RoadVitals

2001 Ford F-250 Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Jul 22, 2020
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
5%
of 220 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
6
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2001 Ford F-250 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Jul 22, 2020

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
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 20, 2019
Fire reported

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
Electrical
Filed May 2, 2018

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
Electrical
Filed Apr 4, 2016
Fire reported

THE TRUCK BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE PARKED. IT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR OVER 13 HOURS AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. IT DESTROYED ONE CAR ON EITHER SIDE OF IT. THE FIRE INVESTIGATOR COULD NOT SAY EXACTLY WHAT CAUSED THE FIRE AT THE TIME, BUT MADE ME AWARE OF A RECALL ON THAT YEAR OF FORD VEHICLES INVOLVING THE SPEED CONTROL SAFETY DEACTIVATION SWITCH. INFORMATION ON THE RECALL SAYS THAT THE WIRE COULD HEAT UP AND CAUSE A FIRE. THE TRUCK ALONG WITH TWO OTHER VEHICLES WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED IN THE FIRE.

NHTSA ID
10853238
Incident
Apr 3, 2016
Mileage
197,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Jul 28, 2014

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ALONG A HILLY, WINDING ROAD THE ENGINE OF MY 2001 F-250 DIESEL 4X4 TRUCK UNEXPECTEDLY SHUT OFF. I LOST STEERING AND BRAKING. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ON THE DASH. THERE WAS NO PRIOR INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE OR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. I'VE HAD THE TRUCK FOR 12 YEARS AT THE TIME AND NEVER EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEM LIKE THIS. I WAS VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET THE TRUCK TO THE ROAD'S SHOULDER. AFTER THE TRUCK STOPPED I PUT THE SHIFT INTO PARK. THE KEY WAS STILL IN THE RUN POSITION. I SIMPLY TURNED IT TO THE START POSITION AND THE ENGINE STARTED RIGHT UP. I TOOK IT IMMEDIATELY TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WHO RAN DIAGNOSTICS ON THE TRUCK. THEY FOUND NO INDICATION OF A PROBLEM OTHER THAN ONE BATTERY'S VOLTAGE WAS SLIGHTLY LOW, BUT NOT OUT OF ACCEPTABLE RANGE. I REPLACED BOTH BATTERIES AS THEY WERE ALMOST 3 YEARS OLD. SO FAR, I'VE NOT EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AGAIN. *JS

NHTSA ID
10617009
Incident
May 2, 2013
Mileage
94,703 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 11, 2012
Fire reported

WE BOUGHT THE TRUCK ON 06/17/07 AND NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEM WITH IT. THE DAY BEFORE THE INCIDENT I DROVE THE TRUCK AND PARK IT AT 6PM, TAKE THE KEY OUT AND PUT IT UNDER THE MATE. THE NEXT DAY AT ABOUT 10:30AM OR 11 AM I SMILED SOME THING BURNING, I LOOKED OVER AND SAW A CLOUD OF SMOKE COMING FROM THE TRUCK, I TRIED TO BUT THE FIRE OUT WITH THE FIRE EXTINGUISHER, BUT NO LUCK. THE FIRE DONE SPREAD EVERY WHERE. CALLED 911 AND BY THE TIME THEY GOT THERE THE FIRE GOT THE TRUCK AND THE SIDE OF A HOUSE THAT WAS PARKED NEXT TO IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10447517
Incident
Feb 9, 2012
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Apr 1, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-250. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE GENERAL ELECTRIC MODULE WOULD BECOME WET AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD ALSO CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO START INDEPENDENTLY, THE LIGHTS WOULD FLASH AND THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD ILLUMINATE INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND MADE A COVER FOR THE PART. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS A LEAK COMING FROM THE WINDSHIELD THAT WAS ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER THE GENERAL ELECTRONIC MODULE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 240,000.

NHTSA ID
10393940
Incident
Jun 10, 2008
Mileage
180,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 2, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F250. HE STATED THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CONTINUED TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HIS INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY CHANGED THE FUSE. IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARD, THE FUSE BLEW. THE FUSE WAS CHANGED AGAIN AND SHORTLY AFTER, WHILE PUTTING THE VEHICLE INTO THE PARK POSITION, THE FUSE MADE A "POP" NOISE AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. NO FURTHER REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE, TO DATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 62,436. UPDATED 4/7/2010 *CN UPDATED 06/28/10*JB

NHTSA ID
10315844
Incident
Dec 28, 2009
Mileage
62,436 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 26, 2006
Fire reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLE, A FIRE ERUPTED WHICH WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FRONT UNDERHOOD. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNALS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION, THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH AND WIRING FOR THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS OBSERVED TO BE COMPLETELY BURNT TO THE GROUND. A FIRE REPORT WAS TAKEN# 06-017205. ALSO, THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WOULD NOT OFFER ANY RESOLUTION WHILE THIS CASE WAS UNDER INVESTIGATION.

NHTSA ID
10169341
Incident
Aug 17, 2006
Mileage
63,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Jul 7, 2005
Fire reported

WE WERE NOTIFIED BY POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT OFFICIALS THAT THERE WAS A FIRE IN OUR YARD. OUR FORD 250 WAS ON FIRE AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR AROUND 4 HOURS. UPON INVESTIGATION THE FIRE MARSHALL INDICATED THE LOCATION OF WHERE THE FIRE BEGAN AND PRESUMED IT WAS THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH BASED ON ITS LOCATION. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED AND CAUGHT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON FIRE NEXT TO IT.

NHTSA ID
10127808
Incident
Jul 4, 2005
Mileage
124,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Feb 3, 2005
Fire reported

FIRE IN FORD F-250 PICK-UP TRUCK. PARKED IN GARAGE FOR ABOUT 2 HOURS. OWNER SAW INITIAL FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON DRIVER'S SIDE. REMAINS OF CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WERE FOUND AND X-RAYED; INTERNAL CONTACTS WERE SPLATTERED FROM ELECTRICAL ARCING. FUSE #13 WAS A 20 AMP DEVICE AND WAS THE ONLY ONE BLOWN. ACCORDING TO FORD WIRING DIAGRAMS, THAT CIRCUIT FED THE CDS. THE OWNER REPORTED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING LAST SUMMER. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD HIM IT NEEDED A NEW CC MODULE AND WOULD COST $150.00. OWNER ELECTED NOT TO SPEND THE MONEY AT THAT TIME. *JB

NHTSA ID
10109806
Incident
Dec 29, 2004
Mileage
52,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 21, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND PULLED OVER. CONSUMER SAW THE SPARK PLUG WAS DEFECTIVE, AND DROVE HOME. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10093991
Incident
Aug 10, 2004
Mileage
68,200 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .