Recall 21V653 affects 16,430 2021 Ford F-150 trucks for misrouted front seatbelt webbing. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 16,430 2021 F-150 Super Cab vehicles because the front seatbelt webbing has an incorrect routing issue. A misrouted seatbelt can fail to adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing injury risk; Ford dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The front outboard seatbelt assembly in the 2021 Ford F-150 is the belt system for the driver and front passenger seats. Its webbing is supposed to pass through the rubber trim sleeve and the anchor eyelet. The anchor gives the belt a fixed load path, so the belt can hold an occupant in position during a crash.
On affected Super Cab trucks, the seatbelt webbing was routed through the rubber trim sleeve but not properly through the anchor. Ford traced the issue to factory error-proofing checks that were defeated during assembly, allowing the belt to leave the plant in the wrong path. With the webbing outside the anchor eyelet, the seatbelt does not work as Ford designed it to work.
There is no warning sign before failure. The belt can look installed from inside the cabin, so owners should not rely on sight or feel to confirm whether the routing is correct.
Who's affected?
| 2021 Ford F-150 | seat belt |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 16,430 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific pickup truck is included.
What's the safety risk?
A misrouted front seatbelt can fail to restrain an occupant properly in a crash, increasing injury risk. There is no warning sign. Follow Ford's inspection instructions: leave a passenger seat with a failed belt unused, and keep the truck parked if the driver belt fails inspection. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2021 Ford F-150 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the free front-seatbelt inspection and retractor and pretensioner replacement if the webbing is misrouted.
- Perform Ford's preliminary front-seatbelt self-inspection before you use the front seats.
- Do not use the passenger seat if the passenger-side seatbelt fails inspection.
- Do not drive the truck if the driver-side seatbelt fails inspection.
- Bring the recall notice if Ford mailed one. If not, reference recall number 21V653 when you call.
What happens at the repair
Before the dealer visit, Ford advises owners to self inspect the front seatbelts. If the passenger side belt fails inspection, do not use the passenger seat. If the driver side belt fails inspection, do not drive until the repair is complete. At the dealer, a Ford technician inspects the front seatbelts. If the webbing is routed incorrectly, the technician replaces the seatbelt retractor and pretensioner. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. Prior out of pocket repairs are handled through Ford's original warranty program, not a separate reimbursement program.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| August 23, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 24, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| August 24, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
| September 27, 2021 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| September 27, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| October 14, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V653?
Recall 21V653 covers 16,430 2021 Ford F-150 Super Cab vehicles with front seatbelt webbing that was incorrectly routed. A misrouted seatbelt can fail to restrain an occupant properly in a crash, increasing injury risk. Ford dealers will inspect and repair the front seatbelts for free.
What should I do if my 2021 Ford F-150 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 21V653. Ford advised owners to perform the preliminary front seatbelt self-inspection, then contact a franchised Ford dealer for inspection and repair. If the driver-side belt fails inspection, do not drive until the repair is complete.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Ford will inspect the front seatbelts for free. If the webbing is misrouted, the dealer will replace the seatbelt retractor and pretensioner free of charge.
Is it safe to use the front passenger seat before the repair?
Use the passenger seat only if the passenger-side seatbelt passes Ford's preliminary self-inspection. If that belt fails inspection, Ford says owners should not use the passenger seat until the dealer completes the repair. Reference recall 21V653 when you call the Ford dealer.
What if I bought my 2021 Ford F-150 used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Ford mailed owner letters on October 14, 2021, but a used-truck owner can miss that notice. Check your VIN, then call a franchised Ford dealer and reference recall 21V653.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V653000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-866-436-7332 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V653 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V653000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →