Owners filed 288 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine. It has been recalled 4 times.
When it fails
07425474,254 milesMedian miles at failure
241 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,000–75,000 miles.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
28
1
1
0
Power Train › Automatic Transmission
26
0
1
0
Engine and Engine Cooling
26
0
2
0
Tires › Tread/Belt
25
0
0
1
Electrical System
21
1
6
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Diesel
16
0
1
0
Tires
12
1
0
2
Steering
9
0
0
0
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
8
0
0
0
Engine
8
1
0
0
4 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Vehicle Speed Control09V399000
Filed Oct 13, 20094,500,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company
Defect. FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Risk. A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Remedy. FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
Wheels › Hub07E106000
Filed Dec 17, 2007130,000 vehiclesFederal-Mogul Corporation
Defect. CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO MAINTAIN HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY CAN LOOSEN RESULTING IN AN ABS LIGHT INDICATION, NOISE, AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION.
Risk. WHEEL SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy. FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HUB ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL TOLL-FREE AT 877-489-6659.
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Diesel07V553000
Filed Dec 5, 20071,176,000 vehiclesFord Motor Company
Defect. ON CERTAIN HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 7.3L DIESEL ENGINES, THE CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR LOCATED ON THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE MAY FUNCTION INTERMITTENTLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL.
Risk. IN THE EVENT OF AN ENGINE STALL, A CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE SENSOR AND REPLACE IT WITH AN IMPROVED CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
Exterior Lighting06E026000
Filed Mar 23, 200661,944 vehiclesPro-A Motors, Inc.
Defect. CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy. PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Structure › Body
Filed Jun 15, 2019180,000 milesGA
REAR PASSENGER DOORS OF EXTENDED CAB(BOTH) WILL NOT RELEASE TO OPEN. CAUSING DANGER IN DIFFICULTY OF PASSENGERS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE.
Engine
Filed Nov 23, 2018157,000 milesTX
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-250 SD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER (TOMBALL FORD, 22702 TOMBALL PKWY, TOMBALL, TX 77375, (281) 378-3160) WAS CONTACTED, BUT DID NOT RECEIVE AUTHORIZATION FROM THE CONTACT TO DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE HIGH VOLUME OIL PUMP NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 157,000.
Service Brakes
Filed Oct 19, 2017130,000 milesFL
PARKED MY TRUCK AT THE POST OFFICE TO RETRIEVE MAIL, GOT OUT AND SHUT DOOR, AND OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE I SAW WHAT I THOUGHT AS MOVEMENT OF MY TRUCK, SO I TURNED AROUND TO SEE MY TRUCK STARTING TO ROLL BACKWARDS , I YELLED WTF, AND STARTED TO CHASE MY TRUCK THROUGH THE PARKING AREA, TRIED TO JUMP IN WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR AND I WAS TO OLD AND FAT TO DO THAT, TRIED PUSH BACK , BUT TRUCK WAS TO HEAVY TO DO THAT, SO I WENT FOR THE PARKING BRAKE PRESSED IT HARD AND FAST AS I COULD, AND THAT WORKED MY TRUCK WAS IN PARK, AS I HAD MY KEYS IN MY HAND. THE PARK LOCK ON THE TRANSMISSION FAILED IN SOME WAY ,ALLOWING TO ROLL LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL
Seat Belts
Filed May 27, 2017AZ
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT COMES UNBUCKLED WITHOUT THE LATCH BEING TOUCHED WHILE DRIVING. THIS RESULTS IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION WHERE THE SEAT BELT ISN'T PROVIDING ANY SAFETY AND IT ALSO REQUIRES TWO HANDS TO RE-BUCKLE IT TAKING MY HANDS OFF THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING IN MY DRIVEWAY, ON CITY STREETS AND HIGHWAYS. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING SOON AFTER I BOUGHT THE TRUCK USED ON NOVEMBER 10, 2004.
Engine
Filed Jun 21, 2016135,686 milesIN
DRIVING OUT OF STATE FOR WORK AND SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF MY ENGINE. AND FROM THAT RESULTS IT COST ME QUIET A BIT OF EXTRA MONEY THAT I DIDN'T HAVE TO SPEND AND MISSED A DAYS TRYING TO GET THAT PROBLEM FIXED. AND IT RUIN MY FATHERS DAY WEEKEND I WANTED TO SPEND WITH MY KID.
Engine
Filed Apr 30, 201685,000 milesMI
5.4 MOTOR SPARK PLUGS KEEP BLOWING OUT. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH THE OLDER ONES AND NEWER ONES AS WELL FORD SHOULD MAKE IT RIGHT WITH THE CONSUMERS
TiresCrash2 injured1 killed
Filed Jun 16, 201542,498 milesMO
ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2011, A KUMHO ROAD VENTURE AT TIRE, SIZE LT235/85R16, DOT K2ORYD4A3508 (MANUFACTURED AT KUMHO?S BINH DUONG PLANT IN VIETNAM IN THE 35TH WEEK OF 2008) SUFFERED A CATASTROPHIC TREAD SEPARATION, RESULTING IN SEVERE INJURIES TO THE FRONT SEAT PASSENGER OF THE FORD F-250 AND THE DEATH OF HER SON, WHO WAS 32 WEEKS OLD AND STILL IN UTERO. A LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED AGAINST KUMHO TIRE CO., INC. AND KUMHO TIRE U.S.A., INC. IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF KANSAS (CASE NO. 2:13-CV-02393-JTM-TJJ). DURING THE DISCOVERY STAGE OF THE CASE, THE PASSENGER RETAINED TROY COTTLES, A RENOWNED TIRE FAILURE EXPERT. AFTER INSPECTING THE SUBJECT TIRE, MR. COTTLES FOUND THE FOLLOWING DEFECTS IN THE SUBJECT TIRE: (1) INADEQUATE BONDING BETWEEN BELTS (TRAPPED AIR/STEAM BLISTER IMPRESSIONS); (2) PREMATURE OXIDATION OF THE BELT SKIMS; (3) BELTING DEFECTS (COINCIDENTAL BELT ENDINGS, IRREGULAR BELT WIRE SPACING, GAPPED BELT SPLICES, DOG-EARED SPLICES, SNAKING, AND SPREAD CABLES); (4) CORD SHADOWS ON THE INNERLINER; (5) LOW TOP BELT WIDTH TO TREAD WIDTH RATIO; AND (6) INADEQUATE APPLICATION OF NYLON CAP PLIES. AS PART OF HIS WORK ON THE CASE, MR. COTTLES TESTED TWO EXEMPLAR KUMHO ROAD VENTURE AT TIRES OF THE SAME SIZE AS THE SUBJECT TIRE THAT WERE ALSO MANUFACTURED AT KUMHO?S VIETNAM PLANT. BOTH OF THOSE TIRES FAILED IN SIDEWALL FAILURE MODE IN APPROXIMATELY 10,000 MILES OR LESS UNDER PROPER LOADS, INFLATIONS, AND SPEEDS THAT WERE MONITORED DAILY. SEE ATTACHED TEST REPO
Steering
Filed Jun 13, 2015122,375 milesCA
WE HAD TRAVELED APROXIMATELY 450 MILES AND ON THE LAST LEG OF A TRIP IN THE MOUNTAINS. THE DRIVER NOTICED ON THE LAST 150 MILES OF THE TRIP THE STEERING WHEEL HAD CHANGED POSITION WHERE THE CENTER OF THE WHEEL NORMALLY WAS HORIZONTAL, WAS NOW 45 DEGREES OFF AND VERTICAL. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON ARRIVAL TO DESTINATION. THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE MOVED AND UNLOADED WHEN THIS WAS ATTEMPTED THE STEERING WHEEL JUST TURNED WITH NOT CONTROL OF THE WHEELS. SO WE WERE UNABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. AFTER AN INITIAL INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS PLACED ON A FLOOR JACK TO RAISE THE FRONT END TO LOOK FOR PROBLEMS UNDER THE VEHICLE. AFTER TURNING THE WHEELS MANUALLY IT WAS NOTICED THE ARM THAT COMES FROM THE STEERING BOX WAS LOOSE AT THE ELBOW. AFTER CLOSER INSPECTION IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ENTIRE SHAFT WAS SHEERED OFF AT THE STEERING BOX. WE WERE LUCK IT FAILED WHEN WE WERE NOT ON THE ROAD. IT MUST DID THE FINAL FAILURE WHEN WE DROVE INTO OUR DRIVE WAY AND PARKED. THIS MIGHT HAVE BEEN A DISASTEROUS ACCIDENT IF THIS HAD FAILED WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON THE MOUNTAIN ROADS WE HAD JUST DRIVEN ON OUR TRIP.
Seat Belts
Filed May 27, 2015149,000 milesNM
FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS, MY SON HAS BEEN DRIVING THE 2001 F250 SD UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INSTANCES WHERE THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT SEAT BELT HAS UNLATCHED ON ITS OWN. IT HAS ALSO HAPPENED TO ME WHILE DRIVING. THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN BACK TO FORD DEALERSHIP ON 3/7/03 UNDER RECALL 01S21 SEATBELT. "BUCKLES WERE INSPECTED, OK AS PER 01S21, NO REPAIRS NEEDED." WE WERE CHARGED $27.16 FOR THE INSPECTION. TOOK THE TRUCK BACK TO DEALERSHIP TODAY (5.27.15). THEY HAVE NO ADVICE FOR US. THERE ARE MANY OPEN COMPLAINTS FOR THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. I'VE SEEN THE REPORTS OF MANY INJURIES ALREADY.
Seat Belts
Filed May 6, 2015192,000 milesAL
REAR SEAT BELT BUCKLE HAS BROKEN LATCHING MECHANISM WITHIN FEMALE BUCKLE. THIS ITEM IS NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. SEAT BELT NOT AVAILABLE FROM THE MANUFACTURER ON A 14 YEAR OLD VEHICLE ? *TR
Seat Belts
Filed May 6, 2015200,000 milesAL
DRIVER SEAT BELT COMES UNLATCHED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THESE SEAT BELTS, BUT MY VIN WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. *TR
EngineCrash
Filed Jan 9, 201523,000 milesMI
THE 2001 F250 I OWN HAS ALWAYS STALLED AT ANY GIVEN TIME. FORD RECALLED THE CAM POSITION SENSOR, I HAD ALREADY CHANGED IT JUST BEFORE RECALL THEN THEY DID AGAIN. THAT NEVER STOPPED IT FROM STALLING, IT ALSO DOESN'T READ WHEN YOU SOMETIMES GO TO TAKE OFF. I'VE CHANGED (THROTTLE SWITCH) THAT DID NOTHING. ALL OF ITS MISHAPS HAS CASED THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS IN REPAIR. ALWAYS BROKE DOWN AND CAN'T MAKE MONEY WHEN IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE TRUCK TIME AFTER TIME. I HAVE BEEN IN SEVERAL CLOSE CALL ACCIDENTS, WHEN I LOSE POWERSTEERING AND ALMOST HAVE CRASHED INTO CARS. I FIGURED OUT THE FUEL TANK FLAKING OFF INSIDE THE TANK COULD BE THE CAUSE. THE TRUCK GETS TERRIBLE FUEL MILEAGE WHEN THIS HAPPENS COSTING A FORTUNE IN WASTED DIESEL FUMES. THAT HAVE BEEN KNOW TO CAUSE BRAIN CANCER, ALSO THE AMOUNT OF POLLUTION FROM NOT RUNNING PROPER. I AM NO FAN OF FORD'S REPAIR SHOP WHEN THEY TELL YOU IN 1983 TO MY FATHER THAT HIS ALMOST BRAND NEW DIESEL NEEDS NEW (SPARK PLUGS) WHEN DIESEL DO NOT EVEN HAVE THEM. I OWN THIS 2001 DIESEL FOR A LONG TIME NOW FOR A LANDSCAPING AND SNOWPLOWING THAT IS OUT OF BUSINESS. IT IS EMBARRASSING FOR IT TO STALL, REV UP SLIPPING TRANSMISSION, HARMING WHOLE DRIVE TRAIN. NEVER KNOWING WHEN I'M COULD BE STRANDED IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN. I HAVE HAD ONE THING AFTER ANOTHER WITH THE FORD I OWN. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF SAME PROBLEMS PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT. SOUNDS LIKE FORD HAS DONE GOOD AT COVERING UP PROBLEM BY NOT TELLING US IF THEY KNEW. I THOUGHT THE FUEL PROBLEM CAME FROM
Steering
Filed Dec 29, 2014VA
LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN WOLF ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 2001 FORD F250 SUPER DUTY TRUCK BECAUSE OF STEERING MALFUNCTION (ATTN: JOHN CZERWINSKI). *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE BRAKE WAS APPLIED, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN, EVEN WITH BOTH HANDS. WHEN SOME OF THE PRESSURE WAS RELEASED FROM THE BRAKE, THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD TURN FREELY. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED, THE STEERING PUMP WAS BAD. HOWEVER, THE STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED FIVE TIMES. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. *JB UPDATED 03/25/15. *JB
Steering
Filed Nov 27, 2014169,450 milesFL
I WAS MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN, FROM A STOP, WHEN I HEARD A SNAPPING NOISE, THEN I NOTICED MY STEERING WHEEL TURNING FREELY, I JUST CONTINUED FORWARD WITH NO STEERING SINCE I WAS KIND OF CROSSED ON THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, AND HAD CARS COMING AT ME AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, I WAS ABLE TO GO OVER ONTO THE SIDE WALK CROSSED, I STOPPED THE TRUCK AND WHEN I LOOKED SAW THE SHAFT AT THE STEERING BOX HAD SHEERED IN HALF. I AM A RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND CONSIDER THIS A VERY DELICATE MATTER, HAVE I BEING TRAVELING AT A HIGH SPEED THIS COULD HAVE BEING A SITUATION WITH VERY TRAGIC RESULTS. PLEASE DO NOT IGNORE THANKS *TR
Tires
Filed Jun 11, 2014AL
TIRE BLOWOUT WITH COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION WHILE TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE PULLING A HORSE TRAILER. WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL TO SHOULDER & CHANGE TIRE FOR SPARE. TREAD DAMAGED TRUCK PANEL, TAILPIPE & BENT FRONT AXLE OF TRAILER. TIRES WERE WELL MAINTAINED AND HAD BEEN CHECKED BEFORE DEPARTURE. TIRES WERE NITTO TERRA GRAPPLER LT 285/75R16 126/123Q LOAD RANGE E. *TR
Service Brakes
Filed Feb 5, 201472,745 milesTN
HITTING BRAKE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK THE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. STEEL LINE COMING OUT ABS RUPTURED WHERE THE FLEX SECTION ENDS RIGHT ABOVE FRAME RAIL. WHERE I LIVE, STEEP HILLS AND SHARP TURNS, THIS WAS VERY LIFE THREATENING IF OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING! I'M NOT A HAPPY CAMPER! *TR
Seat Belts
Filed Dec 23, 2013128,000 milesTX
DRIVER SEATBELT UNLATCHES UNEXPECTEDLY. THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE ANY PARTICULAR CAUSE FOR THE LATCHING FAILURE. *TR
Visibility › Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
Filed Nov 30, 2013112,000 milesVA
THE TWO VENTS BEHIND THE REAR SEAT OF THE CAB LEAK AND CAUSE CARPET/FLOOR DAMAGE. *TR
Engine
Filed Nov 20, 2013207,885 milesFL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 17 MPH, HE HEARD AN ABNORMAL WHINING SOUND. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND UPON INSPECTION, NOTICED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS HAD BLOWN FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 207,885.
Electrical System
Filed Sep 17, 2013200,007 milesVT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-250 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS HE STARTED THE ENGINE, EVERY LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BROKEN SEAM IN THE WINDSHIELD THAT WOULD CAUSE WATER TO LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE AND ONTO THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,007.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Oct 13, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.