RoadVitals

2001 Ford Lariat

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
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Latest Aug 11, 2014
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Ford Lariat, most frequently naming the brakes, interior & seats and body & structure categories. 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Brakes333.3%
  • Interior & seats222.2%
  • Body & structure111.1%
  • Electrical111.1%
  • Engine111.1%
  • Tires & wheels111.1%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Aug 11, 2014
Fire reported

MY 2001 FORD F-150 PICKUP TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE LAST NIGHT AT 5PM ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 10TH, 2014. WE HAD ONLY DRIVEN IT ONE MILE THAT DAY TO OUR CHURCH, HAD PARKED IT AT ABOUT 4:45PM AND WENT INTO CHURCH. BEFORE 5PM WE WERE NOTIFIED TO COME OUTSIDE. I WENT OUT TO DISCOVER THAT MY TRUCK WAS ON FIRE. A POLICEWOMAN WAS THERE BEFORE ME, PROBABLY FROM THE DETAIL THAT DIRECTS CHURCH TRAFFIC. SHE PREVENTED ME (ANYONE) FROM APPROACHING THE VEHICLE. SHE TOLD ME SHE HAD ALERTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THERE WERE EXPLOSIONS WHEN THE TIRES POPPED AND, I ASSUME, THE WHEN AIR CONDITIONER VENTED ITS GAS. SHORTLY THEREAFTER, A FIRE TRUCK ARRIVED AND THE FIREMEN ROLLED OUT A HOSE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, BUT NOT BEFORE MAJOR DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE HAD OCCURRED. THE HOOD APPARENTLY MELTED AWAY GIVING THEM ACCESS TO SPRAY THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE RADIATOR HAD ALSO BEEN MELTED AWAY. THEY ALSO OPENED THE CABIN AREA WITH MY KEY AND SPRAYED IT TO PUT OUT ANY POSSIBLE FIRE THERE. A WHILE LATER A FIRE INVESTIGATOR ARRIVED AND HE LOOKED OVER THE RESULT. HE TOOK OUR INFORMATION AND SAID HIS REPORT WHO BE COMPLETED WITHIN 7-10 DAYS. ONE OF THE FIREMEN REPORTED HE HAD WORKED AT FORD DEALER SERVICE DEPT. IN THE PAST AND SAID THEY REPLACED A LARGE NUMBER OF CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES MOUNTED ON THE BRAKE CYLINDER BECAUSE OF A RECALL TO RECTIFY A DEFECT CAUSING SPONTANEOUS FIRES. MAYBE THIS WAS THE CAUSE. I PURCHASED THE TRUCK, USED, 1 YEAR AGO AND IT PASSED VEHICLE INSPECTION THE DAY BEFORE THIS HAPPENED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10621324
Incident
Aug 10, 2014
Mileage
119,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 2, 2012

TRAVELING APROX. 65 MPH ON CRUISE CONTROL WHEN THE ODOMETER WENT BLANK FOLLOWED BY THE RADIO AND THE COMPASS & OA TEMP FADING TO BLACK. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE BATTERY GAUGE DROPPED TO ZERO A MINUTE AFTER THAT ALL THE OTHER GAUGES (SPEEDOMETER,TACHOMETER,WATER TEMP, OIL ) WENT TO ZERO LIKE THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND WAS NOT MOVING. THE CRUISE DROPPED OUT ENGINE STILL RUNNING PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR THE ENGINE STARTED TO BOG THEN ALL THE INSTRUMENTS CAME BACK ON AND READING NORMAL. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 6 TIMES IN 200 MILE TRIP. *JS

NHTSA ID
10457102
Incident
Apr 26, 2012
Mileage
120,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 8, 2011
Fire reported

WE STARTED UP THE TRUCK, SMELLED SMOKE AND WE TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. OPEN THE HOOD AND WE SAW THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER ON FIRE, WE QUICKLY PUT IT OUT WITH WATER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10424379
Incident
Sep 7, 2011
Mileage
167,441 mi
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Aug 24, 2011

DESPITE PARTICULARLY GOOD CARE FOR MY FORD F-150 LARIAT, INCLUDING CLEANING AND WAXING BY HAND WITH NO HARSH CHEMICALS, THE ROOF ON THE CAB IS DEFECTIVE. INSTEAD OF IT BEING A FLAT, EVEN SURFACE WHERE WATER CAN ROLL OFF, THE ROOF TOP HAS SEVERAL CHANNELS THAT END UP COLLECTING WATER. OVER THE YEARS THIS HAS LED TO BUBBLING OF THE PAINT AND ULTIMATELY RUST SO SEVERE SEVERAL OF THE CHANNELS ARE NOW PERFORATED (HAVE HOLE IN THEM) ALLOWING WATER TO SEEP INTO THE CAB AND FLOOD THE FLOOR OF THE TRUCK. BUBBLING OF PAINT AND OTHER AREAS OF RUST SPOTS HAVE ALSO APPEARED LEADING ME TO BELIEVE THE PAINT JOB OR THE METAL USED TO MAKE THE VEHICLE WAS CONTAMINATED CREATING ELECTROLYSIS BETWEEN DIFFERENT METALS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10421351
Incident
Aug 10, 2011
Mileage
70,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 11, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150 LARIAT. SINCE PURCHASING THE V BRAKES WERE REPLACED SIX TIMES. CURRENTLY, THE BRAKES HAVE TO BE CHANGED AGAIN. HAD LIFETIME PADS PUT ON, DRUMS TURNED,AND NEW PADS AGAIN. THE DRUMS WARPED AFTER THEY WERE REPLACED ONCE BEFORE. THE CONTACT INSISTS THAT THERE HAS TO BE SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE BRAKES CAUSING THEM TO GO BAD. MOST MILEAGE ON THE TRUCK WAS HIGHWAY MILEAGE AND HE DID NOT DRIVE THE TRUCK HARD.*AK

NHTSA ID
10132473
Incident
Nov 1, 2001
Brakes
Filed Oct 23, 2003

I'VE TAKEN MY 2001 FORD F-150 LARIAT BACK TO BUZ POST TWICE FOR BRAKE NOISES. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT TRIES TO CONVINCE ME THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. I AM TIRED OF TAKING HOURS OF WORK OFF TO BE TOLD THE SAME THING THAT IT'S NOTHING WRONG. THE NOISE IS STILL THERE. IT SOUNDS LIKE AN 18 WHEEL TRACTOR TRAILER TRYING TO BRAKE. THE MECHANIC TELLS ME IT'S CONDENSATION BUILD UP ON THE ROTORS. IT COMES FROM PARKING THE VEHICLE OUTSIDE. I BOUGHT THE TRUCK PARKED OUTSIDE ON BUZ- POST LOT. IF THAT'S THE CASE WHY DON'T THEY PUT THEIR VEHICLES INSIDE. I WANTED THIS LAME EXCUSE PUT IN WRITING, HOWEVER MY BRAKES ARE NOT REPAIRED. I ASKED AND IT WAS AGREED THAT THE BRAKES WOULD BE REPLACED PRIOR TO PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR TWO DAYS THEN I HAD TO RETURN IT ANOTHER DAY WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT. SOMEONE IS NOT DOING THEIR JOB. PLEASE HELP! I WANT MY VEHICLE FIXED SO THAT I WANT HAVE TO RETURN ANYTIME SOON. *LA

NHTSA ID
10043485
Incident
Sep 4, 2003
Mileage
53,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed May 28, 2003

A COIL IN THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE AND POKED THROUGH THE SEAT. *TT

NHTSA ID
10021686
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 15, 2001

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 TO 70 MPH REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE CAME OFF. THERE WERE SPARKS SHOOTING OUT FROM METAL AND FRICTION HIT THE GROUND. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
897730
Incident
Oct 13, 2001

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

CSP-08B01

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

FORD: CERTAIN 1999-2001 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES UP TO 6000 LB GVWR REGISTERED IN NEW YORK AND CERTAIN 2001 VEHICLES UP TO 6000 LB GVWR REGISTERED IN THE STATE OF MAINE, CERTIFIED FOR SALE IN CALIFORNIA-FEDERAL EMISSION WARRANTY REFUND. *PE

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

Ford Lariat by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001Viewing800
2000200
1999400
1998100
1997400
1988200

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.