2001 Ford Lariat Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2001 Ford Lariat, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
A COIL IN THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE AND POKED THROUGH THE SEAT. *TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .