‘Toughest’ and ‘Most Productive’ 2021 Ford F-150: Is already struggling with rust underneath?

Overview:

Ford is constantly working on their best-selling line-up and now they have revealed the 2021 Ford F-150 as the 'Toughest, 'Most Productive' F-150 Ever. The 2021 model year marks the start of the Fourteenth Generation of the F-150 Pickup. To an untrained eye, the 2021 Ford F-150 might look similar to the previous generation but Ford claims that 92% of the components that go into the truck are brand spanking new.

Only the Cab and the Pickup Box Structure has been carried over from the previous generation. The 2021 F-150, like other pickup trucks, can be configured with multiple body styles and bed lengths. Ford is offering six trim levels for the new F-150. Starting with the Base Level XL trim, followed by XLT, Lariat, King Ranch, Platinum, and top-of-the-line Limited Trim. Rumors are that Ford is also working on an all-electric F-150 that will join the ranks in another year or two.

The 2021 F-150 at a glance:

• Starting Price of the 2021 Ford F-150 is $30,635

• 6 different powertrains to choose from (including a diesel and a hybrid powertrain)

• 10 Speed Automatic Transmission standard across the board

• Drivetrain: Rear Wheel Drive (standard) or All Wheel Drive

• EPA Range of approximately 700 miles on a full tank with the Hybrid Powertrain

• 8,200 to 14,000 pounds of towing capacity (varies with powertrain)

• Larger Infotainment Screen and a Digital Driver’s Display

• Fully Boxed High-Strength Steel Frame with Military Grade aluminum alloy body

• Updated Design with Enhanced Aerodynamics

Trouble in Ford’s paradise: What Owners Say?

Ford has advertised the new generation of F-150 as the 'toughest F-150 ever'. Ford has upgraded the previous chassis setup. And it now features a fully boxed high-strength steel architecture. The body shell also features high-strength, military-grade aluminum alloy panels which will surely increase the durability and ruggedness of the new F-150.

However, owners of the new F-150 pickup trucks have ravaged social media platforms and forums with images of rusted underbody parts, rusted axles, and a whole lot of rusted components of their brand new trucks.

A story by the Detroit Free Press showcased the issues faced by the customers who had been eagerly waiting for a brand new generation of the Ford F-150. To their disappointment, many owners received their new truck with a rusted underbelly. A fellow truck blogger hailing from Nebraska posted a video of him discovering the rear differential, Driveshaft, and exhaust completely caked in corrosion after driving a few thousand miles. Many potential buyers who were waiting on their truck are dejected and now wish to cancel their order for a 2021 Ford F-150.

Rusting in trucks is a common occurrence, especially for the folks living in the “salt belt”, but only after a few years of usage. And the complaints aren’t coming from the owners residing in the said ‘salt belt’. People from warmer and dryer states like Texas have also reached up in social forums with the same issue. The $78,000 specked out Ford F-150 Limited hybrid purchased by Cars.com also has quite the rust build-up. It barely has 1,200 miles on the clock. They compared this to their 2019 GMC Sierra which has more miles on and has been driven through salted areas of the Midwest and the results were shocking. The almost-two-year-old GMC looks cleaner than the brand new Ford F-150.

The folks over at The Fast Lane Truck channel also noticed the rusting axle of their new Ford F-150. They showcased that the rest of the trucks except the axle were miles away from any rusting or corrosion. Their only concern was that this truck was just a few weeks old and had a rusted axle. They decided to pull out a 17-year-old F-150 with over 200,000 miles out of their inventory to see how that is holding up. As you would expect, the old truck had significantly more rust in the underbelly. However, the rear axle was relatively rust-free. Rust was concentrated on other less integral parts of the underbelly. They even compared to a 2020 Ford F-150 Raptor, and even the Raptor had less corrosion than the new one. This issue seems to be limited to the new generation of Ford F-150.

The new Ford F-150 started rolling out of the dealers back in November. The new Aluminum body and the redesigned frame have cost Ford billions in the process. Surface rust isn't uncommon on aged and heavily used pickup trucks and usually does not pose any safety hazards. But a brand new truck, which has been on the road for no more than 3 months, facing such a degree of rust is quite alarming. And it is even more surprising considering the strict quality control exhibited at the Kansas City Assembly Plant and the Dearborn Truck Plant where the 2021 Ford F-150 is built. This corrosion issue is primarily plaguing the rear axle which is untreated and unpainted out of the factory. Even if this issue doesn't cause any serious issues, it is still disappointing to see them on a 3-month-old truck.

Ford says the rust is fine.

It’s currently unclear how many new Ford F-150’s are down with this issue or to understand how Ford managed to slip this issue under the radar of visual inspection during production. Executives from Ford reached out to the folks over at Car and Driver regarding this rusting issue. “We are committed to delivering high-quality products and services for our Ford customers,” is what Ford executives told Car and Driver. They continued by saying, “As with all customer feedback, we take these concerns seriously. While some F-150 underbody steel components may show signs of surface rust, this will have no impact on part performance or life.”

Verdict: The 2021 Ford F-150 is still the most capable light-duty ford ever, just with a rusty kink in its armor.

It is certainly disappointing for new buyers and Ford F-150 enthusiasts to witness the build-up of rust and corrosion on their newest pickup truck. However, the rust seems to be only on the surface and it will likely have no impact on the performance and capabilities of the new truck.