YearToAvoid

2021 Ford F-150 Collision Avoidance & Cameras Problems

NHTSA lists 79 Collision Avoidance & Camera complaints for the 2021 Ford F-150, 8% of that year's 1,012 total complaints, tied to 6 crashes and 2 injuries. Two related recalls (26V489000, 25V315000) cover rearview camera and software issues.

Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints
79
8% of 1,012
Crashes reported
6
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
2
Median mileage
33,950 mi
Related recalls
2

Typical collision avoidance system symptoms owners report

  • Rearview camera freezes or shows a blank/black screen while reversing, sometimes leading to a collision.
  • Backup camera image appears hazy or grey on the dash display.
  • Backup camera module malfunctions and dealers report being unable to correct the issue even after replacing the module.
  • Automatic parking system fails to detect certain vehicles, particularly silver Ford cars, under bright sunlight.
  • Pre-collision assist and related warning systems (ABS, Traction Control, Hill Start Assist) intermittently go inactive, sometimes with a loss of braking on descents.

When 2021 Ford F-150 collision avoidance system complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 26, 2021, latest Aug 25, 2026.

2021 Ford F-150 collision avoidance & cameras complaints: complaints filed per month10Jan 2021Jan 2022Feb 2023Oct 2023Jun 2024Mar 2025Sep 2025Mar 2026
79 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jan 2021 to Aug 2026; peak Jul 2025 (10).

Collision Avoidance & Cameras recalls for the 2021 Ford F-150

  1. NHTSA 26V489000Jul 28, 2026Collision Avoidance & Cameras47,587 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Back over prevention:display function

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-150 and 2023-2026 F-250 SD vehicles equipped with 8-inch SYNC infotainment screens. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to be obstructed by the infotainment home screen menu when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."

    Risk: An obstructed rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 7, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C37. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 31, 2026.

  2. NHTSA 25V315000May 9, 2025Collision Avoidance & Cameras1,076,138 vehiclesOver-the-air fix

    Back over prevention:software

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco, F-150, 2021-2024 Edge, 2022-2025 Escape, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, 2022-2024 Expedition, 2022-2025 Transit, 2021-2023 Mach-E, 2024 Ranger, Mustang, 2021-2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022-2024 Navigator, and 2023-2024 Corsair vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.

    Risk: A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on June 26, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Owner notification letters were sent on October 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S49.

Collision Avoidance & Cameras complaints by F-150 model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 20103 (0%)
  2. 20115 (0%)
  3. 20125 (0%)
  4. 201313 (0%)
  5. 201424 (2%)
  6. 201532 (2%)
  7. 201639 (2%)
  8. 201713 (1%)
  9. 201833 (1%)
  10. 201985 (6%)
  11. 202038 (5%)
  12. 202179 (8%)
  13. 202229 (5%)
  14. 202332 (8%)
  15. 202416 (9%)
  16. 202526 (25%)

Frequently asked questions

How many Collision Avoidance & Camera complaints does the 2021 Ford F-150 have?
NHTSA lists 79 complaints in this area for the 2021 F-150, which is 8% of the 1,012 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2021 Ford F-150 backup camera?
Yes. Recall 26V489000 covers a software error that can obstruct the rearview camera image on 8-inch SYNC screens, and recall 25V315000 covers a broader back-over prevention software issue affecting multiple Ford models including the 2021 F-150.
Have there been crashes linked to camera problems in the 2021 F-150?
NHTSA data links 6 crashes and 2 injuries to Collision Avoidance & Camera complaints for the 2021 F-150.
At what mileage do these camera problems typically show up?
The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 33,949.5 miles.
How does 2021 compare to other F-150 years for this problem area?
The 2021 F-150's 79 complaints and 8% share is higher than most earlier years like 2018 (33 complaints, 1%) and 2020 (38 complaints, 5%), though 2025 shows a higher 25% share.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.