2001 Ford F-150 Powertrain (other) Problems

n/a

NHTSA ID

11644534

Incident

Feb 24, 2025

The car will randomly go forward while shifted in reverse I smashed into my boat trying to back up and when foward

NHTSA ID

11509127

Incident

Feb 22, 2023

MY VEHICLE HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WENT "FLOPPY," BECAME EXCESSIVELY LOOSE AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY OTHER GEAR POSITION. I HAD TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND SET THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN PLACE RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. IT TURNS OUT TWO 27MM TORX BOLTS HAD COME LOOSE ON THE STEERING COLUMN SHIFTER ASSEMBLY INSIDE THE DASHBOARD (A NUT HOLDING ONE OF THE BOLTS HAD ACTUALLY BROKEN INTO TWO PIECES). SEE ATTACHED PICTURES. AS I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM, I LEARNED THAT HUNDREDS, PERHAPS THOUSANDS HAD REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE (THAT AND BUSHINGS BREAKING OR SLIPPING OUT ON THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING A SIMILAR ISSUE), ON F-150'S, F-250'S, F-350'S, WINDSTAR VANS, AND OTHER FORD VEHICLES. THIS HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE A TRAGIC PROBLEM. C'MON, FORD, TAKE SOME OWNERSHIP AND DO RIGHT BY YOUR CUSTOMERS HERE--FIX THIS PROBLEM UNDER RECALL!

NHTSA ID

11208532

Incident

May 16, 2019

Mileage

199,900 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE VEHICLE AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE GEAR FAILED TO REMAIN IN DRIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRIC DIAL IN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10852561

Incident

Mar 23, 2016

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN IN REVERSE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPARK PLUG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10668057

Incident

Dec 26, 2013

Mileage

200,000 mi

2001 FORD F-150. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED DURING ROUTINE USE OF THE TRUCK, THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP, INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE CAST STEEL GEAR WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION HAD SHATTERED INTO TWO PIECES. IN OCTOBER 2009, DURING AN ANNUAL SAFETY INSPECTION, THE STRAPS HOLDING THE FUEL TANK IN PLACE WERE CORRODED AND ALMOST COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. IN THE SUMMER OF 2013, FORD MOTOR COMPANY, SENT THE CONSUMER A NOTICE, INFORMING HIM THE FUEL TANK STRAP WERE BEING RECALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT OVERLY CONCERNED, SINCE THEY HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED, FORD SENT ANOTHER RECALL. THE CONSUMER INFORMED FORD, HE HAD THE STRAPS REPLACED. FORD THEN ADVISED THE CONSUMER TO VISIT THE DEALER ABOUT REIMBURSEMENT. THE DEALER WANTED TO SEE WHAT REPAIRS HAD BEEN MADE. ONCE THE TRUCK WAS ON THE LIFT, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE ORIGINAL FAULTY TANK STRAPS HAD CAUSED A WEAKENING IN THE SKIN OF THE FUEL TAN ITSELF AND THAT IT WAS LEAKING GASOLINE THROUGH THE SKIN OF THE TANK. THE TANK WAS LEAKING FUEL AROUND THE AREA WHERE THE STRAPS RUBBED ON THE TANK. FORD WOULD ONLY HONOR THE RECALL, IF THEY REPLACED THE STRAPS. HOWEVER, THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE LEAKING FUEL TANK. *JB

NHTSA ID

10563048

Incident

Feb 3, 2014

STARTED TRUCK HEARD A LOUD POP ENGINE RUNNING ROUGH CHECKED,SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT DESTROYING COIL PACK NOW CALLED FORD DEALER THEY SAID NO RECALL CHECKED ON INTERNET NOTICED A LOT OF PEOPLE SAME PROBLEM. A LOT MONEY TO REPAIR. I HAD JUST GOT BACK FROM A 600 MILE TRIP IF THIS HAD HAPPENED DURING TRIP WOULD HAVE COST ME UP TO $4.000 TO GET ON ROAD AGAIN, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL! AND IF I GET IT FIXED I WILL HAVE TO GET RID OF IT BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE COMPLAINING 2 OR MORE PLUGS ARE BLOWING OUT AND I CAN NOT AFFORD THE FIX .

NHTSA ID

10390828

Incident

Mar 7, 2011

Mileage

106,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10277419

Incident

Jul 17, 2009

Mileage

110,000 mi

REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY FAILURE, GRINDING NOISE THAT STOPS UPON DECELERATION, FORD ISSUED TSB 05-23-3 REGARDING THIS BEHAVIOR. I OBSERVE MANY COMPLAINTS FROM THE PUBLIC VIA THE INTERNET RELATED TO SIMILAR EXPERIENCES. IT IS TOO WIDESPREAD. I HAVE NEVER LOST A REAR END TO MECHANICAL FAILURE. I AM 54 YEARS OLD. FORD DEALERSHIP REFUSES TO WARRANTY THE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261482

Incident

Mar 10, 2001

Mileage

138,500 mi

DRIVING MY FORD 2001 F150 IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN A LOUD BANG UNDER FROM MY HOOD AND RENDERED MY VEHICLE USELESS AND A MAJOR TRAFFIC HAZARD AS I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE WITH CARS AND DUMP TRUCKS SWERVING AROUND ME TO PASS BY ME .THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS AND COMMON PROBLEM THAT IS HAPPENING TO MANY FORD OWNERS THAT HAVE THE TRITON ENGINES. SPARK PLUG EJECTION FORD MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE A DEATH OCCURS..FORD DEALER TELLS ME I MIGHT AS WELL GET A NEW ENGINE AT A VALUE OF $ 8000.00. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258408

Incident

Feb 11, 2009

Mileage

85,437 mi

THERE AREN'T ANY REAL EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE. I TOOK MY TRUCK INTO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP (GARY CROSSLEY FORD) TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL RECALL WORK DONE. WHILE THERE I ASKED TO HAVE A STATE INSPECTION DONE AS WELL. I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT THE LOWER BALL JOINT WERE SOMEWHAT LOOSE AND WOULD NEED REPLACING - SO I HAD THEM DO THAT AS WELL AS FLUSH THE TRANSMISSION AS WELL (THIS TRUCK ONLY HAD 62,000 MILES ON IT). FOLLOWING THAT IT PASSED INSPECTIONS - ALL WAS WELL. NOT EVEN ONE MONTH LATER (POSSIBLY ONLY 3 WEEKS) I TRIED BACKING FROM MY PARKING SPOT AT WORK AND HEARD A *THUNK* FROM THE REAR END. NOT SURE WHAT IT WAS I BACKED UP MORE AND HEARD IT AGAIN. PUT THE TRUCK IN DRIVE AND THERE WAS A RUBBING NOISE FROM UNDERNEATH. I PARKED IT AND CALLED A TOW RIG TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER. UPON HEARING FROM THEM THE FOLLOWING DAY I WAS TOLD THE CARRIER BEARING IN THE REAR END HAD "EXPLODED" AND I'D NEED TO REPLACE MOST EVERYTHING IN THE REAR END. AGREED TO HAVE THE WORK DONE. GOT A CALL A DAY LATER TELLING ME THAT PROBLEM WAS FIXED, BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER - THE *THUNKING* WAS STILL THERE AND WAS LIKELY THE TRANSMISSION. HAD THEM CHECK AND SURE ENOUGH, IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. FINDING OUT THAT FORD WAS GOING TO "COVER" PART OF THE TRANSMISSION REPAIR MADE ME WONDER IF THERE WEREN'T UNDERLYING PROBLEMS THAT I WAS NOT, AS AN OWNER, ALERTED TO. THE TRUCK NEVER HAD A PROBLEM BEFORE THESE, AND I'VE BEEN VERY UNCOMFORTABLE WITH IT SINCE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10189160

Incident

Feb 17, 2007

Mileage

62,600 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED WHILE SERVICING THE VEHICLE THAT THERE WAS A PREMATURE FAILURE IN THE PINION BEARINGS AND THE CARRIER BEARINGS FROM THE REAR END OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 7/13/2006 - THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT STARTED MAKING NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY AND TOLD THAT THE CARRIER BEARING AND PINION BEARING AND THE RACES FOR BOTH WERE PITTED AND HAD BLACK STREAKS ON THEM. *NM

NHTSA ID

10160869

Incident

May 15, 2006

2001 F150 LARIAT THE PINION BEARINGS, CARRIER BEARINGS AND THE RACES FOR BOTH WERE PITTED AND IN BAD SHAPE. *TS ***NAR*** PRIOR TO TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER THE CONSUMER HEARD A WHINNING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END. THE REAR END OF THE TRUCK HAD TO BE REBUILT. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT EITHER THE BEARING ARE MADE OF A CHEAP MATERIAL, THAT THE GEARS ARE BAD OR WHERE THE SIT IS NOT SET UP CORRECTLY. *NM

NHTSA ID

10160498

Incident

Jun 1, 2006

Mileage

91,836 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE MADE A CLICKING SOUND AND WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE CONTACT PHYSICALLY PUSHED THE VEHICLE INTO THE DRIVEWAY. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION, THE CONTACT DETERMINED THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS BROKEN. THE DRIVE SHAFT BROKE IN TWO ALONG THE WELDS. THE DRIVE SHAFT WAS REMOVED AND TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER SUGGESTED SENDING THE PART TO THE MANUFACTURER FOR INSPECTION. UPDATED 2/28/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID

10148732

Incident

Jan 11, 2006

Mileage

33,998 mi

DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ON HIS 2001 FORD F150 RUSTED. THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING THE VEHICLE FIXED. THE VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED. THE DEALERSHIP/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONSUMER SAID THAT THE RUSTING STARTING ABOUT A YEAR AGO.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND WAS LEAKING FLUID. THE RUST WAS NOT ISOLATED TO JUST ONE SPOT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10136941

Incident

Sep 10, 2005

Mileage

98,802 mi

NO SUMMARY. DT

NHTSA ID

769234

Incident

Sep 1, 2001

A SCRAPING SOUND FROM THE RIGHT REAR WAS NOTICED AT 31,000 MILES. INFORMED DEALER OF NOISE, SOUNDED LIKE BRAKES SCRAPPING. DEALER SAID BRAKES WERE FINE. 51,000 MILES NOISE TURNED INTO A WINING SOUND. DEALER SAID IT WAS A NON-RELATED SOUND. FORD REFUSED TO HONOR WARRANTY FOR MIS-DIAGNOIS DURING WARRANTY PERIOD. DEALER DID NOT GIVE ANY FURTHER ADVISE NOR RECOMMENDATIONS AT 31,000 MILES. FORD SAID A WHEEL BEARING CHECK WAS NOT DONE AT 30,000 MILES. DEALER TECH SAID AXEL WAS OUT OF FACTORY TOLLERANCE WAS CAUSE. REPAIR COST WAS $3,500.00. I DID NOT KNOW WHAT MADE THE NOISE , I WAS DESCRIBING THE NOISE AS POSSIBLE BRAKES, BUT NOW FORD SAYS THAT IS WHAT I ASKED THEM ONLY TO LOOK AT. THAT IS NOT TRUE, I SAID IT IS MAKING A NOISE , SOUNDS LIKE THE BRAKES, THEY SHOULD HAVE DROVE IT RATHER THAN JUST LOOKING AT THE BRAKES. THEY SAID IT WAS FINE THEN, NOW THEY SAY I SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT IT BACK IF THE NOISE WAS STILL THERE. I DID NOT AS THEY SAID IT WAS OK. WHEN IT STARTED GRINDING , I THEN BROUGHT IT BACK. I WAS LUCKY IT DID NOT LOCK UP AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.*AK

NHTSA ID

763702

Incident

Jun 12, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT STATE SPEED LIMIT HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. WITHOUT A WARNING LOST STEERING CONTROL, RESULTING IN A COLLISION, MECHANIC STATED REAR AXLE BRACKET HAD A MALFUNCTION WHICH RESULTED IN SPRING UNHOOKING AND RELEASING AXLE.

NHTSA ID

8004133

I HAVE TAKEN THIS VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ON 7 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS FOR VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 34, 52 AND 72 MPH. THEY HAVE HAD THE FORD REGIONAL REP LOOK AT THIS VEHICLE 4 TIMES AND HE INSISTS THAT I HAVE A TIRE PROBLEM! I HAVE ALREADY BEEN THROUGH 5 NEW SETS OF TIRES, 2 NEW SETS OF WHEELS, A DRIVE SHAFT REPLACEMENT AND A REAR END OVERHAUL AND I STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM! I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE THAT YOUR OFFICE COULD PROVIDE IN HELPING RESOLVE THESE PROBLEMS!*AK (TIRESIZE: P26570R17)

NHTSA ID

757876

Incident

Jan 7, 2002

WHEN SLOWING DOWN, AND THEN ACCELERATING, A CLUNK IN THE DRIVELINE OCCURS, DEALER REPLACED PARTS IN REAR AXLE, DRIVE SHAFT AND BOTH U-JOINTS, REPLACED ANTI CLUNK SPRING IN TRANSMISSON, BUT AFTER FIVE TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP , I WAS TOLD THAT FORD HAD BEEN CONTACTED AND THEY SAID THAT I WOULD HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE PROBLEM THAT THEY HAD SEVERAL TRUCKS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM BUT THEY HAD COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE SOUND WAS SOUND BEING TRANSFERED THROUGH THE DRIVESHAFT, I WAS TOLD THAT SOME TRUCKS DO THIS AND SOME DO NOT, I DID COMPLAIN TO FORD, AND I AM STILL AWAITING THERE RESPONSE

NHTSA ID

756679

Incident

Jun 15, 2001

RING AND PINION GEAR WAS MAKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN DEALER'S SHOP AND HAD REPLACED RING AND PINION GEAR ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. HOWEVER, PROBLEM WAS STILL REOCCURRING. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY DID NOT NOT HAVE A CORRECTION AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ID

899211

Incident

Dec 15, 2000

TRANS AXLE WOULD BIND/LOCK UP WHENEVER MAKING SHARP TURNS WHILE USING 4 WHEEL DRIVE MODE.*AK

NHTSA ID

886892

Incident

Apr 8, 2001

SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE CONSUMER NOTICED VIBRATION. FOUND OUT THAT DRIVELINE WAS TOO LONG, SHOULD BE IN 2 PIECES, ALSO, WAS TOO CLOSE TO FUEL TANK. DESIGN FLAW, DEALER COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THIS. *AK

NHTSA ID

877045

Incident

Oct 25, 2000