RoadVitals

2001 Ford F-250 Transmission Problems

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

Data refreshed

Transmission 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.
25
Latest Feb 1, 2007
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.
11%
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.
2
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 automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 25 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 transmission

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

Transmission
Filed Feb 1, 2007

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A FORD F-250 SUPER DUTY, AND STATED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN A PARKING LOT HE STEPPED ON THE CLUTCH AND THE PEDAL FELL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR.*AK THE STUD TO WHICH THE CYLINDER CONNECTED TO SHEARED OFF. UPDATED 03/02/07. *JB

NHTSA ID
10181360
Incident
Jan 30, 2007
Mileage
124,626 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 1, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN 1ST GEAR AT TIMES AND WOULD NOT UPSHIFT UNLESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS RELEASE. THIS OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE WAS PERMANENT GRADUALLY WORSENED. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE NATURE OF THE FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10172401
Incident
Sep 1, 2005
Mileage
79,936 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 23, 2005

THE CLUTCH CYLINDER FAILED AND ENGAGED THE CLUTCH. THIS MADE THE VEHICLE TAKE OFF, SOMETIMES SENDING THE CONSUMER INTO THE INTERSECTION OF TRAFFIC. THE CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND IT CONTINUES TO PERFORM THE SAME WAY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10112931
Incident
Jul 7, 2003
Mileage
32,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 15, 2004

THE SPRAG CLUTCH IS BREAKING ACROSS IN TWO SECTIONS. *MR THE MATERIAL WAS MADE OUT OF A IRON/POWDER MIXTURE. THE VEHICLE WAS IN NORMAL USE WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE CONSUMER FELT THAT THE REPAIR SHOULD BE UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO THE LOW MILEAGE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10082059
Incident
Dec 31, 2003
Mileage
32,730 mi
Transmission
Filed Feb 12, 2004

FAILURE TO REPAIR APPARENT DEFECT @4000 MILES UNDER FORD'S BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. (NAR) *PH *CB

NHTSA ID
10058096
Incident
Dec 1, 2003
Mileage
4,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 9, 2003

FORD HAD INSTALLED A WRONG PART IN THE TRANSMISSION. IT WAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, AND FORD PUT IN A CLUTCH THAT DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID
10050325
Mileage
46,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 12, 2003

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IS NOT SHIFTING CORRECTLY CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK. A TRANSMISSION TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE SPRAG FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION MUST BE REBUILT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA ID
10046745
Mileage
46,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 22, 2003

WHILE DRIVING UPHILL AT 15-20 MPH THE DRIVER HEARD A SOUND COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, THEN THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARD. AFTER STOPPING, THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT TO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE A CLUTCH MECHANISM INSIDE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. *NLM *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10040120
Incident
Sep 4, 2003
Mileage
16,550 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 6, 2003

CONSUMER SAID THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTING IMPROPERLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND DEALER INDICATED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10042327
Mileage
35,800 mi
Powertrain (other)Transmission
Filed Aug 22, 2003

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS MAKING A NOISE WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER,WHO REPLACED THE DRIVELINE. 1200 MILES LATER, TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10034384
Mileage
36,316 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 18, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE CLUTCH BROKE. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED IT THREE TIMES BUT THE PROBLEM RE-OCCURRED. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10017198
Incident
Apr 18, 2003
Transmission
Filed Oct 8, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING CAN FEEL TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. CONTACTED DEALER. TRANSMISSION FAILING. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *MR

NHTSA ID
8020352
Incident
Sep 8, 2002
Transmission
Filed Sep 7, 2002

PREVIOUS FAILURE (2ND) REPORTED UNDER ODI#759329 ON SAME SUBSYSTEM -MARCH 2002. *AK

NHTSA ID
766820
Incident
Sep 6, 2002
Transmission
Filed Jul 9, 2002

WITHOUT WARNING THE HYDRAULIC LINE FROM THE MASTER CLUTCH CYLINDER ?TERM CAME OFF AND RENDERING THE CLUTCH COMPLETELY USELESS (PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND STAYED THERE). WAS LUCKILY IN A PARKING LOT JUST ABOUT TO PULL ONTO A HIGHWAY WITH A 4000 LB TRAILER. REALIZED HOW DANGEROUS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN. FORREST CATE FORD IN LAFAYETTE, GA SAYS THE PART THEY ARE REPLACING IT WITH IS UPDATED SO THAT THE LINE DOESN'T DO THAT. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. IF THAT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY WITH ZERO WARNING, I COULD HAVE HAD PROBLEMS STOPPING QUICKLY OR CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE. I WAS LUCKY BUT WANT NO ONE ELSE TO BE UNLUCKY. THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ID
763981
Incident
Jul 8, 2002
Interior & seatsSteeringSuspension+2 more
Filed Apr 3, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A SQUEAK IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN MAKING TURNS, ALSO THE STEERING WAS HARD TO ADJUST ON TILT WHEEL.*JB

NHTSA ID
564869
Incident
Dec 21, 2001
Transmission
Filed Mar 13, 2002

FIRST HYDRAULIC CYLINDER FAILURE OCCURRED (WHILE LIVING IN FL) ON 06 JUN 2001 (ODO: 2188 MILES) AT APPROX 30MPH. LOST USE OF CLUTCH WHILE SHIFTING BETWEEN 2ND & 3RD GEAR. HYDRAULIC CYLINDER REPLACED BY ORVILLE BECKFORD FORD UNDER WARRANTY. SECOND OCCURRENCE IS DESCRIBED EARLIER IN THIS REPORT --OCCURRED AFTER MOVING TO TX. TO BE REPAIRED BY GILLESPIE FORD, SAN ANTONIO, TX.*AK

NHTSA ID
759329
Incident
Mar 12, 2002
Transmission
Filed Mar 4, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 55MPH AND HITTING PASSING GEAR, VEHICLE WENT INTO IDLE, IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER STATES RECENTLY WHEN ATTEMPTING A LANE CHANGE AT 70 MPH, THE RPMS DROPPED TO 600, CONSUMER PUMPED THE ACCELERATOR TWICE BEFORE THE ENGINE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AGAIN, CONSUMER STATES THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *SLC

NHTSA ID
8004883
Incident
Mar 2, 2002
Transmission
Filed Feb 8, 2002

TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. WHILE DRIVING TRANSMISSION BURNED UP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

NHTSA ID
8003787
Incident
Jan 1, 2002
Transmission
Filed Feb 7, 2002
Fire reported

WE HAD THIS TRUCK INTO A DEALERSHIP 9 DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRE FOR WHAT WE THOUGHT WERE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, THE DEALERSHIP FAILED TO FIND ANY PROBLEM WITH OUR TRUCK AND ADVISED US THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT PREVENTED US FROM DRIVING IT. 9 DAYS LATER WE WERE EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AND FELT THE NEED TO GET ANOTHER OPINION SO WE WERE IN ROUTE TO A DEALERSHIP AND DID NOT MAKE IT DUE TO THE TRUCK FAILING AND CATCHING FIRE. TRANSMISSION FLUID ESCAPED THE FILLER TUBE AND WENT ON THE EHAUST MANIFOLD WHICH CAUSED A FLASH FIRE. WE WERE FORTUNATE TO GET OURSELVES AND OUR SMALL CHILDREN OUT OF THE TRUCK IN TIME. THE DEALERSHIP PRIOR TO THE FIRE SAID THAT IF WE WERE IN FACT HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS THAT WE WOULD HAVE SEEN THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT ON THE SHIFTER COLUMN FLASHING, THIS NEVER OCCURRED WHICH LEADS US TO BELIEVE THAT THERE MAY BE A FAILURE IN THE COMPUTER OF THIS TRUCK THAT THEY REFUSED TO FIND. WE PLEADED WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT THIS DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE WHAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEMS WE WERE EXPERIENCING AND THEY REFUSED. NOW WE HAVE A TRUCK THAT HAS BEEN AT A DEALERSHIP FOR ALMOST 90 DAYS AND THEY HAVE YET TO FIND THE CAUSE OF FIRE. AND DUE TO THE FIRE FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO THEIR PRODUCT. THEY DENIED HELPING US AND REFERRED US TO OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. WE HAVE INCURRED A DRASTIC FINANCIAL LOSS DUE TO THIS AND FEAR BEING PUT BACK IN THIS VEHICHLE KNOWING THAT IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN, BECAUS THE INITIAL CAUSE OF FIRE HAS NOT BEEN FOUND. WE HAVE FAUGHT A HARD FIGHT WITH ALLSTATE INSURANCE TO GET THEM TO FIX OUR TRUCK PROPERLY TO NO AVIAL. WE KNOW OF OTHERS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND WE FEEL FORD NEEDS TO PAY ATTENTION TO THIS MECAHNICAL FAILURE, DUE TO FAULTY PRODUCTION OF THESE TRUCKS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS.*AK

NHTSA ID
757924
Incident
Nov 13, 2001
Transmission
Filed Feb 1, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS CLUTCH BECAME DISENGAGED FROM MECHANISM THAT IT WAS ATTACHED TO. DRIVER COULD NOT GET OUT OF GEAR. DRIVER FELT THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE. DEALER REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER AND CLUTCH. *AK

NHTSA ID
8003423
EngineSuspensionTransmission
Filed Jan 26, 2002
Fire reported

UPON ENTERING THE HIGHWAY, THE TRUCK SUDDENLY STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS, THE R.P.M. GAUGE STARTED FLUCTUATING FROM 1000 TO 3000 R.P.M., IT SQUEALED AND JERKED INTO GEAR AND A POPPING NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE FRONT END. THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEM, BUT HE SUGGESTED THAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CLUTCH FAN SLIPPING. CONSUMER EXPERIENCED AGAIN WHAT HE FELT WAS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS BUT THE LIGHT NEVER FLASHED ON THE OVERDRIVE COLUMN SO TAKING NOTE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND CONTINUED DRIVING. THEN THE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING ON THE OVERDRIVE COLUMN, WITHIN SECONDS, CONSUMER NOTICED A LARGE PUFF OF BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE TRUCK, THE R.P.M. GAUGE WENT TO BELOW 1000, THE TRUCK LOST ALL POWER, AND THE CAB STARTED FILLING WITH SMOKE AND FIRE WAS ESCALATING UNDER THE TRUCK AND HOOD. POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE. *YD

NHTSA ID
564157
Incident
Nov 13, 2001
BrakesTransmission
Filed Oct 16, 2001

AUTOMATIC FAILS TO SHIFT INTO LOWER GEARS FOR ENGINE BRAKING. WHEN DECENDING A STEEP GRADE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILS TO APPLY. THIS HAS THE SAME EFFECT OF PUTTING THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. WHEN DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS IN THAT IT REQUIRES THE BRAKES TO DO THE WORK OF SLOWING THE TRUCK. IF THE BRAKES OVERHEAT THEN THE TRUCK WILL "RUN AWAY". *AK

NHTSA ID
753301
Incident
Feb 6, 2001
Transmission
Filed Jul 10, 2001

FROM THE BEGINNIG THERE WAS TROUBLE WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE (VERY LONG CRANK). THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AT LEAST 3 TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WAS NEVER SOLVED. THEN A FEW MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF ABOUT 70 MPH, THE ENTIRE SYSTEM SHUT OFF (ENGINE, ELECTRIC, EVERYTHING) AND AFTER A FEW TERRIFYING SECONDS IT WOULD ALL KICK BACK ON. WHEN THE ENGINE KICKED BACK ON THERE WAS A MAJOR JOLT TO THE ENGINE (AND TO THE PASSENGERS). THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES EVEN AFTER THE TRUCK WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICING TO "CORRECT" THE PROBLEM. LASTLY, WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM VACATION, WE NOTICED THAT THE TRUCK WAS SHIFTING HARD, LUNGING RATHER THAN SHIFTING SMOOTHLY. AFTER STOPPING FOR A TOLL AND THEN PROCEEDING THE ENGINE ALMOST CUT OUT AND WOULD NOT GO PASSED 2ND GEAR. WE WERE IN A VERY BAD SECTION OF TOWN AND THERE WAS NO WAY IN HELL WE WERE GOING TO STOP. SO WE DROVE SLOWLY TO A RELATIVES HOUSE THAT WAS CLOSEST TO WHERE WE WERE. WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT IN THE PAST AND WERE NOT AT ALL SATISFIED WITH THEIR HANDLING OF THE SITUATION. ALL THEY DID WAS CALL THE DEALERSHIP AND RELAY THE SAME INFORMATION WE HAD ALREADY GIVEN THEM. NOW WE ARE BEING TOLD THAT FORD MUST PUT IN A WHOLE NEW "DIFFERENT" TRANSMISSION, WHY? THEY MUST ALREADY BE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BECAUSE WE WERE TOLD BY ONE OF THEIR MECHANICS "YEAH, WE HAD A COUPLE OF OTHER TRUCKS COME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY WERE DIESELS TOO". HMMM.*AK

NHTSA ID
748265
Incident
Jul 1, 2001
Transmission
Filed May 22, 2001

HOSE BLEW OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF CLUTCH MASTER CYCLINDER DUE TO THE KEEPER PIN MISSING. THIS CAUSED THE CLUTCH PEDAL TO GO TO THE FLOOR AND REMAIN THERE. IF THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN OBSTICLE IN FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT.

NHTSA ID
745709
Incident
May 16, 2001
Transmission
Filed Apr 3, 2001

CLUTCH HOSE LINE THAT RUNS FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER DOWN TO THE SLAVE CYLINDER MELTED ACROSS THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD THEREBY RELEASING ALL THE HYDRAULIC FLUID, UPON SHIFTING OUT OF OVERDRIVE DUE TO THE TRAILER AND THE GRADE ON THE FREEWAY, THE CLUTCH PEDAL STAYED ON THE FLOORBOARD OF VEHICLE RESULTING IN VEHICLE EFFECTIVELY BEING STUCK IN NEUTRAL. *SLC

NHTSA ID
884944
Incident
Mar 31, 2001

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.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .