NHTSA campaign 21V983000 · Ford campaign 21S53
Ford Recall 21V-983: Tailgate May Open Unexpectedly
NHTSA recall 21V983000 (Ford campaign 21S53) was reported by Ford Motor Company on December 16, 2021, with 57,591 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Ford F-150 for the 2018 model year. Owners were notified on May 31, 2022, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 21V983000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Ford VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 21V983000 (also written 21V-983 or 21V983)
- Filed by
- Ford Motor Company
- Ford campaign number
- 21S53
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 57,591 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Latches/Locks/Linkages — Tailgate — Latch
- Owners notified
Repair completion: 67.6% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 21V983000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
Ford
Ford F-150
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 21V983000.
Defect description
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-150 vehicles with manual and power release tailgates. The tailgate latches may unlatch unexpectedly while driving.
Safety consequence
Unexpected tailgate opening may allow unrestrained cargo to fall out of the truck bed and become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
Dealers will replace the left-hand and right-hand tailgate latches, free of charge. An interim notification letter was mailed January 31, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 31, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S53.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 21V983000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.