US 2021 Ford F-150 Owners Are Already Facing Rust, Corrosion Issues - Yikes

https://fordauthority.com/2021/03/2021-ford-f-150-owners-are-already-facing-rust-corrosion-issues/

Rust is a sad reality for most vehicle owners, especially those that live in areas with harsh winters or near the salty ocean. But we expect our vehicles to last quite some time before rust starts to rear its ugly head. That hasn’t been the case for a few 2021 Ford F-150 owners, however, as many of them are already facing various rust and corrosion issues mere months after taking delivery of their shiny new trucks.

That includes Adam Daily of Spring, Texas, who recently told the Detroit Free Press that his 2021 Ford F-150 began showing surface rust on its axles and other underbody components within days of bringing it home. In addition to that, rusty water dripped off those parts and left brown stains on his garage floor. So far, he says neither the dealer nor the automaker has an answer for him.

“I’ve been getting ghosted,” Daily said. “Ever since I got this truck, nobody knows anything. My 2016 F-150 had 65,000 miles when I turned it in, and it didn’t look like this. This thing looks like it’s a few years old and driven in heavy snow-like conditions with salt on the roads. I didn’t know what to expect but I didn’t expect people to get ignored.”

“These parts look they were possibly sitting in water or somewhere where it’s wet,” Daily said. “People have images that are around the shock mounts, too. There shouldn’t be so much corrosion on a truck just built. I’m in quality control and I’m embarrassed I missed this. But I was so excited to get my truck.”

Daily isn’t the only person that’s expressed frustration with rusty parts, either. The Free Press spoke with 2021 Ford F-150 owners in seven different states around the U.S. who have also noticed corrosion occurring within days of taking delivery of their trucks. There doesn’t appear to be any discernable pattern to what trucks are affected, however, though Ford is currently looking into it.

“We’re looking, with our suppliers, into questions raised,” Ford spokesman Said Deep told the Free Press. “While some F-150 underbody steel components may show signs of surface rust, this will have no impact on part performance or life.”

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Not a good look, Ford!

 

[BobbyBriggs69420]

Yikes I didn't realize people would still buy fords, foreign and fucked when we have 2 fully nationalized options available. Do they hate their country?

 

[The Last Stand]

Well, Ford is an American company. Now they're outsourced.

No wonder people import cars now.

 

[Cpl. Long Dong Silver]

Well, Ford is an American company. Now they're outsourced.

No wonder people import cars now.

Thats the thing. A domestically made Toyota is more American in terms of parts, labor and delivery than anything Ford can give you.

Also just hands down a better truck.

 

[Snekposter]

Not surprised. Anyone else familiar with the Ford Pinto?

 

[Penis Drager]

At this point I think most F-150s sales entirely rely on blind brand loyalty and costumers not caring to research other pick-up alternatives. Not sure how are US tariffs on foreign brand vehicles such as Toyota, Nissan, etc, but considering that the alternative is buying a rust bucket, spending a bit more on a work vehicle seem like a worthwhile expense.

A bit of an anecdote: but there is a bit of value in a Ford work truck depending on the nature of the work. My folks used to have a Ford when they were working construction out in the country because someone on sight always had the part you needed on hand.
Yeah, it's fix or replace daily, but they always had the resources to do it. This was years back so the situation may have changed. But this was one line of reasoning people had for choosing Ford as their primary work vehicle: everyone else already has one and being the odd man out when shit does inevitably go south can be a much bigger issue than having to do a quick swap a bit more often.

 

[Zbk3VmLfujjzjxBd43tL]

At this point I think most F-150s sales entirely rely on blind brand loyalty and costumers not caring to research other pick-up alternatives. Not sure how are US tariffs on foreign brand vehicles such as Toyota, Nissan, etc, but considering that the alternative is buying a rust bucket, spending a bit more on a work vehicle seem like a worthwhile expense.

There are a hell of a lot of Americans who won't buy a truck if it isn't made by Ford, Chevy, Dodge, or GMC. There is insane brand loyalty, and I have literally encountered people who'd proudly say "I'm a Chevy boy and hate Ford." None of them care about Japanese trucks even if they aren't any worse and are assembled in the US (Nissan has plants in Mississippi and Tennessee and has the naming rights to where the Tennessee Titans football team plays).

IIRC Japanese trucks have far more penetration in the US market than American trucks have there. American pickups are extremely rare in Japan except the ones which American companies have licensed to sell in the country (it seems a few Isuzu trucks are branded as Chevrolet here).

Thats the thing. A domestically made Toyota is more American in terms of parts, labor and delivery than anything Ford can give you.

Also just hands down a better truck.

Problem is American trucks are cheaper to buy used because of the brand loyalty shit. My father (who was a mechanic) drove a Toyota Tercel made in the mid-80s for almost 20 years and recommended Toyota cars to everyone he met (the first car I remember riding in was a Geo Prizm which was basically a Toyota). But since he was all about thrift, even he had to buy shit like the Chevy S10 or right now a Ford F150 when he needed a pickup truck.

 

[HOMO FOR LIFE]

There are a hell of a lot of Americans who won't buy a truck if it isn't made by Ford, Chevy, Dodge, or GMC. There is insane brand loyalty, and I have literally encountered people who'd proudly say "I'm a Chevy boy and hate Ford." None of them care about Japanese trucks even if they aren't any worse and are assembled in the US (Nissan has plants in Mississippi and Tennessee and has the naming rights to where the Tennessee Titans football team plays).

IIRC Japanese trucks have far more penetration in the US market than American trucks have there. American pickups are extremely rare in Japan except the ones which American companies have licensed to sell in the country (it seems a few Isuzu trucks are branded as Chevrolet here).

Problem is American trucks are cheaper to buy used because of the brand loyalty shit. My father (who was a mechanic) drove a Toyota Tercel made in the mid-80s for almost 20 years and recommended Toyota cars to everyone he met (the first car I remember riding in was a Geo Prizm which was basically a Toyota). But since he was all about thrift, even he had to buy shit like the Chevy S10 or right now a Ford F150 when he needed a pickup truck.

It's hard to source Toyota cars. Mother fuckers won't trade them!

 

[JustSomeDong]

It's hard to source Toyota cars. Mother fuckers won't trade them!

I drive a Scion mostly (shut up, my grandpa used it to go into town for groceries, and left it to me, and it gets better milage than my old honda crx, which i also fucking love) and I fucking love that car. Its got a j-code VIN, and will last me 300k miles. I'll take me a nipmobile any day.

 

[Cultured Xeno]

Is there a Ford acronym that has rust jokes?

Fucking Old Rusted Dodge

 

[X Pac Heat]

At this point I think most F-150s sales entirely rely on blind brand loyalty and costumers not caring to research other pick-up alternatives. Not sure how are US tariffs on foreign brand vehicles such as Toyota, Nissan, etc, but considering that the alternative is buying a rust bucket, spending a bit more on a work vehicle seem like a worthwhile expense.

https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/ford-f150-vs-toyota-tundra

From everything I've seen, people that hate F150's don't even drive trucks and base most of the opinion on funny acronyms they've seen or whatever brand their grandpa loved.

As far as the whole "foreign or domestic" shit goes, meh. Only thing I recognize is that Ford didn't take the bailout the rest of the auto makers did. Still doesn't factor into my decision to buy though. It typically comes down to cost and how much I like driving a vehicle.

All that being said, I have nothing against Toyotas or any other brand, they are all pretty much the same quality in the end and most of the horror stories have background info not specified. (for example, my friend only deals in Dodge vehicles and eveyr vehicle he has ever owned has had massive problems. Of course that would make dodge look bad if I didn't mention he almost always buys used pieces of shit for as cheap as possible)

I actually almost bought a Toyota Tacoma before I got a better deal on the F150.

 

[Maurice Caine]

Cars still rust?

 

[Milwaukee Macho Man]

All auto brands are equally shit these days. The myth of indestructible Toyotas hasn't been true for damn near 15 years now.

https://recallinformer.com/massive-toyota-recall-will-take-1-8-million-cars-off-the-road/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/palashghosh/2021/02/24/hyundai-to-recall-76000-electric-vehicles-over-battery-fire-risks/?sh=54e540e22cf5

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2019/02/06/dodge-ram-trucks-recalled-fiat-chrysler-steering-pedal-issues/2787155002/

Look up any manufacturer, you'll find some huge recall.

On top of this, "work" trucks are almost an extinct thing and the auto makers go out of their way to make it as difficult as possible to get a bare bones truck. Trucks are now designed with comfort in mind above all else. I spent the better part of 2 years searching for a work truck and you find that you etiher have to special order one which can end up costing more than just buying any of the higher end trucks off the lot or you have to wait until end of year clearances and hope to snatch up something that feel through the cracks.

Auto makers mostly only build the bare bones trucks for companies that special order them for fleets.

Honestly, nobody should be buying new vehicles at this point, besides the obvious ripoffs of buying new, with this administration in place I wouldn't be surprised if they start to heavily taxing them if not outright banning them in favor of hybrids or electric only in the next decade.

 

[JustSomeDong]

All auto brands are equally shit these days. The myth of indestructible Toyotas hasn't been true for damn near 15 years now.

https://recallinformer.com/massive-toyota-recall-will-take-1-8-million-cars-off-the-road/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/palashghosh/2021/02/24/hyundai-to-recall-76000-electric-vehicles-over-battery-fire-risks/?sh=54e540e22cf5

https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2019/02/06/dodge-ram-trucks-recalled-fiat-chrysler-steering-pedal-issues/2787155002/

Look up any manufacturer, you'll find some huge recall.

On top of this, "work" trucks are almost an extinct thing and the auto makers go out of their way to make it as difficult as possible to get a bare bones truck. Trucks are now designed with comfort in mind above all else. I spent the better part of 2 years searching for a work truck and you find that you etiher have to special order one which can end up costing more than just buying any of the higher end trucks off the lot or you have to wait until end of year clearances and hope to snatch up something that feel through the cracks.

Auto makers mostly only build the bare bones trucks for companies that special order them for fleets.

Honestly, nobody should be buying new vehicles at this point, besides the obvious ripoffs of buying new, with this administration in place I wouldn't be surprised if they start to heavily taxing them if not outright banning them in favor of hybrids or electric only in the next decade.

This is very true. My buddy is a contractor, mostly does sunrooms for rich idiots these days. He had a hell of a time finding 2 replacement trucks. He found a nice F-250 that was kitted out almost perfect for his needs from one of his rich clients that had 20k on it, but still needs to replace an badly aging Dodge Ram. It's hard to find an actual work truck. He's says that they mainly make pussy trucks (his words) now, and the actual work trucks they make get bought by big companies too fast.

 

[FAQnews Correspondent]

Not sure how are US tariffs on foreign brand vehicles such as Toyota, Nissan, etc,

None of those are foreign though.

 

[TowinKarz]

Mankind has yet to invent a truck that can disintegrate faster than the Sprinter work vans did.

Change my mind.

From brand new to quarter-sized- holes in the fenders in 2 years.... saw it with my own eyes.

Though the "Ford" Aspire is sill the winner in terms of fastest I've seen a new car go to bits in my lifetime, but that's because Ford really cheaped out in a late-to-the-party attempt to compete with GM's Geo line of bage-engineered Asian microcars, and just rebadged a Korean compact that, near as I can tell, was made of compressed rust.

The only reason it didn't win the World Champion crown from the Chevy Vega is because the Aspire's motor would at least hold together for the 5 years it took for everything behind and below the driver's door handle to rot out... the Vega couldn't even manage that. (Dissimilar metals expand at different rates? So making half the motor iron and the other half aluminum means it'll literally chew it's own head gasket to bits? Who knew?!)

 

[BobbyBriggs69420]

compete with GM's Geo line of bage-engineered Asian microcars

I look at craigslist all the time and I'm still seeing running metros and prizms for sale every once in a while. Maybe have seen more lately than any lumina, cavalier, sunbird or whatever other 90s gm shitboxes that sold in much higher #s, and definitely no aspires. I had a crush on a chick in hs who drove one of those egg shaped fuckers.

 

[TowinKarz]

I look at craigslist all the time and I'm still seeing running metros and prizms for sale every once in a while. Way more than any lumina, cavalier, sunbird or whatever other 90s shitboxes that sold in much higher #s, definitely no aspires.

Rust eventually gets em, but it's taking 30 years, the Trackers are still around due to their utility here in the Mid-Atlantic, looking rough and patched up, (with the owner usually having two, one to drive and one too rusty to pass inspection that can still be cannibalized for parts) but, the Metros and Storms and Prizims are all long gone.

4 x 4s are held on to until they literally rot away... there's still dozens of running AMC Eagles around here that do everything you want from a 4 x 4 with none of the fragility of a new SUV.

 

[Moist Nugget]

Edit: Also for all the shit Ford gets, my 2015 Fiesta (by far their cheapest offering) only had an issue where the AC knob broke off in the 5 years I owned it. Of course, I did research ahead of time and saw that the manual transmissions on them were fine while the automatics were dogshit.

I bought my 2012 Ford Focus in 2015 with 30,000 miles on it. Now it's at 73k miles and I've only had one issue and that was covered under warranty (transmission control unit failed). This is the car that had all the transmission recalls on it but I guess I got lucky with mine as it's been trouble free since the TCU was replaced. I get 48mpg highway, it's comfy, and very practical. With the back seats folded flat I can fit a ton of shit in the back.

 

[X Pac Heat]

This is very true. My buddy is a contractor, mostly does sunrooms for rich idiots these days. He had a hell of a time finding 2 replacement trucks. He found a nice F-250 that was kitted out almost perfect for his needs from one of his rich clients that had 20k on it, but still needs to replace an badly aging Dodge Ram. It's hard to find an actual work truck. He's says that they mainly make pussy trucks (his words) now, and the actual work trucks they make get bought by big companies too fast.

Yeah, this was my experience as well. Every truck is basically an SUV for suburban moms. I don't need a backseat, and I wanted a long bed not the short shit that everything has now. Was basically told it had to be a special order, and by the time all the extra fees were tacked on I wasn't saving anything. This isn't even getting into how even when you find an actual work truck used it has miles out the ass on it and is always in plain white.

Then one day my local dealership got one in and it was even in the color I wanted. Found out that it got made as a fluke or something and funny enough, they couldn't sell the damn thing because it was a two door long bed and everyone seems to want 4 door short beds with all the entertainment shit in it. It still, for some dumbass reason, had a chrome package on it but because it was prior year model and they had so much trouble with it I still managed to get it for around 9k less than MSRP.

Everyone gives me shit cause it isn't 4x4 but holy fuck I'm not offroading I'm just driving around and occasionally hauling shit.

 

[Moist Nugget]

Every truck is basically an SUV for suburban moms. I don't need a backseat, and I wanted a long bed not the short shit that everything has now.

Last year I bought my first truck, a 1-ton diesel from the late '90s. Previously, I never really noticed or looked at trucks, but of course, once I owned one I started paying attention to all the trucks I see on the road. My truck is a towing rig, 2wd, long bed dually. I see all the new trucks on the road are exactly as you said. Beds too small to haul anything. Four doors. Humongous cabs that make the truck look beefy as hell even though it's a half-ton and can't tow shit. I look at them and just shake my head. Trucks are made for utility, but the popular trucks you see now don't even work as trucks anymore.