Page 9 of 25 · complaints 401–450 of 1,236

2001 Ford F-150 complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2001 record →

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Mar 22, 201056,000 milesOR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150 LIGHTNING SBT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS ARE BLOWN FROM THE ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE SPARKS PLUG BLEW OUT WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND INFORMED HIM TO CALL NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (prndl)
Filed Mar 9, 201095,000 milesTX

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150 PICKUP. THE CONTACT HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND THE GEAR INDICATORS HAVE SHIFTED ONE INDICATOR TO THE RIGHT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO THE PARK POSITION INSTEAD IT WAS IN REVERSE. IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE THE GEAR SHIFT HAD TO BE PLACED IN THE NEUTRAL POSITION OR SECOND GEAR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 103,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Mar 9, 2010140,000 milesWV

FORD F150 SPARK PLUG # 8 BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING TO WORK. THERE WERE NOXIOUS FUMES THAT EVENTUALLY BECOME VERY STRONG. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS AND FEEL THAT THIS MUST BE A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO OBVIOUS RAW FUEL, HEAT AND POTENTIAL SPARKS. *TR

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Mar 2, 201059,100 milesNY

2001 FORD F-150 LARIAT..5.4 CU .IM ENGINE. MULTIPLE SPARK PLUGS SELF EXTRACT ..AFTER 50,000 MILES, CREATING POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. NO WARNING WHEN IT WILL OCCUR. THIS HAPPENS IN SPITE OF ROUTINE NORMAL MAINTENANCE BEING PERFORMED. WHEN THE PLUG POPS OUT IT ALSO BREAKS THE IGNITION COIL TAB FOR THIS CYLINDER THUS MAKING THE CYLINDER INOPERATIVE WITH THE POSSIBILITY OF RAW GASOLINE/ETHANOL BEING EJECTED NEXT TO A UNCONTROLLED SPARK FROM THE LOOSE COIL. VERY DANGEROUS,ESPECIALLY WITH MY WIFE AND KIDS IN THE VEHICLE. THERE HAS BEEN NO NOTIFICATION FROM FORD OF THIS POSSIBILITY. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO AT LEAST A FEW DOZEN TIMES TO VEHICLES IN MY LOCAL AREA. IN FACT, IT MUST BE A FREQUENT SITUATION BECAUSE THERE ARE AFTER MARKET REPAIR KITS.. HELI-COIL INSTALLATION (NOT A PERMANENT REPAIR). THE REPAIR FROM FORD IS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE HEADS...A $5,000.00 PLUS REPAIR COST IF PAST THE WARRANTY PERIOD. FORD WILL NOT PROVIDE ANY SATISFACTION. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 26, 201080,000 milesPA

MY 2001 F150 THROTTLE SPEEDS UP INTERMITTENTLY. NEVER SURE WHEN IT WILL DO IT OR HOW HIGH IT WILL GO. THE HIGHEST RECORD SO FAR IS ABOUT 2600 RPM. I NORMALLY PUT IT IN NEUTRAL, PULL TO THE SIDE, TURN OFF AND RESTART THE TRUCK AND ALL WORKS WELL AGAIN. FORD GARAGE HAS LOOKED AT IT AND STATED (NOTHING THEY CAN DO UNTIL IT CODES OR DOES IT IN THEIR PRESENCE) . I STILL HAVE TO DRIVE IT BUT I DO NOT LEND IT OUT TO ANYONE. I AM JUST WONDERING WHEN AND IF IT WILL EVER TACH FULL SPEED AND REALLY GET ME IN A JAM. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 5, 2010194,503 milesMN

I HAVE A 2001 FORD F-150 WITH 195,000 MILES ON IT ,.. I AM THE THIRD OWNER AND HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT UNTIL NOW.. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD DISTURBING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT,.. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE TRUCK OFF IMMEDIATELY,.. I OPENED THE HOOD AND DID NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG, SO I STARTED IT BACK UP AND THE SAME NOISE COULD BE HEARD,.. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND COULD SEE A SPARK BY WHERE A SPARK PLUG WOULD BE,.. I SHUT THE TRUCK OFF AND INVESTIGATED A LITTLE BIT,.. I NOTICED THAT THE COIL WAS OFF AND THE SPARK PLUG WAS LAYING BY THE VALVE COVER,... I HAD TO CALL MY BROTHER TO HAUL THE TRUCK HOME SINCE I KNEW THAT DRIVING IT LIKE THAT COULD CAUSE ENGINE PROBLEMS,.. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, I FOUND THAT SPARK PLUGS POPPING OUT OF THEIR HOLES IS KIND OF A COMMON THING FOR FORD TRITON ENGINES. WHY HAS THIS ISSUE NOT BEEN ADDRESSED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY YET,... I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT TIT FOR QUIT SOME TIME AND HAVEN'T BEEN FORCED TO FIX THE PROBLEM SO THEY PROBABLY WONT SEND OUT A RECALL FOR THIS... WHAT CAN B E DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM !!! *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 3, 2010118,000 milesCA

MY 2001 FORD F-150 TRUCK HAD ONE OF THE SPARKPLUGS EJECT FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000 MILES. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS COULD HAVE IGNITED INTO A FIRE SINCE GAS FUMES ARE COMING OUT OF THE SPARKPLUG OPENING. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal
Filed Feb 3, 201098,000 milesTN

GAS PEDAL STICKS ON 2001 FORD F150 TRUCK. *TR

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Jan 31, 2010138,644 milesCA

I HAD JUST TURNED RIGHT. WHEN I LOOKED UP I SAW 4 HEAD LIGHTS. THE CAR THAT HIT ME WAS PASSING IN A DOUBLE YELLOW LINE SECTION OF THE ROAD MARKED FOR 45 MPH. WE HAD A HEAD-ON COLLISION WHERE MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, HIS DID. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 21, 201098,000 milesIL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A BANGING NOISE IN THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND AFTER LOOKING UNDER THE HOOD, HE OBSERVED THAT A SPARK PLUG WAS MISSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED THAT A CRASH COULD HAVE OCCURRED WHEN THE SPARK PLUGGED POPPED OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 3, 2010158,000 milesOK

SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF ENGINE AND STRIPPED THREADS IN ENGINE HEAD. DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING OF ORIGINAL THREAD LENGTH. SHORT THREAD LENGTH IN ALUMINUM BLOCK WILL NOT HOLD COMPRESSION PRESSURES OVER TIME. I MUST EITHER REPAIR THE HEAD OR REPLACE THE HEAD WITH NEWER DESIGN WITH THREADS OF PROPER LENGTH. HAS NOT BEEN FIXED YET. *TR

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Jan 2, 201080,000 milesCA

I HAD AN ORIGINAL SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF MY FORD F-150 V-8 TRITON MOTOR WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. IT MADE A LOUD POP NOISE AND THEN I SEEN A FLAME I PULLED OVER RIGHT AWAY AND SHUT OFF THE TRUCK AND CALLED FOR HELP. THANKFULLY I WAS NOT HURT AND THE FIRE WENT OUT AND DID NOT BURN THE TRUCK TO THE GROUND. FORD REFUSED TO FIX IT THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A LUBRICATED PART AND MY WARRANTY DIDN'T COVER THE $2000-3000.00 REPAIR. IT IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND THEY KNOW IT BUT ARE NOT ALLOWED TO FIX IT UNDER THE WARRANTY'S. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Dec 28, 200980,000 milesCA

I OWN A FORD F150 TRITION TRUCK IN MAY OF 2008 I BLEW MY FIRST SPARK PLUG WHILE DRIVING HOME. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL DEALER, AND THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT INFORMED ME THAT IT WAS A DEFAULT IN THE DESIGN OF THE ENGINE AND THAT FORD WOULD NOT COVER THE APPROXIMATE COST OF $700. FOUR MONTHS LATER, I THREW ANOTHER ONE WHILE SIMPLY STARTING MY TRUCK IN A PARKING LOT. I PAID ANOTHER $700. IT HAS BEEN THREE MONTHS. ON CHRISTMAS EVE, WHILE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC FROM A COMPLETE STOP, I THREW MY 3RD. SPARK PLUG. THIS IS A DEFECT! *TR

Latches/Locks/Linkages
Filed Dec 28, 200994,000 milesCA

RANDOM RELEASE OF DRIVER'S SEAT BELT LATCH. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Dec 27, 2009NY

NO INCIDENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE PASSENGER SEATBELT RELEASES ON ITS OWN WHILE DRIVING HAPPENS CONSISTENTLY WHILE DRIVING THE BELT RETRACTS NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REPAIR THIS OTHER THAN A THOROUGH CLEANING OF THE MECHANISM. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Dec 19, 200960,000 milesCA

PAINT PEELING OFF ON BODY. WHITE IN COLOR,NEVER NEGLECTED, ALWAYS WASHED, WAXED ETC. WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED PROBLEM. CONTACTED FORD MANY TIMES AND ALWAYS GET TOLD THEY WILL DO NOTHING BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THEY THEN TOLD ME THEY HAVE UPGRADED MANY THINGS ON THEIR NEW TRUCKS AND SHOULD CONSIDER GETTING A NEW ONE. I DOUBT I WILL EVER GET ANOTHER FORD IF THEY CAN MESS UP SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS PAINT. THIS IS A FORD DEFECT AND THEY SHOULD BE FORCED TO FIX IT. I HAVE A CAR THAT IS 10 YEARS OLDER THAN MY FORD AND THE PAINT LOOKS BETTER. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Dec 8, 2009108,000 milesIA

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF 2001 FORD F150. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Dec 4, 2009139,000 milesPA

THE #3 CYLINDER SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT ON MY 2001 FORD F-150 LARIAT. MY TRUCK HAS THE 5.4 LITER ENGINE AND IT HAS 139,000 MILES. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH AND THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. THERE WAS A LOUD "POPPING" NOISE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPON INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE #3 CYLINDER SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT AND ALSO DESTROYED THE COIL ON TOP OF THE SPARK PLUG. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
Filed Dec 1, 200911,000 milesMI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150. WHILE ENTERING A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS. EVEN AFTER REPEATED BRAKE APPLICATION THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. SHE ATTEMPTED TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT THE VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED FORWARD. SHE REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION TO STOP THE VEHICLE. CONSEQUENTLY, SHE CAUSED DAMAGE TO SIX PARKED VEHICLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HCU ABS BRAKE SYSTEM AND THE IAC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

Unknown or OtherFire
Filed Nov 26, 2009FL

FIRE UNDER THE HOOD OF MY 2001 FORD F150. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Nov 19, 2009VA

BLOWN SPARK PLUG FROM 2001 F-150 (LIGHTNING) NOTE: THIS IS THE THIRD BLOWN SPARK PLUG. THE FIRST TIME FORD REPLACED THE ENTIRE HEAD (UNDER WARRANTY). THE NEXT TWO WERE OUT OF MY POCKET (AT $1K EACH). *TR

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Nov 6, 200998,000 milesTX

2001 FORD F-150 THE ENGINE ON THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE CAME TO WORK AT 6AM AROUND 10:15AM FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALL TRUCK WAS ON FIRE, THE RADIATOR AND FRONT END WAS ALL MELTED ENGINE COMPLETELY BURN THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASH BOARD AND ALL THE WIRES LOOK BURN. *TR

Equipment
Filed Nov 3, 2009172,000 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THE SPARE TIRE FRACTURED. AS A CONSEQUENCE A COMPONENT UNDER THE VEHICLE WAS BENT, AND THE SPARE TIRE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND HE WAS ADVISED THAT HE INELIGIBLE FOR A FREE REMEDY BECAUSE THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE 172,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Oct 30, 200974,211 milesPA

MY FORD F-150 JUST BLEW OUT THE 2ND SPARK PLUG IN A MONTH. TRUCK HAS 74,000 MILES AND THE REPAIR ISN'T COVERED BY FORD. ORIGINAL PLUGS, SO CAN'T BE DUE TO WRONG TORQUE SPECS. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED AS I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY, AND I WAS ABLE TO SHUT IT DOWN BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Oct 27, 2009115,000 milesPA

PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE ROOF OF MY TRUCK. I WROTE A LETTER TO FORD AND THEY WILL NOT FIX THIS EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY OF THERE VEHICLES. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Oct 18, 2009150,000 milesNC

MY WIFE AND I WERE DRIVING TO FLORIDA FROM NORTH CAROLINA. I HAVE A 2001 FORD F150 5.4 TRITON. A LOUD POP, AND THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD, TAKING THE COIL WITH IT. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THIS IS A WIDELY REPORTED PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL AND IS AN OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT DUE TO INSUFFICIENT THREAD DEPTH IN THE HEAD. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlFire
Filed Oct 13, 2009299,500 milesIA

ON OCTOBER 7TH MY FORD F-150 STARTED ON FIRE AND BURNED UNDER THE HOOD. I HAD TAKEN MY TRUCK FROM ONE SIDE OF TOWN TO THE OTHER ABOUT 12 MILES. I PARKED AND STARTED TO UNLOAD SOME TOOLS OUT OF IT AND WENT INSIDE. AFTER ABOUT 5 MINUTES THE MAN I WAS TALKING TO SAID WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOUR TRUCK IT IS SMOKING. I RAN OUT TO THE TRUCK AND SMOKE WAS BILLOWING OUT OF THE HOOD UP THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDES. I POP THE HOOD AND FLAMES SHOT OUT ABOUT 4 FOOT UP FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND A BUCKET OF WATER FROM NEARBY, JUST PLAIN LUCK. I HAD CONTACTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AS THE FIRE WAS BURNING AND THEY CAME OUT TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING WAS ALRIGHT. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER CAME THE NEXT DAY AND SAID THIS LOOKS LIKE A FORD FIRE SO THAT BRINGS ME HERE. I NEED TO START A COMPLAINT AND FIND OUT WHERE I FIND A PERSON TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THIS FIRE. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 3, 2009120,000 milesUT

FORD 5.4 LITERS HAVE THE SPARKPLUG BLOW OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD VERY OFTEN 4 HAVE HAPPEN TO MY 2001 FORD F150 WITH THE 5.4 THEY WANT YOU TO USE A THREAD INSERT TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE BUT EVEN THEN IT STILL HAPPENS NOT TO MENTION PRETTY EXPENSIVE TO BOOT IT IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THESE MOTORS THEY ALSO BREAK THE COIL PACKS ON TOP OF THE SPARK PLUG FORD KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT FIX. *TR

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Oct 2, 2009220,000 milesTX

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT FIRE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE FIRE DAMAGED THE DRIVE WAY WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK SINCE THE FIRE NEARLY BURNED HIS HOME TO THE GROUND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 220,000.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Sep 29, 2009OH

WE WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON 09/23/09 IN MY HUSBAND'S 2001 FORD F150 PICK UP TRUCK. WE HIT AN INDIVIDUAL WHO RAN A STOP SIGN. WE HIT HIM GOING APPROX 55 MPH. THE TRUCKS AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE BEEN INTO AN ACCIDENT WITH THIS TRUCK AND OUR COMPLAINT IS...WHEN YOU BUY A PRODUCT, YOU EXPECT THE SAFETY FEATURES TO WORK. WE HAVE NEVER RECEIVED ANY TYPE OF RECALL ON THE AIRBAGS OR AIRBAG SYSTEM. MY HUSBAND TRUCK IS TOTALED. THE IMPACT DESTROYED THE FRONT OF HIS TRUCK. THE EMT'S AND FIREMAN ON SCENE SAID WE WERE VERY LUCKY WITH THE IMPACT THAT WE HAD SUSTAINED AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYING. *TR

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Sep 22, 2009147,300 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EATING DINNER, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INFORMED HER THAT HER VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FLAMES WERE EXTINGUISHED, AND SHE HAS A COPY OF THE REPORT. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS IN THE PROCESS OF INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. SHE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 147,300.

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Sep 14, 2009216,253 milesIN

DRIVING HOME IN MY 2001 F150 SUPERCREW AND WHEN I TURNED ON THE A/C FAN, SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE GLOVE BOX. I PULLED OVER AND LOOK UNDER THE BOX AND NOTICED THE CONNECTOR TO THE FAN SPEED PACK WAS BURNING. I BLEW IT OUT BEFORE IT DID ANY FURTHER DAMAGE, THEN UNPLUGGED IT. NO ISSUES SINCE THEN. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Sep 3, 2009151,000 milesKY

I HAVE A 2001 FORD F-150 XLT 4.6L WITH 151,000 MILES. A FEW DAYS AGO, I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 64 AND HEARD A LOUD POP FROM THE ENGINE AREA. THE ENGINE STARTED TO MISS VIOLENTLY. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, RAISED THE HOOD AND NOTICED THE SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT. OF COURSE, I COULD NOT DRIVE THE TRUCK ANYWHERE SO MY 10 YEAR OLD SON AND I HAD TO WAIT FOR AN HOUR FOR A TOW TRUCK. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I REALIZE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. FORD SEEMS TO BLAME INCORRECT TORQUING OF THE SPARK PLUGS, BUT MOST PEOPLE BLAME A POOR DESIGN IN THE SMALL QUANTITY OF THREADS HOLDING THE SPARK PLUG. I CAN SAY THAT NO ONE HAS TOUCHED THE PLUGS IN THIS TRUCK EXCEPT FOR A FORD DEALERSHIP WHEN THE PLUGS WERE CHANGED AT 75,000 MILES. I AM NOW STUCK WITH AN ENORMOUS REPAIR BILL OF OVER $2000 FOR INSTALLATION OF A NEW HEAD AND COIL PACK (NOT TO MENTION A TOW BILL AND THE STRESS OF BEING STRANDED ON THE INTERSTATE AND NOT OWNING A FUNCTIONAL VEHICLE). IF THIS IS A DESIGN ISSUE, THEN FORD NEEDS TO AT LEAST MAKE THE REPAIRS AFFORDABLE. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 23, 200924,000 milesSC

MY 4.6L ENGINE ON MY 2001 FORD F150 PICKUP TRUCK NEEDED NEW SPARK PLUGS. I HAVE CHANGED PLUGS ON MANY MOTORS BEFORE SO IT IS NOT NEW TO ME. I READ THE SERVICE MANUAL AND LEARNED MORE ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR MODEL BY READING INFORMATION OFF THE NET. I WAS VERY CAREFUL AND DID EVERYTHING THE SERVICE MANUAL AND NET INFO TOLD ME TO DO. EVEN SO, THE VERY FIRST PLUG I REMOVED FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK BROKE. THE PORCELAIN AND HEX NUT CAME OUT IN ONE PIECE BUT THE BOTTOM THREADS AND GROUND ELECTRODE REMAINED IN THE ENGINE BLOCK. I WENT BACK TO THE NET TO SEARCH FOR SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEM ONLY TO FIND THAT MORE OFTEN THAN NOT THE SPARK PLUGS ON THESE MODELS WILL BREAK APART WHEN REMOVING THEM. I BELIEVE THIS FALLS UNDER THE CATEGORY OF A RECALL. THIS WILL BE A COSTLY REPAIR THAT I CANNOT DO MYSELF AND I DON'T BELIEVE FORD CAN JUSTIFY THIS MANY PLUGS BREAKING. *TR

Structure › Body
Filed Aug 22, 200959,000 milesCA

2001 FORD F-150: PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE ROOF, HOOD, AND TAILGATE AREAS. TWO BODY SHOPS ADVISE THAT THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT WITH THE FORD PAINTING PROCESSES USED FOR THIS YEAR VEHICLE. ALSO EXPERIENCING INTERIOR RUSTING PROBLEMS. FORD ADVISES THAT THEY WILL NOT REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. I AM THE ORIGINAL PURCHASER OF THIS VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED PAINT ISSUES LIKE THIS WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Aug 12, 200963,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT LATCH AND CONNECT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 155,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Aug 7, 20091 milesLA

I OWN A 2001 FORD F150 PICKUP. I'VE HAD TO CHANGE A COIL (ABOVE SPARK PLUG) ON THIS TRUCK SEVERAL TIMES (AT LEAST 5 FAILURES) SINCE I'VE OWNED THIS TRUCK. WHEN A COIL GOES OUT THE TRUCK MISSES A LOT AND AT TIMES WHEN YOU SLOW DOWN TO TURN A CORNER THE TRUCK WILL DIE, CAUSING ME TO BRAKE TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP BECAUSE THE POWER STEARING GOES OUT. VERY DANGEROUS. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jul 22, 2009135,000 milesME

SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF ENGINE. 2 YEARS AFTER DEALER INSTALLED. *TR

Power TrainCrash
Filed Jul 20, 2009110,000 milesNC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND EXITED, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AS IF THE GEAR WAS PLACED INTO REVERSE. SHORTLY AFTER, THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO GAIN SPEED AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL IT CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH, BUT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS NOT ENGAGED. THERE WAS A LOT OF DAMAGE TO THE LANDSCAPING AS WELL AS A FENCE. THE VEHICLE APPEARS TO HAVE A LOT OF DAMAGE ALSO, BUT IT HAS NOT YET BEEN INSPECTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,000.

Vehicle Speed ControlFire
Filed Jul 13, 2009115,000 milesCA

ON 7/10/09 (FRIDAY) MY FORD 2001 F150 SUPERCREW WAS PARKED AT MY RESIDENTS AROUND 7:30PM. ABOUT 30 MINS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, SMOKE BEGAN TO COME OUT OF THE HOOD, DRIVERS SIDE. IT SMOKED FOR ABOUT 5-10 MINS. I LIFT THE HOOD AND SAW THE WIRES AND CONNECTION PLUG TO THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS STILL SMOLDLERING. AFTER IT COLD DOWN I DISCONNECTED THE PLUG FROM THE SWITCH (THE TOTAL DAMAGE AT THIS TIME SEEMS TO BE THE FAULTY SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH, THE SWITCH CONNECTION PLUG AND SOME WIRES LEADING UP TO THE PLUG). ON 7/13/09(MONDAY)I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC TO INSPECT AND REPAIR THE DAMAGE.I ALSO PLACED A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE CO..ALONG WITH CALLING THE NEARS FORD DEALER(ABOUT 50 MILES AWAY) AND GOT A "WILL CALL YOU BACK" ANSWER, ALSO THEY WERE SUPPOSE TO HAVE DISCONNECTED THE SWITCH THREE YEARS PRIOR WHEN I HAD THE VEHICLE IN TO THEM FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ( I WAS SENT A NOTICE OF RECALL FROM FORD MOTOR CORP. ALONG WITH THE DEALERS COMPUTER FLAGGING IT TOO FOR THIS PROBLEM), I ALSO CALLED FORD'S 800 CUSTOMER SERVICE HOTLINE AND FILED A REPORT WITH THEM (THEY SAID I DID NOT HAVE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SINCE I HAD ALREADY FILED A INSURANCE CLAIM AND HAD IT ALREADY TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP. AS OF 5:00 PM PST, ON 7/13/09 I AM WAITING FOR MY INSURANCE AGENT TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND AUTHORIZE REPAIR. I AM HAVING THE REPAIR SHOP SAVE THE OLD PARTS. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 6, 2009122,000 milesIN

I HAVE A FORD F-150 2001 WITH TRITON 5.4 V8 I STARTED MY TRUCK AND HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN WHAT SOUNDED LIKE A VERY BAD EXHAUST LEAK. COME TO FIND OUT THE BACK SPARKPLUG ON PASSENGER SIDE BLEW OUT. I HAD TO HAVE A NEW COIL NEW PLUG AND HELICOIL INSTALLED. *TR

Tires
Filed Jun 21, 2009TX

THE FAMILY WAS TRAVELING ON US HIGHWAY 77 ABOUT 45 MILES NORTH OF RAYMONDVILLE ON KING RANCH IN 2001 F150 SUPERCREW (LARIET). WE HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM REAR TIRE ON PASSENGER SIDE. WE HAD COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION BUT DID NOT LOSE AIR. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE TO CROSSOVER TO CHANGE TIRES. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE TRUCK'S WHEEL WELL, FIBERGLASS FENDER, AND REAR PANEL OF TRUCK. ACCORDING TO COLLISION CENTER, IT IS AT LEAST $1800 WORTH OF DAMAGE. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 7, 2009OK

2001 FORD F150 SPARK PLUG BLOWOUT HAS LEFT ME WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND OUT OF MONEY NOW. ACCORDING TO MY RESEARCH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG ALL FORD V8'S AND V10'S FROM 1999 TO 2002. THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO LACK OF THREADS IN THE ALUMINUM HEADS (ONLY FOUR THEADS), AND HAS RESULTED IN SEVERAL FIRES AND EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE. APPARENTLY ALL ATTEMPTS AT A RECALL AND CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT HAVE BEEN MET WITH RELATIVE DISREGARD. DESPITE THE FACT THAT FORD REDESIGNED THEIR HEADS AFTER 2002 TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM THEY STILL REFUSE ANY ASSISTANCE TO CUSTOMERS WHO SUFFER DUE TO THEIR DESIGN FLAW. APPARENTLY SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO DIE FROM THE ENGINE FIRE BEFORE ANYTHING WILL BE DONE. AND EVENTUALLY SOMEONE WILL DIE, IF THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY. PERHAPS A DEATH DUE TO THIS PROBLEM MIGHT FORCE LEGAL ACTION. I'M CURRENTLY LOOKING AT OVER $3000 WORTH OF REPAIR COST, THE VEHICLE CANNOT CURRENTLY BE DRIVEN DUE TO RISK OF FIRE. PLEASE REFER TO CONSUMERCOMPLAINTS.COM FOR A LIST OF THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE SUFFERED BECAUSE OF FORD'S DESIGN FLAW. *TR

Structure › Frame and Members
Filed May 29, 200975,000 milesME

2001 FORD F150 SUPER CREW, THE FRAME AND CAB COMPLETELY ROTTEN/RUSTED OUT 118,000 MILES SO (YOU KNOW IT STARTED ALONG TIME BEFORE)THE REST OF THE TRUCK LOOKS LIKE NEW. AS IS, THE TRUCK IS NOT SAFE TO BE ON THE ROADS AND WILL NOT PASS STATE INSPECTIONS. ANY OTHERS LIKE THIS? *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineFire
Filed May 28, 2009125,000 milesNC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED AT HIS RESIDENCE FOR THREE DAYS WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE ORIGINATED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS ATTACHED TO A BOAT, WHICH WAS ALSO DAMAGED IN THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO CALL THE FORD MANUFACTURER. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

Vehicle Speed ControlFire
Filed May 17, 2009199,790 milesAZ

2001 FORD F150 CAUGHT ON FIRE OUTSIDE MY HOUSE YESTERDAY. IT HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 45 MINS. TO AN HOUR. IT LOOKS LIKE MOST OF THE HEAT DAMAGE IS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE PART OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT FINALLY CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. DAMAGE WAS CONTAINED TO THE ENGINE AND THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE THAT WAS SUBMITTED TO THE HIGHER TEMPERATURES. THE INSIDE HAS A STRONG SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC. *TR

Vehicle Speed ControlFire
Filed May 14, 2009204,198 milesCA

JUST GOT HOME AND PARKED MY TRUCK. I LEFT 15 MINUTES LATER IN MY OTHER VEHICLE. WHILE I WAS GONE (APPROX. 20 MINUTES LATER) MY TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE. LOOKS LIKE THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH ON THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, WHICH IS A FORD RECALL. MY NEIGHBORS PUT OUT THE FIRE. THIS IS THE FIRST ACTION I HAVE TAKEN. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 6, 2009FL

2001 FORD F150 TRUCK HAS A RECALL FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL HARNESS. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE CRUISE CONTROL HARNESS WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL, BUT AT THE TIME OF REPLACEMENT, THE SWITCH WAS NOT LEAKING, BUT NOW IT IS LEAKING. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS TOLD THE RECALL WAS CLOSED OUT AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BUT CHARGE HIM TO FIX IT. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 30, 2009190,000 milesMS

I HAVE 2001 FORD F150. TRITON V8 ENGINE. DRIVING UNDER VERY LIGHT LOAD, GOING 35 MPH THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER SPARK PLUG SHOT OUT AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE THREADS. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Apr 28, 2009149,057 milesNC

I HAVE A 2001 FORD F150 WITH THE 4.6L TRITON. DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON THE EVENING OF APRIL 27TH, IM AT A RED LIGHT. AS SOON AS IT TURNS GREEN I PUSH THE PEDAL TO GO. OUT COMES THE SPARK PLUG FROM THE BLOCK. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET. I CANNOT BELIEVE FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL OVER THIS. NOT ONLY IS IT DANGEROUS, BUT ITS A SILLY PROBLEM TO HAVE. I HAVE HAD 5 ESTIMATES TO FIX THIS PROBLEM ALL OVER $2000. THERE'S NO WAY I CAN AFFORD THIS, I AM LOOKING FOR A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT TO JOIN. VERY DISAPPOINTED IN FORD AND WHEN I GET THIS FIXED I WILL NEVER OWN ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE. *TR

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 2001 Ford F-150 → · Every F-150 year → · How the figures are calculated →