VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2001 Ford F-550 Sd
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 29 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Ford F-550 Sd, most frequently naming the fuel system, tires & wheels and electrical categories. 7 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 7 NHTSA investigations name it; and 46 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jun 2001 | 3 | 3 |
| Sep 2001 | 2 | 5 |
| Dec 2001 | 1 | 6 |
| Apr 2002 | 1 | 7 |
| May 2002 | 1 | 8 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 9 |
| Dec 2002 | 1 | 10 |
| Jan 2005 | 1 | 11 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 12 |
| Apr 2006 | 1 | 13 |
| Nov 2007 | 1 | 14 |
| Sep 2008 | 1 | 15 |
| Nov 2008 | 1 | 16 |
| Dec 2009 | 1 | 17 |
| Aug 2010 | 1 | 18 |
| Apr 2011 | 1 | 19 |
| May 2011 | 3 | 22 |
| Jun 2011 | 3 | 25 |
| Nov 2011 | 1 | 26 |
| Apr 2017 | 1 | 27 |
| Jan 2019 | 1 | 28 |
| Nov 2023 | 1 | 29 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Fuel system1337.1%
- Tires & wheels822.9%
- Electrical25.7%
- Driver assistance25.7%
- Powertrain (other)25.7%
- Transmission25.7%
- Engine25.7%
- Other / unspecified12.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
7 campaigns cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govWHEELS:HUB
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
ENGINE STALLING
IN A DECEMBER 3, 2007 LETTER, FORD ADVISED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE CAM POSITION SENSOR (CPS) IN APPROXIMATELY 1.2 MILLION SUBJECT VEHICLES TO ADDRESS REPORTS OF ENGINE STALLING.A NEW DESIGN CPS WITH IMPROVED PERFORMANCE AND DURABILITY WILL BE INSTALLED AS A REMEDY.OWNER NOTIFICATIONS WILL BEGIN IN DECEMBER 2007. THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE DURABLE, FULL-SIZED, MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS COMMONLY USED FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES, RESCUE/EMERGENCY RESPONSE, AND COMMERCIAL OR RECREATIONAL TOWING.CPS FAILURE IS COMPARABLE TO UNEXPECTEDLY TURNING THE KEY OFF SINCE THE SIGNAL IT PRODUCES IS VITAL TO THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEM.CPS SIGNAL LOSS TERMINATES FUEL INJECTION RESULTING IN AN ENGINE STALL.ONCE STALLED, THE ENGINE MAY RESTART RIGHT AWAY, OR MAY RESTART AFTER A DELAY (TYPICALLY 5 TO 10 MINUTES), OR MAY NOT RESTART AT ALL.IN ADDITION TO EXPOSING THE DRIVER AND OTHER MOTORISTS TO CRASH RISK DUE TO LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER OR VEHICLE DISABLEMENT, ENGINE STALLING ALSO EFFECTS THE POWER ASSISTED STEERING AND BRAKING. THROUGH CONSUMER INTERVIEWS, ODI DETERMINED THAT CPS FAILURES OCCURRED WITHOUT ANY FORM OF WARNING, AT ANY VEHICLE SPEED (50% AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS), AND UNDER ANY DRIVING CONDITION, SUCH AS ACCELERATING.CONSUMERS REPORTED THAT ABOUT A THIRD OF THE VEHICLES FAILED TO RESTART, WITH ANOTHER THIRD REPORTING DELAYED RESTARTING.HALF THE VEHICLES THAT DID RESTART EXPERIENCED ANOTHER STALL ON THE SAME OR A SUBSEQUENT DRIVE CYCLE (BEFORE CPS REPLACEMENT) RE-EXPOSING THOSE CONSUMERS TO THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH A STALLING EVENT.IN THEIR VOQ REPORTS, HALF OF THE ODI COMPLAINANTS DESCRIBED DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE DUE TO LOSE OF POWER ASSIST SYSTEMS, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO WERE TOWING AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE ONE ALLEGED INJURY INCIDENT OCCURRED IN AN INTERSECTION WHEN A SUBJECT VEHICLE STALLED WHILE TURNING ACROSS ONCOMING LANES OF TRAFFIC.ALTHOUGH UNSUBSTANTIATED, THE COMPLAINANT ALLEGED AN INJURY TO A CHILD OCCUPANT DURING ODI'S INTERVIEW.THE OTHER CRASH ALLEGATIONS MOSTLY INVOLVED LOW SPEED, LOSS OF CONTROL INCIDENTS OFTEN CAUSED BY LACK OF POWER ASSIST; NO INJURIES ARE REPORTED IN THESE INCIDENTS, AND PROPERTY DAMAGE, IF ANY, WAS MINIMAL.CONSUMERS ALSO REPORTED OTHER INCIDENTS WITH SIGNIFICANT SAFETY RISKS, SUCH AS DISABLEMENT IN A LANE OR ON A SHOULDER OF A HIGH-SPEED ROADWAY OR INTERSTATE, OR EXTENDED DISABLEMENT IN REMOTE AREAS DURING SEVERE WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE POPULATION ABOVE IS FORD'S ESTIMATE OF THE 1.4 MILLION SUBJECT VEHICLES PRODUCED THAT ARE CURRENTLY REGISTERED.THE FORD COMPLAINT AND WARRANTY COUNTS NOTED ABOVE ARE CURRENT AS OF FORD'S LAST SUBMISSION DATED JUNE 21, 2007; THEY DO NOT INCLUDE F-450, F-550, OR ECONOLINE COUNTS AS THESE PRODUCTS WERE NOT FORMALLY WITHIN SCOPE OF THE INVESTIGATION WHEN FAILURE INFORMATION WAS REQUESTED.WARRANTY DATA ANALYSIS INDICATES THAT ABOUT HALF THE CLAIMS INVOLVED A STALL WHILE DRIVING EVENT ( FORD'S ASSESSMENT) AND THAT POOR CPS DURABILITY WAS A LONGSTANDING CONCERN.FORD REPORTED THAT THE NEW CPS DESIGN SHOULD MEET OR EXCEED THEIR 10 YEAR, 150K MILE LIFE EXPECTANCY DESIGN REQUIREMENT.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
EA05-005 IS CLOSED WITH FORD?S ACTIONS IN RECALLS 05V-017, 05V-388, AND 06V-286, RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 6.7 MILLION VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES (SCDS).THE BRAKE SYSTEMS IN THESE RECALLED VEHICLES GENERATE A VACUUM THAT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE SCDS TO FAIL AND, IN CERTAIN SWITCH INSTALLATION ORIENTATIONS, CATCH FIRE.FORD IS ALSO INCLUDING THE ENTIRE POPULATION OF 1998 EXPLORERS.FORD HAS INFORMED ODI THAT TESTING TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURES IN THE 1998 EXPLORERS WILL CONTINUE AFTER THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.ODI BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLES EXHIBITING THE FACTORS CAUSING SCDS FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THIS REPORT CORRELATE WELL WITH THE OBSERVED FAILURE RATES ON THESE VEHICLES BY MODEL AND MODEL YEAR.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST IN THE NON-RECALLED VEHICLES MANUFACTURED WITH SCDS THAT ARE NOT INCLUDED IN FORD?S RECALLS.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE NON-RECALLED POPULATION FOR INCIDENCE OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.SEE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT FOR DETAILS.
FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
DURING THE INITIAL RECALL CAMPAIGN IN 2001, THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE INSPECTED BY FORD DEALERSHIPS USING A TEST TOOL THAT WOULD DETECT A DEFECTIVE FRONT SEAT OUTBOARD SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY.APPROXIMATELY ONE MILLION VEHICLES PASSED THE INSPECTION TEST FOR ONE OR BOTH FRONT BUCKLES.SUBSEQUENT TO THE RECALL SERVICE ACTION, ODI RECEIVED 15 CONSUMER REPORTS ALLEGING THAT A PASSED INSPECTION BUCKLE SUBSEQUENTLY FAILED TO LATCH OR INADVERTENTLY UNLATCHED DURING USE.IN ADDITION, FORD HAS IDENTIFIED 543 OWNER AND FIELD REPORTS ALLEGING BUCKLE FAILURE SUBSEQUENT TO PASSING THE INSPECTION TEST.FORD TESTED AND EXAMINED OVER 100 WARRANTY-RETURNED BUCKLES AND FOUND THAT 44% OF THE BUCKLES HAD NO PROBLEM OR A CONDITION NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL INSPECTION (NON-LATCH RELATED BUCKLE DAMAGE OR FOREIGN CONTAMINATION).WARRANTY CLAIMS WERE HIGHEST DURING THE 18-MONTH PERIOD AFTER THE START OF THE RECALL (JULY 2001) AND HAVE BEEN DECLINING DURING THE PAST 24 MONTHS.OVER THE PAST 12 MONTHS, FORD HAS RECEIVED APPROXIMATELY 12 WARRANTY CLAIMS PER MONTH OUT OF A VEHICLE POPULATION OF ABOUT ONE MILLION.COMPLAINTS COUNTS ARE ALSO DECREASING.DURING THE PAST SEVEN MONTHS, ODI HAS RECEIVED ONLY TWO COMPLAINTS. A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE WARRANTED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT DOES NOT EXIST.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.
FRONT SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
UNDER RECALL CAMPAIGN (01V227), FORD RECALLED APPROXIMATELY 1.3 MILLION VEHICLES TO INSPECT AND IF NECESSARY REPLACE THE FRONT DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE.APPROXIMATELY 1.1 MILLION OWNERS RESPONDED BY TAKING THEIR VEHICLES TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION OF THE BUCKLE USING A SPECIALIZED BUCKLE TEST TOOL.FORD REPORTED THAT 829,927 VEHICLES HAD BOTH BUCKLES PASS THE TOOL TEST AND ANOTHER 167,336 VEHICLES HAD ONE BUCKLE PASS.ODI AND FORD RECEIVED COMPLAINTS ALLEGING SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILURE SHORTLY AFTER PASSING THE ORIGINAL RECALL INSPECTION SERVICE.COMPLAINANTS ALLEGED THAT THE BUCKLE FAILED BY EITHER NOT LATCHING OR FALSE-LATCHING (PARTIAL ENGAGEMENT OF THE LATCH TO THE LATCH PLATE).A FALSE-LATCHED BUCKLE MAY RELEASE WITH MINOR MOVEMENT OR IMPACT AGAINST THE BUCKLE HOUSING INCLUDING INADVERTENT RELEASE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.ODI IS UPGRADING THIS RECALL QUERY TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA05-004) TO FURTHER ANALYZE THE FIELD PERFORMANCE OF THOSE VEHICLES THAT FORD DEALERS PASSED (ONE OR BOTH BUCKLES) USING FORD'S INSPECTION TEST (997,263 VEHICLES).
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
I was waiting at a red light and my truck started smoking and caught fire
- NHTSA ID
- 11557107
- Incident
- Nov 27, 2023
FUEL TANK DELAMINATION LEADING TO STALLING AND EVENTUAL REPLACEMENT OF TANK AT MY COST.
- NHTSA ID
- 11166044
- Incident
- Oct 20, 2018
- Mileage
- 150,000 mi
SEAT BELT WILL NOT STAY LATCHED WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE. APPEARS TO BE LATCHED BUT WHEN VEHICLE ENGAGES THE SLIGHTEST BUMP ON THE ROAD THE BUCKLE RELEASES. I KNOW THIS WILL NOT HOLD IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. RECALL WAS PERFORMED IN 2002, WHICH WAS JUST AN INSPECTION AT THAT TIME BUT REPLACEMENT WAS NOT PERFORMED AT THAT TIME.
- NHTSA ID
- 10978998
- Incident
- Apr 17, 2017
- Mileage
- 32,895 mi
THIS BEING 2ND DIESEL FORD TRUCK THAT HAS HAD SAME ISSUE....LOSING POWER , BLOWING SMOKE. ON THIS 2001 , I HAVE REPLACED NUMEROUS FILTERS, DRAINED TANK TO CLEAN ,WIRE HARNESSES,FUEL INJECTORS ONLY TO REPLACE MOTOR WITHIN A MONTH OR SO DUE TO CONTAMINATION TO SYSTEM ALSO TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED BEFORE NEW MOTOR WHICH I FEEL COULD OF BEEN DUE TO STRAIN ON VEHICLE....NEEDLESS TO SAY THE TRUCK HAS STARTED THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN.I HAVE SANK SO MUCH INTO IT I'D NEVER GET MY MONEY OUT OF IT IF SOLD.I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE AND ALL THE MONEY PEOPLE HAVE PUT OUT TO CORRECT THE ISSUES OCCURRING, WITH HUNDREDS OF OTHERS. THIS ISSUE IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOUR TRYING TO GET HOME AND IT STALLS OUT WHEN DRIVING DUE TO LOSS OF POWER. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10433919
- Incident
- Jan 12, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-550 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF PAINT DELAMINATING INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- NHTSA ID
- 10406826
- Incident
- Jan 1, 2011
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-550 SD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE PAINT INSIDE OF THE FUEL TANK WAS CHIPPING AND CONTAMINATING THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
- NHTSA ID
- 10406825
- Incident
- Oct 1, 2010
I HAVE A 2001 FORD F550 SUPER DUTY FLATBED TOWTRUCK, THE TRUCKS DESIGN IS A COMBINATION FROM FORD AND INTERNATIONAL, WHICH DUE TO THE FAULTY FUEL TANK DELAMINATING AND CAUSING A FINANCIAL LOSE OF NOT ONLY A DAYS WORK, BUT ALSO THE NEED OF HAVING A TWO VEHICLES WHICH WHILE IN TOW STOP TRAFFIC WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE TRUCK LOOSES POWER AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TURNS ON. COST OVER 1000.00 JUST IN WRECKER BILLS, AND NOT TO MENTION TRASHED THE INJECTORS, PUMP, AND FILTER SYSTEM AND ALL THE LINES. FORD OR INTERNATIONAL WILL NOT TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR A BAD FUEL TANK RECALL. TRUCK IS STILL DOWN AND SEEMS THAT I WILL PROBABLY HAVE TO REPLACE ALL PARTS MENTIONED AT MY COST. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10404548
- Incident
- Jun 3, 2011
- Mileage
- 290,000 mi
WE HAVE 3 FORD F550'S THAT HAVE GAS TANK LEAKS. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10400757
- Incident
- Mar 1, 2011
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
EQUIPMENT
This SKU is a Spare Tire Hoist. Test results identified that the pull force parameter was not within specification, as a precautionary measure unsold inventory was requested to be returned for testing and containment. We don't have evidence that these test results have contributed to a product failure.
EQUIPMENT
This SKU is a Spare Tire Hoist. Test results identified that the pull force parameter was not within specification, as a precautionary measure unsold inventory was requested to be returned for testing and containment. We don't have evidence that these test results have contributed to a product failure.
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
FORD: THE RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE (RCM) WHEN USING VCM II, WOULD HAVE AN ERROR CODE 35 AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) B1035, AND DIFFICULTY ATTEMPTING PROGRAMMABLE MODULE INSTALLATION (PMI). MODEL 2001-2004 F-SUPER DUTY. *PE
POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)
1999-2008 F250-F550 SUPER DUTY 4X4 WITH ELECTRONIC SHIFT TRANSFER CASE NOT ENGAGING 4X4. *NJ
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
VACUUM PUMP INOPERATIVE OR RUNS CONTINUOUSLY - CLIMATE CONTROL DEFAULTS TO DEFROST MODE. *TT
POWER TRAIN
DRIVE AWAY SHUDDER OR VIBRATION. *EH
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 2024 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2023 | 1 | 9 | 0 | — |
| 2022 | 9 | 12 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 75.3 |
| 2020 | 4 | 8 | 2 | — |
| 2019 | 4 | 5 | 1 | — |
| 2018 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 2017 | 2 | 8 | 1 | — |
| 2016 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 2015 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 60.9 |
| 2014 | 9 | 6 | 1 | — |
| 2013 | 2 | 9 | 1 | — |
| 2012 | 6 | 10 | 2 | — |
| 2011 | 3 | 12 | 1 | — |
| 2010 | 1 | 7 | 0 | — |
| 2009 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 2008 | 26 | 4 | 0 | 48.1 |
| 2007 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 45.5 |
| 2006 | 44 | 2 | 0 | 44.5 |
| 2005 | 32 | 5 | 0 | 43.2 |
| 2004 | 49 | 3 | 1 | 55.7 |
| 2003 | 33 | 5 | 3 | 63.3 |
| 2002 | 22 | 5 | 3 | 60.0 |
| 2001Viewing | 29 | 7 | 7 | 61.7 |
| 2000 | 72 | 6 | 4 | 61.8 |
| 1999 | 61 | 9 | 4 | 57.1 |
| 1998 | 0 | 2 | 2 | — |
| 1997 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 1996 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1995 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1994 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.