2021 Ford F-150 Body Control Module Software Recall (24V443)
Ford Motor Company · 159 vehicles · Reported June 14, 2024
Ford Motor Company is recalling 159 2021 Ford F-150 vehicles. An over-the-air software update to the body control module (BCM) may have disabled both reverse lights. Disabled reverse lights cannot alert others that the vehicle is reversing, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 24V443 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 24V443000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 24S38 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | June 14, 2024 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021 Ford F-150 |
| Units affected | 159 |
| Build dates | May 20, 2021 to December 10, 2021 |
| Component | Electrical System > Body Control Module > Software |
| Safety risk | Disabled reverse lights cannot alert others that the vehicle is reversing, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Ford F-150 in recall 24V443?
An over-the-air software update to the body control module (BCM) may have disabled both reverse lights.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 F-150 vehicles equipped with the Onboard Scales feature. An over-the-air software update to the body control module (BCM) may have disabled both reverse lights.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 F-150 with recall 24V443?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Disabled reverse lights cannot alert others that the vehicle is reversing, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Disabled reverse lights cannot alert others that the vehicle is reversing, increasing 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 software, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 24V443?
Recall 24V443 covers 159 vehicles: 2021 Ford F-150.
NHTSA lists 159 vehicles in this campaign, built May 20, 2021 to December 10, 2021. 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 body control module software recall?
Yes. Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge.
Dealers will update the body control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters are were mailed June 26, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S38.
When was recall 24V443 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 24V443 to NHTSA on June 14, 2024.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| May 20, 2021 | First affected vehicle built (per Ford Motor Company's filing). |
| December 10, 2021 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| June 14, 2024 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 24V443000. |
| June 26, 2024 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 27 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 204 days. 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 24V443?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 24V443 is open on your F-150, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 24V443000 is open on your F-150, it will be listed there, along with Ford recall number 24S38. You can also ask any Ford dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should F-150 owners do about recall 24V443?
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 24V443000 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.
- 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 software 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, 117 of them about the electrical system.
Since recall 24V443 was reported on June 14, 2024, owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 7 of them (10%) 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 electrical system and were received on or after June 14, 2024, 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 electrical system 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 117 of them involve the electrical system. 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, 117 about the electrical system
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
The contact called about a 2021 Ford F-150 company vehicle. The company received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V193000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, AK, NHTSA complaint 11633978, filed January 3, 2025
The contact owns a 2021 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rearview camera intermittently was inoperative. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that an unknown module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, MI, NHTSA complaint 11650612, filed March 25, 2025
My rearview backup camera blacks out won't load, cuts off and on. When in drive it still takes a while for it to still load the radio and navigation. It blacks out and won't load when I start the truck.
2021 Ford F-150 owner, SC, NHTSA complaint 11651620, filed March 30, 2025
Can recall 24V443 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)).
Electrical faults are hard to diagnose, so dealers often try several fixes before one works, if one works at all. That pattern of repeat visits for the same software problem is common in lemon law claims.
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.
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.
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 software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no 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 24V443
Did the recall 24V443 fix work?
Since recall 24V443 was reported on June 14, 2024, owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about the electrical system on these vehicles. 7 of them (10%) 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 24V443000 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 24V443000?
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 24V443000 (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.