CSR

Ford · NHTSA safety record

2021 Ford E-450

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

27

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2021 Ford E-450 have filed 27 safety complaints with NHTSA between May 2021 and January 2026. The most complained-about system is the steering, named in 11 of them (41%). The typical failure was reported at 9,508 miles, the median across the 8 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 7 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (7)

ENGINE

25V793000 · November 17, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 E-350 and E-450 vehicles that received an incomplete software update under recall 20V795. The engine cover may become excessively hot.
The risk
Direct contact with certain areas of engine cover surface in the passenger compartment may increase the risk of injury or burns to the skin of the driver or front seat passenger.
The remedy
Dealers will update the powertrain calibration for heat management under elevated idle conditions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 7, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC7. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning December 22, 2025.

Ford Motor Company · up to 7,046 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

24V406000 · June 6, 2024

The defect
North Central Emergency Vehicles (North Central) is recalling one 2021 Ford E-450 vehicle equipped with Weldon 8X16 Input-Output nodes. In the event of a short circuit or wiring failure, the firmware in the node may fail to shut off the output pin, resulting in overloaded electrical circuits.
The risk
Overloaded electrical circuits can overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
The remedy
Weldon will update the firmware, free of charge. The owner notification letter is expected to be mailed June 2024. Owners may contact Akron Brass customer service at 1-800-228-1161 or North Central customer service at 1-320-395-2529.

North Central Emergency Vehicles · up to 1 vehicles across all model years covered

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

24V097000 · February 9, 2024

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 E-350 and E-450 vehicles equipped with dual rear wheels. An inadequate connection between the power steering pressure line and the brake hydroboost unit may result in a sudden loss of power steering fluid.
The risk
A sudden loss of power steering fluid can result in a loss of power steering and power brake assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the power steering pressure line and the hydroboost jumper line, free of charge. Vehicles in this recall were previously recalled under 22V-089 and owners will need to have the new remedy completed even if their vehicle was remedied under the prior recall. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 21, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S07.

Ford Motor Company · up to 16,543 vehicles across all model years covered

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS

22V089000 · February 16, 2022

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 E-350 and E-450 vehicles equipped with dual rear wheels. An inadequate connection between the power steering pressure line and the brake Hydroboost unit may result in a sudden loss of power steering fluid.
The risk
A sudden loss of power steering fluid can result in a loss of power steering and power brake assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect the connection between the power steering lines and the Hydroboost unit, and replace the power steering lines, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 18, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S08.

Ford Motor Company · up to 44,219 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE

20V795000 · December 17, 2020

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 E-350 and E-450 vehicles. The underside of the engine cover may have mispositioned insulation, allowing the cover to get excessively hot.
The risk
Direct and continuous contact with certain areas of engine cover surface in the passenger compartment may increase the risk of injury or burns to the skin of the driver or front seat passenger.
The remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the engine cover for gaps between the rubber seal and the insulation. If gaps are present, the dealer will install engine cover insulation patches in the right hand and left hand inner lower corners of the engine cover. The dealer will also update the powertrain calibration for heat management under elevated idle conditions should a vehicle be equipped with SEIC or BCP, free of charge. The recall began February 15, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S73.

Ford Motor Company · up to 29,344 vehicles across all model years covered

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

20V175000 · March 23, 2020

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 E-350 and E-450 vehicles. A wire harness in the rear of the vehicle may contact the vehicle frame, resulting in damage to the circuits that support the fuel pump and the anti-lock braking system (ABS).
The risk
Damage to the fuel pump circuit in the wiring harness could result in an unexpected engine stall. Damage to the ABS wiring can lead to reduction of ABS functionality and a loss of roll stability control (RSC) functionality. These scenarios increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wire harness for damage. If no damage is found, dealers will apply anti-abrasion tape over the area and ensure clearance to surrounding components. If damage is found, dealers will splice in new wire and apply anti-abrasion tape over the area and ensure clearance to surrounding components. All services will be performed free of charge. The recall began May 18, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S13.

Ford Motor Company · up to 2,871 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT

20V099000 · February 21, 2020

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 F-550 and 2021 E-350 and E-450 vehicles. The rear axle differential fluid may be below the minimum level, possibly resulting in a failure of the rear axle assembly and driveshaft separation.
The risk
If the driveshaft separates, there may be a loss of drive, increasing the risk of crash. Additionally, if the parking brake is not applied, unintended vehicle movement can occur and increase the risk of injury or crash.
The remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear axle differential fluid level and adjust it, or replace the rear axle as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 19, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S09.

Ford Motor Company · up to 319 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Loss of Power Brake/Steering Assist Post Recall 22V089 Inspection.

RQ24003

Closed recall query · opened February 27, 2024 · closed May 11, 2026

the hydraulic brakes, the steering

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query (RQ) 24003 on February 27, 2024, to evaluate the scope and remedy effectiveness of NHTSA recall 24V097. On February 16, 2022, Ford Motor Company (Ford) issued a safety recall, NHTSA recall 22V089, for certain 2021-2022 Ford E-350 and E-450 vehicles equipped with dual rear wheels. According to the filing, specific hydraulic lines could leak resulting in a sudden loss of power steering and power brake assist, increasing the risk of a crash. The remedy involved a dealer inspection of the lines and their replacement as necessary. Only vehicles that failed the inspection received updated parts. On February 9, 2024, Ford issued a new recall, NHTSA recall 24V097, to replace the specific hydraulic lines on any vehicle that had not yet been inspected and on any vehicle which had passed inspection within the previous twelve months. However, vehicles which had passed the inspection more than twelve months ago would not be included within the scope of the new recall, as Ford deemed them to have a low likelihood of failure. ODI opened this RQ to better understand Ford's scoping of recall 24V097, specifically concerning the inspected-only vehicles not included in the new recall filing. ODI sent Ford an information request letter on April 18, 2024. Ford responded, in full, on May 31, 2024. ODI reviewed Ford's data which showed that the vehicles not included in the new recall had a predicted failure rate of less than 0.25% within 10 years from the date of inspection. By comparison, the vehicles included in the new filing have had a failure rate of approximately 2% prior to being recalled again. ODI analysis of complaint and warranty data further supports Ford's assessment that vehicles that passed inspection more than twelve months prior to recall 24V097 are unlikely to experience the defect condition. ODI is closing this RQ without a manufacturer action. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist. The Agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 27.

STEERING 11 41%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 7 26%
ENGINE 6 22%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 6 22%
SERVICE BRAKES 4 15%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 4 15%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 2 7%
STRUCTURE 2 7%
AIR BAGS 1 4%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 4%
EQUIPMENT 1 4%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 4%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2022 at 9.

2021 2022 2026
2021 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST

towed · 4,826 miles

The contact owns a 2021 Ford E-450. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V089000 (Steering, Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was inspected however, while making a turn into a service station, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact then stated that she was directed to a leak coming from the vehicle. The contact notified the dealer, and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the hydro-boost power failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure

NHTSA complaint 11487034, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

towed · 23,000 miles

The contact owns a 2021 Jayco Redhawk Motorhome built on a 2021 Ford E-450 chassis. The contact stated that while her friend was driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The RV was towed to the dealer, who informed the contact that the brake line had deteriorated and needed to be replaced. The RV was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 23,000.

NHTSA complaint 11533403. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

towed · 14,104 miles

The contact owns a 2021 Ford E-450. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, the steering wheel and brake pedal became stiff, and the vehicle failed to slow down as intended. The contact stated that the brake pedal was continuously depressed for the vehicle to come to a stop. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the power steering hose and fluids needed to be flushed and refilled. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,104.

NHTSA complaint 11603091. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
Airbag module casing is cracked.

NHTSA complaint 11709041. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Engine camshaft and lifters failed. Truck is at a Ford dealer. Engine could fail in the middle of the road, causing an accident. This is our eighth vehicle with the same issue taken to a ford dealer in the past year. A little knocking noise started that quickly turned into a loud knocking/rattling noise. No lights came on the truck.

NHTSA complaint 11688895. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING
See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA complaint 11644752. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
This is one of 4 of my 2021 ford econoline fleet vehicles purchased in 2021 that have had engine failure. I am one of many contractors in my area and others around the country who have had this issue with the same F59 engine. Ford has failed to issue a recall.

NHTSA complaint 11643146. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Engine camshaft and lifters failed and were inspected by Ford dealer, which corrected the issue by replacing the engine. Engine can failed and truck get stuck in the middle of the road. In the past 6 months its our 4th Ford truck with the same issue and a lot of other Fedex contractors that purchased a Ford truck with the 7.3L engine are reporting the same issue. No warning light was on in this vehicle, just started with a knocking sound that got worse until it got to the dealer and engine had to be replaced

NHTSA complaint 11640804. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
Engine Camshaft and lifters failed, unit was inspected by ford dealer and engine had to be replaced. Engine can stop working and truck could break down in the middle of the road. No warning lamps, just a loud knocking sound when brakes were applied and truck was downshifting to stop. A lot of other people that purchased these ford light duty trucks with the 7.3L engine are having the same issue.

NHTSA complaint 11640826. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Ford E-450

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2022 13 3
2017 11 3
2016 17 5
2013 12 2

Other 2021 Ford models

Every Ford on this site — 348 vehicles, 1210 recall campaigns and 10 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst