, 2025

The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while her husband was stopped, a 2023 Dodge Ram 1500 reversed at approximately 55 MPH, causing the rear to crash into the front of her husband's front of vehicle. No air bags deployed.

2021 Ford F-150 owner, VA, NHTSA complaint 11683058, filed August 26, 2025

Started after McGee ford did a service on my truck Apparently they told ford they repaired electrical recalls which I wasn’t having issues with nor did I know They did anything! They did however erase the recalls so that was 8-2024 shortly after my truck experienced major electrical issues, another dealership told me it was…

2021 Ford F-150 owner, VT, NHTSA complaint 11710040, filed January 9, 2026

Can recall 21V805 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 side impact 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)).

An air bag warning light that keeps coming back after a recall repair is worth documenting. Air bag defects are safety defects, and California law can require fewer repair attempts for them.

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.

Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have 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.

Frequently asked questions about recall 21V805