- The problem
- 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 fix
- 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.
Engine & cooling
2021 Ford E-450 Engine problems
Owners have filed 7 complaints about the 2021 Ford E-450's engine & cooling with NHTSA - 25% of all its complaints, most recently on November 4, 2026. Stalling, loss of power, oil consumption, overheating, head gaskets, timing chains and engine failure.
- Complaints
- 7
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Engine recalls for the 2021 Ford E-450
- The problem
- 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 fix
- 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.
Engine complaints
The contact owns a 2021 Forest River Sunseeker RV built on a 2021 Ford E-450 Chassis. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45-50 MPH uphill, the vehicle made a loud banging and rapping sound and lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated during the failure. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with catastrophic engine failure caused by cylinder and lifter failures. The vehicle was repaired. The...
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contact associated the failure with Ford Customer Satisfaction Program: 24B27 - Supplement #2 (Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Software Update) and NHTSA Action Number: DP26011 (Engine). The manufacturer was notified of the failure but denied assistance. The failure mileage was 26,300.
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.
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.
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
We received the two recall notice letters from Ford Motor Company, 20V795 & 22V089, for our 2021 Jayco Redhawk class C RV. Upon receiving the first recall notice, 20V795, an appointment was made with our local Ford Dealer, Spradley Ford Lincoln Mercury, in Pueblo, CO, on Oct 1, 2021 to have it inspected and recall taken care of. Upon arrival that morning, was told they did not have the parts, would have to order them & their technician just called in "sick". Appointment was rescheduled once they had the recall...
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parts in for Nov 15, 2021, again at our local Ford Dealer, Spradley Ford Lincoln Mercury, in Pueblo, CO. Upon arrival that morning to drop the unit off for the recall repair, was turned away again & told I'd have to reschedule as they had a break-in overnight & their technicians' had some tools stolen & would not be working today & they would have the service manager call me to reschedule the appointment once again, which never happened. In March of 2022, we received the second recall notice, 22V089, advising to take it to the local Ford dealer for inspection & repair. I called the Ford Dealer, now Alpine Ford, in Pueblo, CO, several times having to leave a message without a return call. On April 6, 2022, I spoke with [[redacted]] in Service at Alpine Ford & was informed Alpine Ford would not do the recalls as the new owners refused to do them after purchasing the dealership & referred me to Camping World. I had an appointment at Camping World in Colorado Springs this same day & they contacted Ford Dealers in Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Canon City, & all refused to handle the recalls. I called Ford Corporate & expressed my displeasure with dealers failing to comply with recall notices causing safety concerns for use of the unit & was told the were not "refusing" to do the recalls just did not have any technicians or locations except maybe O'Mera Ford in Northglenn, CO, who might handle it, which is unacceptable as they are 2 hours & 100 miles away. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
The contact owns a 2021 Ford E-450. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 20V795000 (Engine) and 22V089000 (Steering, Service Brakes, Hydraulics) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available and Parts distribution disconnect respectively.
Ford E-450 engine complaints by year
E-450 engine problems, every yearSource: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data