2001 Ford F-250 Owner Complaints

When im in traffic, starting out driving or merging between intersections my truck decides to either hard shift or not shift at all. Several times ive had to lay on my horn in an attempt to warn oncoming vehicles that i have no power and cannot accelerate and several times it has nearly caused an accident. I purchased the truck used and have yet to take it into the dealership to have them inspect the issue though from what i’ve read thus far is that ford calls this problem “normal operation” and has been less than understanding when people attempt to have this obvious defect resolved. There are no warning lights that come on when this happens. I can have my truck inspected by whomever, whenever need be. I will also be returning to the dealer to use my warranty to help deal with this issue. The date this most recently happened causing a near miss was today, though there has been an occasional but recurring situation almost weekly.

NHTSA ID

11651526

Incident

Mar 29, 2025

The contact owns a 2001 Ford F-250 equipped with Toyo tires, Tire Line: HT Open Country, Tire Size: LT265/75/R16, DOT Number: CXLTCAK4815. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shaking and felt like the front tires were bouncing. The contact veered to the side of the road, where he noticed that the tires were deformed. The contact continued to drive. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the tread belt was separating. The front tires were replaced; however, the failure reoccurred with the rear tires. The vehicle was taken to an independent tire mechanic where the rear tires were replaced under an unknown recall. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred on the front tires. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not provide any assistance. The tires were not replaced. The tires were replacement equipment. The tire failure mileage was 30,000. The vehicle failure mileage was approximately 230,000.

NHTSA ID

11461209

Incident

Jul 29, 2016

Mileage

230,000 mi

Was T-Boned in the passenger side of the truck which changed my direction of travel resulting in hitting a tree head on. Neither frontal air bags deployed. The frontal impact was hard enough to push the tree 18 to 20 inches into the engine compartment bending the frame where the front bumper was attached. The accident resulted in a fatality. I'm just confused why neither air bag deployed. I have had this truck since it was new so I know it's history. There was not any warnings lights on, No air bag warning lights, No modifications were ever done to the truck. All stock. There was never any indication that the air bags were not operating normal. So Why did they malfunction?

NHTSA ID

11448721

Incident

Jan 8, 2022

TAILPIPE IS CLOSE ENOUGH TO SPARE TIRE TO MELT TIRE. TIRE IS UNUSABLE. LATER VEHICLES HAVE A HEAT SHIELD IN PLACE TO PREVENT THIS. FORD SHOULD HAVE RECALLED EARLIER UNITS.

NHTSA ID

11364408

Incident

Oct 10, 2020

Mileage

100,000 mi

WHILE SHOPPING MY F250 TRYED TO BURN DOWN IN PARKING LOT 2ND TIME AT A SCHOOL SOCCER GAME AND 4 THE THIRD TIME RIGHT IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE AND STILL AFTER THOUSANDS IN REPAIRS STILL SAME ISSUE FORD NEEDS TO MAN UP AN ADDRESS THIS SITUATION..... [XXXX] KEY NEVER IN TRUCK ALL THREE TIMES THIS HAS OCCURED REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11340813

Incident

Feb 7, 2013

Mileage

120,000 mi

SPARK PLUGS KEEP BLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE, WHILE ACCELERATING, HAS DONE FIVE TIMES,, WHEN IT DOES VEHICLE STALLED POSSIBLY CARE CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, ALMOST GOT HIT BY A TRUCK TRYING TO TURN,

NHTSA ID

11320910

Incident

Apr 12, 2020

Mileage

333,350 mi

LOCATION MASTER CYLINDER CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SENSOR LEAKING BRAKE FLUID NON FUNCTIONAL BRAKES AND CRUISE CONTROL.

NHTSA ID

11311334

Incident

Feb 12, 2020

Mileage

240,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-250. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE, OPENED THE HOOD, AND NOTICED FLAMES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH WATER AND NOTICED THAT AN UNKNOWN PLUG RELATED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS MELTED. NO POLICE OR FIRE REPORTS WERE FILED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE CONTACT'S VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO EL CAJON FORD (LOCATED AT 1595 E MAIN ST, EL CAJON, CA 92021, (619) 312-4107) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNKNOWN PLUG RELATED TO THE CRUISE CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11265985

Incident

Sep 12, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, SMOKE SPONTANEOUSLY EMERGED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BATTLEFIELD FORD COMMERCIAL TRUCK CENTER (8980 MATHIS AVE, MANASSAS, VA 20110, (703) 368-3231) WHO STATED THAT THEY WERE WAITING ON AUTHORIZATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,840.

NHTSA ID

11256896

Incident

Sep 12, 2019

Mileage

144,840 mi

2001 FORD F250. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ISSUES WITH THE MOTOR. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE MOTOR WOULD BACK FIRE AND BLOW OUT. THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE MOTOR, BUT THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT HONOR THE RECALL. *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE BLEW IT'S LAST SPARK PLUG. *JS

NHTSA ID

11203550

Incident

Apr 26, 2019

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WILL DISENGAGE WITH OUT TOUCHING THE RELEASE BUTTON. I HAVE TRIED USING HIGH PRESSURE AIR THINKING IT WOULD DISLODGE SOMETHING. EVEN TRIED A LITTLE WD-40 TO NO AVAIL. REALLY FRUSTRATING TO HEAR ITS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. DEALERSHIPS SURE DON'T ACT LIKE THEY WANT TO FIX IT. HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES.

NHTSA ID

11195915

Incident

Dec 13, 2017

Mileage

200,000 mi

TWICE IN THE LAST 5 YEARS I HAVE EXPERIENCED TOTAL STEERING LOSS WHILE DRIVING FORD F-250 V10 TRITON PICKUP TRUCK, I AM FORTUNATE TO BE ALIVE, BOTH TIMES THE CONNECTION TO THE STEERING BOX BROKE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO AFTERMARKET MODIFICATIONS DONE TO THIS TRUCK. VERY SERIOUS ISSUE! TRUCK IS IN THE SHOP NOW FOLLOWING MOST RECENT FAILURE. I FEAR THINKING ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES HAD EITHER OF THESE TWO FAILURES OCCURRED AT HIGH SPEED

NHTSA ID

11166236

Incident

Jan 2, 2019

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A FIRE WAS DETECTED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE EXPLODED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN OR TOWED TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TEST OR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V170000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11120091

Incident

Aug 11, 2018

PARKED VEHICLE AT MAIN POST OFFICE , REMOVED KEYS, I KNOW THIS BECAUSE IT HAS MY POBOX KEY ON KEY RING. I HOPPED OUT AND STATED TO WALK OFF, THEN I GLANCED A VIEW TO THE RIGHT, AND NOTICED OR THOUGHT I NOTICED, MY TRUCK ROLLING BACKWARDS. IT WAS !!! I CHASED MY TRUCK AND CAUGHT UP TO IT, AND ATTEMPTED HOP IN AND ENGAGE FOOT BRAKE. I AM TO FAT AND SLOW TO DO THAT, SO I THOUGHT QUICKLY, , AH HA, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE . I REACHED DOWN AND LET THE TRUCK ROLL THE ER BRAKE TO MY HAND, AND ENGAGE IT I CALLED THE FORD DEALER, NO KNOW ISSUES LIKE THIS HAS HAPPENED, SO I WAS TOLD. SO MAYBE THIS WAS AN 1 OFF EVENT,,,, RIGHT WRONG SEVERAL MONTH LATER, SAME THING HAPPEN, DIFFERENT LOCATION. ALTHOUGH I CATCH BEFORE I GOT OUT. THIS TIME I TOOK A VIDEO OF THE ROLL BACK, AND THE SNIFTER IN PARK, AND THE KEYS OUT

NHTSA ID

11097017

Incident

Nov 11, 2017

Mileage

130,000 mi

DRIVING AT NIGHT, TRIED TO USE CRUISE CONTROL (DIDN'T COME ON) THEN OVERDRIVE "ON" BUTTON STARTED FLASHING, THEN SPEEDOMETER BEGAN BOUNCING. LATER TRUCK WOULD NOT GO OFF WHEN KEY WAS TURNED TO OFF POSITION. NEXT DAY A LOW BEEP WAS NOTED. REPAIR SHOP WITH SCANNER SAID IT WAS AN AIRBAG WARNING BEEP. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE HEADLIGHTS CAME ON AT NIGHT ALTHOUGH THE KEY WAS TO THE OFF POSITION AND OUT OF THE TRUCK. SUBSEQUENTLY ALL SYMPTOMS STOPPED AND NORMAL OPERATION RETURNED UNTIL A RAINY DAY. SAME SYMPTOMS. DAY FOLLOWING THAT, NORMAL OPERATION. MECHANIC STATES THAT SYMPTOMS NEED TO BE OCCURRING TO MAKE PROPER DIAGNOSIS.

NHTSA ID

11091426

Incident

Apr 12, 2018

Mileage

220,221 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-250. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A STOP SIGN, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD ABNORMAL POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY REPLACED THE SPARK PLUG TAPS AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANIFOLD WAS NOT REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ID

11083636

Incident

Apr 1, 2015

Mileage

128,000 mi

5 TH EJECTED SPARK PLUG GOING DOWN ROAD AT 45 MPH

NHTSA ID

11046199

Incident

Nov 14, 2017

Mileage

137,000 mi

SPARK PLUG EJECTIONS

NHTSA ID

11032550

Incident

Nov 20, 2016

Mileage

55,000 mi

THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS ARE A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THEY USED INFERIOR QUALITY GASKETS WHICH RESULT IN ENGINE MALFUNCTION. THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT PERTAINS TO A 2001 FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY 5.4L V8. I AM AWARE THIS ISSUE BECAME PREVALENT IN 1999 FORD F-250 MODELS AND THIS ISSUE CARRIED FORWARD TO 2001. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE FOR 1999 MODELS - $4,500 PER UNIT TO REPLACE COMPLETE ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WHERE THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT WAS MOST PREVALENT WITH CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS. FORD DID NOT RECTIFY THIS SAFETY ISSUE AS IT PERSISTED IN THEIR 2001 MODELS. A RECALL IS NECESSARY TO RECTIFY THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. HTTP://WWW.AUTONEWS.COM/ARTICLE/20020401/SUB/204010753/FORD-HITS-ANOTHER-QUALITY-SNAG

NHTSA ID

11031820

Incident

Aug 1, 2017

Mileage

140,000 mi

FOR THE R4100 TRANSMISSION. THE EXTERNAL TRANSMISSION FILTER CAME APART AND DESTROYED MY TRANSMISSION (FORD PART # XC3Z-7B155-BA) DEFINITELY NOT A 30,000 MILE FILTER. NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS,OF WHAT I HAVE FOUND. THERE WAS A EASY 80,000 LEFT IN THE TRANS IF LINES AND OIL PORTS WEREN'T PLUGGED FROM FILTER FIBERS. #2 THE PAINT CANCER (WHITE) IS THERE ANY RECALLS OR HELP WITH THAT?

NHTSA ID

11020228

Incident

Aug 21, 2017

Mileage

148,746 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-250. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE. THE DRIVER WAS FATALLY INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS BENT AND OVERLAPPED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS ISSUE MAY HAVE CAUSED THE CRASH. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 109,000. UPDATED 04/04/17 LJ *CN

NHTSA ID

10954586

Incident

Jan 11, 2017

Mileage

109,000 mi

MY RECENTLY PURCHASED VEE RUBBER A/T TIRE BLEW UP WITH A LOUD BANG SUNDAY MORNING PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THANKFULLY, AND NOT ON THE ROAD. I JUST BOUGHT FOUR TIRES FROM SIMPLE TIRE ON 07/07/2016 AND ONLY PUT 200 MILES ON THEM. IT APPEARS TO ME LIKE AN AIR LEAK DEVELOPED NEAR THE TREAD/SIDEWALL AREA AND DELAMINATED THE SIDEWALL FROM THE INNER LINER AND BLEW OUT NEAR THE BEAD. TIRES: VEE RUBBER TAIGA A/T LT285/75R-16 R 126/123R THE ONLY DATE CODE MARKING I SEE IS 0316?

NHTSA ID

10903628

Incident

Sep 4, 2016

Mileage

67,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-250. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE FUEL TANK PARTIALLY DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000. UDATED 09/30/16*LJ *TR

NHTSA ID

10895338

Incident

Aug 12, 2016

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-250. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS UNLATCHED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.

NHTSA ID

10893357

Incident

May 30, 2016

Mileage

135,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING BACK HOME FROM SHOPPING MY BRAKES (ANTI-LOCK STYLE) LOCKED UP AND VIOLENTLY SHOOK MY VEHICLE ALL OVER THE ROAD I WAS DRIVING ON. I HAD LIMITED OR NO CONTROL AT ALL OF THIS INCIDENT. WAS DOING ABOUT 40 MPH. TRUCK ACTED AS IF BRAKES WERE APPLIED ON AND OFF 50/60 TIMES SO FAST THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TO DO BUT HANG ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL. AT ONE POINT I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO FLIP OVER AS THE TRUCK WENT SIDEWAYS. STEERING WENT FROM SIDE TO SIDE AT FIRST, THEN A CONSTANT PULL TO THE RIGHT. I THOUGHT ONE OF MY FRONT TIRES WAS BLOWN OUT. SLOWED DOWN ENOUGH TO GAIN SOME CONTROL BUT IT TOOK MY TRUCK OVER A CURB AND STOPPED ON A SIDEWALK AND SOME GRASS. WHEN I DID APPLY THE BRAKES NOTHING HAPPENED UNTIL I WAS ON THE SIDEWALK AND GOING VERY SLOW BY THIS TIME. GOT OUT AND INSPECTED MY TRUCK FOR DAMAGE BUT SAW NOTHING. WAS ONLY ABOUT .3 MILES FROM HOME SO I STARTED MY VEHICLE AND LIMED IT HOME AT WALKING SPEED. WHEN I TRIED TO GO A LITTLE FASTER IT WOULD START JUMPING AND SHAKING AGAIN. GOT IT HOME AND THAT IS WHEN I NOTICED THE ABS LIGHT WAS ON. IT WAS NOT ON WHEN I STARTED HOME FROM THE STORE. THIS HAPPENED SO FAST THAT I AM GLAD NO ONE WAS IN ANOTHER LANE. THIS HAPPENED ON A 3 LANE EACH DIRECTION ROAD. ALL THIS OCCURRED ON JULY 4TH AT ABOUT 10:47 A.M.

NHTSA ID

10882574

Incident

Jul 4, 2016

Mileage

102,000 mi