2001 Ford F-350 SD

Routine

Owners filed 158 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine › diesel. It has been recalled 3 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

139 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 30,00040,000 miles; the median is 58,295 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Tires › Tread/Belt18
201
Power Train › Automatic Transmission17
000
Tires16
214
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Diesel15
010
Engine and Engine Cooling12
050
Electrical System10
120
Steering6
100
Fuel System, Diesel5
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine5
010
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly4
000

3 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Dec 18, 201848,598 milesKY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-350 SUPER DUTY. WHILE REVERSING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAP WAS FRACTURED. O'BRIEN FORD (LOCATED AT 720 MT EDEN RD, SHELBYVILLE, KY 40065) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,598. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *TT CONSUMER STATED TRUCK WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP.*JB

Seat Belts
Filed Apr 24, 2018154,000 milesCA

THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL RANDOMLY COME UNBUCKLED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. *TT

Electrical System
Filed Jun 14, 2016100,000 milesOR

AFTER THE FACT HEADS UP REGARDING POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC POWER LOSS. AT ABOUT 10 YEARS AND 100,000 MILES THE VEHICLE STARTED BLOWING THE #19 5AMP FUSE, DASHBOARD LIGHTS GO OUT BUT THE DANGEROUS CONSEQUENCE IS A LOSS OF POWER, CAN'T CLEAR TRAFFIC IN A LEFT TURN OR GO UP HILL, HAVE TO BACK DOWN. KNOWN PROBLEM ONLINE, SOME PEOPLE JUST REPLACE THE FUSE WITH A 10AMP, THE CAUSE IS A WIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN WAS THROUGH IT'S INSULATION AND SHORTS. MINE HAPPENED MORE FREQUENTLY ALWAYS AFTER TURNING LEFT. FORD SERVICE IGNORED THE ONLINE INFO AND TOLD ME I NEEDED A NEW $700 FUEL PUMP. THAT DID NOT HELP AND I DEMANDED THEY OPEN THE STEERING COLUMN AND FIX THE WIRE, NO PROBLEMS SINCE, I AM ASSUMING THIS HAS NEVER BEEN REPORTED SINCE I HAD TO GOOGLE FOR THE ANSWER. I WAS LUCKY AN NEVER GOT HIT BY ANY ONCOMING OR FOLLOWING TRAFFIC, PARTICULARLY THRILLING TO BACK DOWN A NARROW STEEP STREET WITH LIMITED VISIBILITY.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 7, 2015126,000 milesOR

DRIVING ON A STRAIGHT, RURAL ROAD IN HEAVY FOG. RIGHT TIRE CAUGHT THE SOFT SHOULDER, VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD AND INTO A STEEP-BANKED CREEK APPROXIMATELY 8 FT WIDE. FRONT OF TRUCK HIT HARD ON THE OPPOSITE BANK AND BACK END OF TRUCK LANDED IN THE CREEK. AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED BRUISING, ABRASIONS AND MILD SOFT TISSUE INJURIES TO NECK, SHOULDER, CHEST, AND KNEE. THIS IS EERILY SIMILAR TO NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10113989. *TR

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Oct 8, 201430,000 milesID

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-350 SD. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE INDEPENDENTLY UNLATCHED. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 06V286000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 2/10/15*CN

Tires
Filed Sep 18, 2014208,000 milesFL

DRIVING MY 2001 F 350 AT 45 MPH THE LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED LOUD ENOUGH FOR A NEIGHBOR TO COME OUT THINKING A SHOT HAD BEEN FIRED! THE TIRE'S SIDE WALL WAS SHREDDED. THIS WAS MY SECOND EXPERIENCE RECENTLY WITH A BLOW-OUT OF MY BF GOODRICH RUGGED TERRAIN T/A LT275/65R18 TIRES. IN MAY THE LEFT REAR BLEW OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITH THE SIDE WALL SHREDDED SIMILAR TO THE RECENT BLOW OUT. I WAS PRO-RATED FOR THAT TIRE BUT AFTER THIS RECENT EVENT I AM CHANGING OUT ALL THE TIRES AND GOING BACK TO COOPER, I WOULDN'T CHANCE HAVING A MORE SERIOUS LOST-OF-CONTROL EVENT! I BOUGHT MY TIRES 3 YEARS AGO (2011) AND USE THIS TRUCK ON THE RANCH--THERE ARE LESS THAN 4,000 MILES ON THESE TIRES. FROM THE OUTSIDE THE TIRES APPEAR ALRIGHT, BUT THE HANDLING STARTED TO FEEL ROCKY PRIOR TO THE BLOW OUT ALTHOUGH NOTHING WAS VISIBLY SHOWING ON THE EXTERIOR. *TR

Seat Belts
Filed Jul 5, 20142,000 milesNV

I WAS DRIVING AND DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT ,UNLATCHED. THIS PROBLEM CONTINUES TO DATE. *TR

TiresCrash2 injured
Filed Sep 30, 201332,168 milesFL

ON SEPTEMBER 17 ONE OUR CREW VEHICLES EXPERIENCED A TREAD SEPARATION OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS RESULTING IN ONE SEVERE INJURY, TWO MUCH LESS SEVERE INJURY'S AND A TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. THE TIRE IS A BF GOODRICH COMMERCIAL T/A LT 265/75/16 AND WAS PURCHASED ON OR ABOUT FEBRUARY 2012. THE TIRE HAD APPROXIMATELY 40K MILES. THE DOT NUMBER IS BFW8JD110312. *TR

Tires
Filed Mar 2, 20125,000 milesWA

4 TREAD LEAKS REPAIRED AND A SIDE WALL BLOW OUT GOODYEAR SILENT ARMOR PRO GADE TIRE LT305/70R16 124/12 LOAD RANGE E DOTPJBV35HV. *TR

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Mar 11, 2011135,000 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-350 DIESEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE STORED IN A GARAGE FOR 11 MONTHS HE OBSERVED THAT IT WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND REPLIED IN A LETTER ADVISING HIM THAT A RECALL NOTICE 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS MAILED IN NOVEMBER 2010; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT NEVER RECEIVED THE LETTER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.

TiresCrashFire2 injured
Filed Dec 16, 2010214,000 milesWA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F350 SUPER DUTY VEHICLE WITH COOPER DISCOVER STT P351/85R16 TIRES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWING A RACE CAR WHICH WAS DESTROYED ALONG WITH THE TRUCK AND ALL OF ITS CONTENTS, WHICH CAUGHT FIRE DUE TO THE BLOW OUT. A PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED A MAJOR CONCUSSION AND THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A COMPOUNDED LEFT WRIST INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 214,000.

Electrical System
Filed Dec 13, 2010150,000 milesID

I RECEIVED A "RECALL" NOTICE FROM FORD ABOUT MY F350 TRUCK, THE RECALL IS NOT LISTED ON YOUR WEB SITE???? LAST TIME I RECEIVED A "RECALL" FROM FORD I TOOK MY TRUCK TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY LEFT ALL FOUR BATTERY CONNECTIONS LOOSE WHICH RUINED MY ALTERNATOR, THEY DENIED HAVING TOUCHED THE BATTERY CONNECTIONS YET THEIR OWN SERVICE REPORT HAD A CHECK MARK NEXT TO "BATTERY CONNECTIONS INSPECTED" NOW THEY SENT ME THIS RECALL ABOUT A SPEED CONTROL SENSOR AND WHEN I CALLED THE NUMBER PROVIDED THEY BASICALLY TOLD ME I HAVE NO RECOURSE IF THE LOCAL DEALER DAMAGES MY TRUCK AGAIN, AND IF I DO NOT BRING THE TRUCK IN FORD IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR MY INJURY OR ANY LOSS ASSOCIATED WITH THE "RECALL" HELP PLEASE! *TR

Electrical System
Filed Nov 16, 2010170,000 milesGA

2001 FORD F350 SD 7.3 DIESEL AUTOMATIC TRANS. FUSE KEEPS BLOWING WHEN MANUALLY GEARING DOWN TO SECOND,SOMETIMES ALL ON ITS OWN. WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE ENGINE GOES TO IDLE, THE THROTTLE DOESN'T RESPOND, THE GAUGES GO DEAD I'M DEAD IN THE WATER. SENSE I CAN'T PUSH THE TRUCK, I HAVE TO GET OUT AND REPLACE THE FUSE WHERE IT SETS TO GET GOING AGAIN. NOW MY OVERDRIVE LOCK OUT IS INOPERATIVE. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT THE TRUCK JUST STOPS MOVING, WHEN THE FUSE BLOWS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A INTERSECTION! SO HOW'S THAT FOR A SAFETY HAZARD? CAN ANYONE SPELL LAWSUIT? *TR

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Oct 19, 2010178,000 milesMO

1.)FORD F-350 PARKED IN THE MORNING AT 8:04 AM AFTER TAKING DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL. AFTER SITTING FOR ALMOST 15 HOURS TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND AT APPROX. 11:00PM. AT NIGHT, AFTER EVERYBODY WAS SUPPOSE TO BE IN BED. I HAPPENED TO HEAR A POPPING AND HISSING NOISE AND SAW FLAMES GLOWING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE BETWEEN THE TIRES. HUGE OAK TREE NEAR IT WAS CAUGHT ON FIRE, BURNT APPX. 35 FEET INTO THE AIR, OTHER VEHICLE NEXT TO IT WERE DAMAGED AND HOUSE WAS IN DANGER OF BEING CAUGHT ON FIRE PER FIRE DEPT. ( THEY HOSED THE HOUSE DOWN FIRST) 2.) ONLY HAPPENED ONCE. 3.) FIRE DEPT CALLED TO PUT OUT RAGING FIRE. *TR

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Sep 4, 2010204,000 milesID

I HAVE A 2001 FORD F350 IPDAY I WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAUNCH MY BOAT AT A LAKE JUST EAST OF BOISE, ID, WHEN THE BRAKES GAVE OUT AND I ALMOST WENT INTO THE LAKE. I GOT THE VEHICLE BACK TO MY HOUSE AND CHECKED THE WHEELS AND NOTICED AN IN ORDINATE AMOUNT OF BRAKE FLUID ION THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL. BEING A RETIRED NTSB INVESTIGATOR, I PULLED THE WHEEL AND FOUND THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE HAD COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE TIRE WHICH WORE A HOLE IN THE LINE ALLOWING THE FLUID TO LEAK OUT. *TR

Tires
Filed Aug 6, 201095,000 milesMA

TRAVELING FROM MASS. TO MAINE WITH MY FORD F-350 WITH "COOPER" MASTERCRAFT COURSER A/T TIRES. MY REAR DRIVERS SIDE TIRE SEPARATED SENDING THE TREAD INTO WHEEL WELL..I WAS TRAVELING AT 65MPH...IT SHOOK THE TRUCK VERY HARD CAUSING LOSS CONTROL...THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS AROUND...SLOWED THE TRUCK TO STOP...MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE REAR OF TRUCK...LOOKING AT TIRE THE METAL WIRE IS RUSTED...NOTE FOUND THERE WAS A RE-CALL ON THESE TIRES...(NEVER GOT MINE) CALLED THE COOPER HOT-LINE. THEY INSTRUCTED ME THEY WILL SEND PACKAGE IN MAIL AND FOR ME TO SEND THE TIRE TO THEM CHECKED ON LINE AND FOUND OTHER PEOPLE HAVE DONE THE SAME WITH NO RESULTS BLAMING THE DRIVERS FOR HITTING SOMETHING....NO INJURY OR DEATH...NOT OUT FOR THE MONEY. *TR

Tires
Filed May 19, 201049,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-350 SD. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE SHREDDED. THE FAILURE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDING THE FRONT FENDER, UNDERCARRIAGE AND THE BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP BEING INSPECTED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 49,900.

Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed Apr 8, 2010231,000 milesMA

2001 FORD F350 CAUGHT ON FIRE UNATTENDED IN THE DRIVEWAY. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › EngineFire
Filed Apr 8, 2010231,000 milesMA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-350. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY WHEN IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO EXPLAIN THE FAILURE BUT THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY SUCH FAILURES. THE CONTACT PLANNED TO CALL THE MANUFACTURER WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 231,000.

Steering
Filed Apr 3, 201038,000 milesOH

WHEN DRIVING AT APPROX. 40 TO 65 MPH AT INTERMITTENT TIMES WHEN TRAVELING OVER SLIGHTLY UNEVEN ROADS {NOT BUMPS} THE STEERING WHEEL WILL BEGIN TO OSCILLATE LEFT TO RIGHT WITH INCREASING FREQUENCY THAT WILL ACTUALLY MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL 2-3 INCHES LEFT TO RIGHT, AND REQUIRE ALMOST STOPPING THE VEHICLE TO REGAIN CONTROL.YOU MAY BE ABLE TO DRIVE 200 MILES BEFORE THIS WILL OCCUR AGAIN.THIS TRUCK ONLY HAS 38,000 MILES AND HAS DONE THIS SINCE DAY ONE. IT HAS HAD FRONT TIRES REPLACED, FRONT SHOCKS, NUMEROUS ALIGNMENTS,AND TIRE BALANCES FROM FORD DEALERS,ALL WITH THE SAME RESULT.

20 of 158 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2017
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20267400Routine
202514610Do not drive
202444320Routine
2023411500Do not drive
20221101710Do not drive
2021961540Do not drive
20201881630Routine
20194661260Above average
20182011050Above average
20175721460Above average
2016208440Above average
2015208470Above average
20147500Routine
201391000Routine
2012291000Routine
201143800Routine
201050710Routine
200919500Routine
2008101140Routine
200725200Routine
2006127211Fatalities reported
2005217481Fatalities reported
2004130320Routine
2003132520Routine
2002124480Routine
2001 — this page1583120Routine
2000157370Routine
1999142330Routine
19983110Routine
19973210Routine
19960100Routine
19952100Routine
19940100Routine
19930100Routine

Compare every F-350 SD year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

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.