2021 Ford E-450 Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2021 Ford E-450, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
See attached document for complaint.
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.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
See attached document for complaint.
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.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Component= Traction control and cruise control. Safety risk=Driving a Ford e-450 Class C RV on interstate at 63 MPH going generally up hill with cruise control on, the "Service AdvanceTrac" warning light came on dashboard. I Immediately lost cruise control capability and steering became a little shakey. Pulled into rest area shut vehicle off. A few minutes and started again. Error went away and cruise control was functioning. Happened again a few hours later and I did the same thing and continued on. What happened=As I was driving, the " Service Advance Traction" light came on and the cruise control stopped, my class c rv immediately slowed at a high rate, a semi was behind me trying to get over to the middle lane. When I slowed down suddenly due to the cruise control going out, the semi had no choice but to change lanes quickly missing the back of my vehicle by a foot or so. If he was not alert as to what was happening, I most assuredly would not be typing this letter. It was that close!! Note= This also happened last year as we only take the RV out a few weeks out of the year. I brought it to Klammer Ford in New Port Richey F1l immediately after we got back from the last trip. They could not reproduce issue or find anything wrong Lamps= The only warning light that came on was a "Service Advance traction" light. No prior indication of any kind.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford E-450. The contact stated while driving the RV 60 MPH with the cruise control feature turned off, the stabili-trac warning light illuminated and the RV decelerated. The contact was able to control the RV, and once the contact turned off and restarted the RV, the RV operated normally. The RV was not diagnosed. The dealer was contacted and stated that the failure was not a known failure. The dealer also confirmed that the RV was not under recall. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 18,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
2021 FORD E-450- Recall# 21V-441- heat shield not properly installed in between the LP tank and chassis muffler. Consumer enclosed a copy of the recall notice. Consumer went to an RV dealer in reference to a recall repair. The dealership made a call and informed consumer it could be fixed & would received return phone call that same evening or the next day. Several days passed. Consumer called representative 2 more times within a 3 week period with no return call. Consumer called a 3rd time & requested supervisor return the call. After 6 weeks no one called. The RV has only been used 3 times since purchased. July 2022, consumer received a recall notice from Ford about a problem the power steering hose possible failure. Consumer took unit to dealer the same month for repair. The mechanic stated that although it could be fixed, recall repairs wasn't a priority. Consumer left unit for repair. Consumer called several times for status of repair 7 explained about a trip planned in Aug. & was told it would be ready. The unit was not ready by time specified. After returning from trip unit still was not fixed. Consumer picked up unit unrepaired 2 1/2 months later. Consumer now states: "So what now Thor? What do I do with this unit I can't use and just sits in my driveway. It appears that by the way these people operate that once again 1 may not be able to use the unit this summer. By the way your letter states that it is a third notification on this recall matter however the enclosed copy is the only one I have ever received."
The contact owns a 2021 Phoenix Cruiser RV built on a 2021 Ford E-450 chassis, equipped with a 6400 Series window vent. The contact stated that he became aware that the side window was delaminating. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21E047000 (Structure, Equipment). The RV was taken to a local dealer and was diagnosed, and it was determined that the failure was related to the adhesive; however, no repairs were completed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC KEEPS FAULTING AND DISABLING THE CRUISE CONTROL, ABS BRAKING, HILL HOLDER, AND SKID CONTROL FUNCTIONS, SEEMS TO OCCUR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WITH CROSSWIND
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
CP4 fuel pump explodes leaving me and my family stranded on the freeway for over 7 hours, and stuck 1300 miles from home. Dodge has already recalled and repaired there trucks. My truck is 2021 with 50k miles and now I'm expected to pay $15-20k for the damage's
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2021 Phoenix Cruiser RV built on a 2021 Ford E-450 chassis, equipped with a 6400 Series window vent. The contact stated that he became aware that the side window was delaminating. The contact became aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21E047000 (Structure, Equipment). The RV was taken to a local dealer and was diagnosed, and it was determined that the failure was related to the adhesive; however, no repairs were completed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
Airbag module casing is cracked.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .