Ford F-150 Cam Phaser Recall: CSP 21B10 & 21N03 (2026)
Quick answer: There was no NHTSA safety recall for Ford F-150 cam phasers. What owners call the “cam phaser recall” was Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 21B10 (free PCM reprogram) plus 21N03 (prorated replacement of all four cam phasers / VCT units after 21B10). Coverage applied to certain 2017–2020 F-150 and 2018–2020 Expedition / Navigator trucks with the 3.5L EcoBoost (GTDI), built through late 2019. 21N03 ended January 1, 2023; 21B10 ended earlier in 2022. Ford stated the rattle/knock “does not affect the vehicle safety, performance, or emissions.” For the current dealer repair bulletin, see TSB 23-2143 (supersedes 22-2200).
This page is the program / “was there a recall?” guide. For the hands-on four-phaser job, see our 3.5 EcoBoost cam phaser replacement guide. Older 5.4L Triton phaser noise is a different engine—see 5.4 cam phaser replacement.
Was There a Ford F-150 Cam Phaser Recall?
Search results and forums often label 21B10 / 21N03 a “recall.” On Ford’s paperwork filed with NHTSA, both are Customer Satisfaction Programs (field service actions), not safety recalls. Ford’s reason language is noise (cold-start rattle or warm idle knock), and Ford explicitly says that noise does not affect safety, performance, or emissions.
- Not an NHTSA safety recall. Check open safety recalls by VIN on NHTSA or with a Ford dealer—cam-phaser noise was handled under CSP numbers, not a 5-digit NHTSA recall ID for this issue.
- 21B10 = free Powertrain Control Module (PCM) reprogram intended to help protect the cam phasers from developing the noise.
- 21N03 = one-time, mileage-prorated warranty for replacing all four cam phasers if noise continued after a timely 21B10 update. Coverage expired January 1, 2023.
- TSB 23-2143 (May 4, 2023) is the current technical bulletin for cold-start ticking/tapping/rattle (and possible auto-start-stop no-restart / DTC P164C). It directs dealers to replace all four VCT units on qualifying builds—still under normal warranty / ESP rules, not a free open CSP.
Ford Programs at a Glance (21B10, 21N03, TSB 23-2143)
| Program / bulletin | What Ford did | Vehicles (high level) | Key dates / terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| CSP 21B10 | Reprogram PCM (free) for cam-phaser rattle/knock protection | 2017–2020 F-150 3.5L GTDI (later supplements added Expedition / Navigator and Raptor/Limited) | Original letter: through Mar 31, 2022; later dealer supplement extended through Jul 31, 2022; no mileage limit |
| CSP 21N03 | Prorated replacement of all four cam phasers after 21B10, if noise continued | 2017–2020 F-150 3.5L GTDI; 2018–2020 Expedition; 2018–2020 Navigator (Raptor/Limited included in later 21N03 terms) | Coverage through Jan 1, 2023 if 21B10 RO date met the then-current cutoff (Supp #2: on or before Feb 28, 2022) |
| TSB 23-2143 (supersedes 22-2200) | Replace all four VCT / cam phaser units for cold-start noise (and related auto-start-stop concern) | 2017–2020 F-150 and 2018–2020 Expedition/Navigator with 3.5L EcoBoost, built on or before Nov 30, 2019 | Bulletin dated May 4, 2023; labor example 9.6 hrs F-150 (op 232143A). Warranty limits are not expanded by a TSB |
Primary sources (PDFs hosted on NHTSA’s ODI TSB archive): CSP 21B10 (Mar 2, 2021), 21B10 later supplement (Jul 31, 2022 term), CSP 21N03, 21N03 Supplement #2, and TSB 23-2143. Always confirm your VIN in OASIS / with a Ford dealer—build dates and supplements matter.
Which F-150 Years and Engines Were Covered?
The CSP paperwork is specific to the 3.5L EcoBoost / GTDI, not every F-150 engine.
| Vehicle | Model years in CSP docs | Assembly plants / build window (21B10 / 21N03 Supp #2) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| F-150 (3.5L GTDI) | 2017–2020 | Dearborn: Mar 10, 2016–Nov 30, 2019; Kansas City: Apr 15, 2016–Nov 30, 2019 | Early 21B10 letter excluded Raptor/Limited; later supplements included them for related programs |
| Expedition (3.5L GTDI) | 2018–2020 | Kentucky Truck: Mar 14, 2017–Nov 30, 2019 | Added in later 21B10 / 21N03 paperwork |
| Navigator (3.5L GTDI) | 2018–2020 | Kentucky Truck: Mar 16, 2017–Dec 21, 2019 (21N03 Supp #2) | Lincoln; same 3.5L GTDI family |
TSB 23-2143 uses a single production cut: built on or before November 30, 2019, with the same 2017–2020 F-150 / 2018–2020 Expedition–Navigator / 3.5L EcoBoost criteria. Trucks built after that date are outside that bulletin’s Action list even if they are model year 2020.
What 21B10 and 21N03 Actually Covered
21B10 — PCM reprogram (not four new phasers)
Dealers reprogrammed the PCM to the latest calibration. That was the free, no-mileage-limit Customer Satisfaction action. It was not an automatic four-phaser replacement. Ford’s stated symptom: rattle after a long soak at start, or knocking at warm idle.
21N03 — prorated four-phaser repair (expired)
If an eligible truck still had the noise after a timely 21B10 update, dealers replaced all four cam phasers under 21N03 following Ford’s mileage proration. Supplement #2 printed this Ford-vehicle table:
| Mileage on RO | Ford share of covered repair |
|---|---|
| Up to 69,999 | 100% |
| 70,000–79,999 | 66% |
| 80,000–89,999 | 33% |
| 90,000 or higher | 0% |
Lincoln mileage bands differed. The program was one-time, transferred to subsequent owners, and ended January 1, 2023. Owners who never completed 21B10 by the then-current RO cutoff, or who are past that calendar end date, are outside 21N03—do not assume free dealer coverage today.
TSB 23-2143: Four VCT Units (Current Bulletin)
After the CSPs closed, dealers still use the TSB path when a truck matches the symptom and build criteria. TSB 23-2143 supersedes 22-2200 and updates the production fix date to on or before Nov 30, 2019. Issue summary from the bulletin:
- Cold soak of about 6 hours or more, then ticking / tapping / rattle from the top front cover area for about 2–5 seconds on initial start.
- Some vehicles: intermittent no auto-restart during auto-start-stop, with or without DTC P164C.
- Cause called out: worn variable camshaft timing (VCT) unit.
- Action: replace all four VCT units. Ford says do not replace additional VCT or timing components that are not on the parts list.
- Example labor: 9.6 hours on 2017–2020 F-150 (operation 232143A); 9.7 hrs Raptor; 9.8 hrs Expedition/Navigator.
- Parts examples on the bulletin include intake VCT HL3Z-6256-CD (qty 2) and exhaust VCT HL3Z-6C525-CD (qty 2), plus bolts and valve-cover gaskets.
A TSB does not by itself create free open coverage. Ford’s warranty / ESP / service-part rules still control who pays. For step-by-step replacement context and related TSB history, use the replacement guide. Year-by-year EcoBoost buyer context is on 3.5 EcoBoost years to avoid.
Symptoms Ford Documented (Not a Diagnosis)
Stick to Ford’s published symptom language rather than invented failure modes:
- Cold start: ticking, tapping, or rattle from the front cover area after a long soak (TSB: ~2–5 seconds).
- Warm idle: knocking noise after the engine is warmed up (CSP reason language).
- Auto-start-stop: intermittent no restart, with or without P164C (TSB 23-2143).
Other noises (exhaust leak, lifter tick, belt, injectors) can sound similar. Have a Ford dealer or qualified tech confirm VCT noise before ordering four phasers. If you are asking how long to keep driving once noise is confirmed, see how long can you drive with bad cam phasers—and remember Ford’s CSP statement that the undesirable noise itself was not framed as a safety defect.
What To Do in 2026 If Your Truck Still Rattles
- Pull the VIN history. Ask a Ford dealer to check OASIS for completed 21B10 / 21N03 and for open safety recalls unrelated to this noise.
- Do not expect open CSP coverage. 21N03 ended Jan 1, 2023; 21B10’s free reflash window ended in 2022.
- Ask about TSB 23-2143 / warranty / ESP. If the truck is still under a Ford warranty product or an extended plan that covers the repair, the bulletin is the procedure reference.
- Out of warranty: budget for a four-VCT job (Ford labor examples are ~9.6–9.8 hours) plus parts. We do not invent shop prices here.
- Maintenance: keep oil changes on schedule with the correct viscosity and Ford WSS code—see F-150 oil type chart and 3.5 EcoBoost oil capacity chart. Oil neglect is a common owner theory for VCT wear; Ford’s CSP text does not publish a root-cause oil-spec claim.
5.4 Triton and Other Engines (Different Topic)
Many “F-150 cam phaser” searches also mean the older 5.4L 3V Triton rattle. That is outside CSP 21B10 / 21N03. Keep research on 5.4 cam phaser replacement. Timing-chain work on EcoBoost is covered separately on 3.5 EcoBoost timing chain replacement—and TSB 23-2143 tells dealers not to replace extra timing parts beyond the VCT parts list for that bulletin.
Frequently Asked Questions
Was there a Ford F-150 cam phaser recall?
There was no NHTSA safety recall for this cam-phaser noise. Ford ran Customer Satisfaction Program 21B10 (PCM reprogram) and 21N03 (prorated four-phaser replacement). Both programs are closed; 21N03 ended January 1, 2023.
Which years did Ford cover for F-150 cam phasers?
CSP documents cover certain 2017–2020 F-150 trucks with the 3.5L GTDI / EcoBoost, plus 2018–2020 Expedition and Navigator in the later paperwork. Build-date windows run through late 2019—confirm your VIN with a dealer.
What was Ford program 21B10?
21B10 was a free PCM reprogram for cam-phaser rattle or warm-idle knock on affected 3.5L GTDI trucks. It did not automatically install four new phasers. Later dealer supplements listed the program in effect through July 31, 2022.
What was Ford program 21N03?
21N03 was a one-time, mileage-prorated extended warranty to replace all four cam phasers if noise continued after a timely 21B10 update. Coverage expired January 1, 2023.
Does TSB 23-2143 still apply?
TSB 23-2143 (May 4, 2023) supersedes 22-2200 for cold-start VCT noise on 2017–2020 F-150 and 2018–2020 Expedition/Navigator 3.5L EcoBoost trucks built on or before November 30, 2019. It is a repair bulletin; it does not reopen the expired CSPs.
Did Ford say the cam phaser noise was unsafe?
In the CSP reason language, Ford stated that a cam phaser that developed the undesirable noise does not affect vehicle safety, performance, or emissions. Have a dealer diagnose any noise—do not treat forum claims as Ford’s safety finding.
Will a used F-150 still get free cam phaser coverage?
21N03 coverage transferred with the vehicle while the program was open, but the program ended January 1, 2023. Used trucks do not reopen that CSP. Check remaining factory or ESP coverage and TSB eligibility instead.
Related F-150 Cam Phaser and EcoBoost Guides
- 3.5 EcoBoost Cam Phaser Replacement Guide
- 3.5 EcoBoost Years to Avoid
- How Long Can You Drive With Bad Cam Phasers
- 5.4 Cam Phaser Replacement
- 3.5 EcoBoost Timing Chain Replacement
- 3.5 EcoBoost Oil Capacity Chart
- F-150 Oil Type Chart
- F-150 Engine Comparison