2001 Ford F-150 Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2001 Ford F-150 most often describe engine-compartment fires that start while the truck is parked and switched off, spark plugs blowing out of the cylinder heads, and fuel tank straps rusting through so the tank drops. Reports generally come in on well-used trucks, with the fire complaints spread across a wide mileage range and the spark plug and tank strap reports concentrated past roughly 75,000 miles.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Engine compartment fire while parked

   • 211 complaints (17%)
   • median 109,000 mi at 7.6 yrs old (157 state mileage)
   • 198 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $864 (median of 6 quotes)
   • filed 2002–2025

   Owners describe the truck catching fire while it sits parked, often hours after it was last driven and with the key out of the ignition, with flames seen between the hood and the windshield or around the driver-side firewall. Several say the cruise control had stopped working shortly before the fire, and some point to the speed control deactivation switch or fluid leaking onto it. Complaints note that fire departments extinguished the flames, and that some trucks were destroyed; a few owners say they had already had the speed control recall work done or were told their vehicle was not covered. Reported from roughly 15,000 to 290,000 miles, most often on trucks parked overnight or for several hours.

   Recall 05V388000Recall 01V082000

   What to check: Ask whether the speed control deactivation switch recall work was completed and have the switch and the area around the brake master cylinder inspected for fluid residue or corrosion.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “On the evening of oct. 4, 2005 at 5:50 pm, I arrived home from work and parked my 2001 Ford f150 supercrew in my garage. I had a normal evening and retired to bed at 10:00 pm at approximately 11:30pm the smoke detector in my home awakened me. I jumped out of bed and ran to the other side of my house and observed through the door into the garage, my f150 on fire. The flames were fully involving the front of the car with flames shooting out of both wheel wells and just inside the windshield on the drivers side. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10140112, filed 2005-10, 72,000 miles

   “Vehicle had approx. 60k miles. Was parked in driveway for about one half hour. Neighbor saw fire on the ground under the drivers side of the engine compartment toward the rear(firewall). Cruise control quit working about 2 weeks prior to the fire. Fire origin is in vicinity of brake master cylinder. Typical of cruise control deactivation switch failure. Parts were recovered but aluminum band on hexport body was melted away therefore do not have date code.”

   NHTSA complaint #10080448, filed 2004-07, 60,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Fuel tank straps rust through, tank drops

   • 101 complaints (8%)
   • median 131,000 mi at 10.6 yrs old (90 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $864 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2010–2024

   Owners report a loud bang or dragging noise followed by finding one or both fuel tank straps cracked or separated and the tank hanging or resting on the road, sometimes with fuel spilling. Most connect it to corrosion at the bends of the straps, and several describe the truck as otherwise in good condition. Some owners say the dealer had no knowledge of the problem or that they were told the vehicle had no open recalls. Mainly reported between about 65,000 and 205,000 miles, typically on trucks operated in road-salt areas.

   Recall 11V3850004 related service bulletins

   What to check: Inspect both fuel tank straps for rust and thinning at the bends, and check whether recall 11S21 was performed if the truck has lived in a salt-belt state.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After hearing about a possible failure of the fuel tank straps, I inspected my straps and found one of the straps corroded to the point of failure, it is split and separated. I am no longer driving this truck. I was going to wait a few weeks to see if there is a recall on this problem. Luckily this info was published to warn others.”

   NHTSA complaint #10400809, filed 2011-05, 67,896 miles

   “On 11/11/11 I was driving home from work in my 2001 Ford f150 and was approximately 1 and a half blocks from my house when I hit a pothole and heard a loud bang and then some metal grinding or dragging which I initially thought was my exhaust the way it sounded, so I stopped the truck and looked underneath. This is when I realized the magnitude of the situation, a strap that holds my gas tank in place had broken off from what appears to be rusted and the gas tank was hanging by one strap . …”

   NHTSA complaint #10435343, filed 2011-11, 98,890 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Spark plug blows out of cylinder head

   • 180 complaints (15%)
   • median 93,000 mi at 7.6 yrs old (170 state mileage)
   • 7 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,300 (median of 37 quotes)
   • filed 2002–2017

   Owners describe a loud pop or bang from under the hood, sometimes a gas smell, followed by a misfire or loss of power and the discovery that a spark plug has come out of its hole with the coil damaged. Several report that the cylinder head threads were stripped, that a thread insert repair later failed, and that some shops describe the repair as a known job on these engines. Complaints also mention ignition coils and plugs burning out repeatedly. Reported from about 60,000 to 130,000 miles, often during acceleration from a stop.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether any spark plug threads have been repaired and listen for a ticking or exhaust-like sound from the engine bay on a cold start; a compression or thread check before purchase is worthwhile.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have a 2001 F-150 triton 5.4 liter Ford with 85,000 miles on it -- it blew out the number 3 cylinder spark plug stripping the threads and breaking the coil pack. I heard a ticking sound for a few weeks prior and had it checked at a shop and they thought it wasn't a bad problem -- 3 days later it blew out the plug.”

   NHTSA complaint #10228095, filed 2008-05, 85,000 miles

   “As I was leaving a stop sign, I accelerated and a spark plug blew out of it's hole and will not go back in. This is a product defect that can cause serious injury or deaths to unknowing Ford owners. Ford should recall asap.”

   NHTSA complaint #10463186, filed 2012-06, 112,000 miles
4. 4
   Seat belts

   Seat belt buckles release on their own

   • 38 complaints (3%)
   • median 81,317 mi at 11.1 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • filed 2001–2025

   Owners report front seat belts unbuckling without warning while driving, and in some trucks the belt also fails to retract fully. Several complaints tie the behavior to the seat belt buckle recall for this model year, and owners say they were told their vehicle identification number was not covered or that recall parts were unavailable. A few also describe rear or middle belt hardware coming apart. Reported from roughly 75,000 to 293,000 miles, during ordinary driving at various speeds.

   Recall 01V227001Recall 00V348000

   What to check: Buckle and pull hard on each front belt to confirm it latches and stays latched, and check with a dealer whether recalls 01V227 and 00V348 were completed for the specific truck.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Middle seat belt on Ford F-150 supercrew 4wd innards popped out of seat belt sheath. This seat used very little. Ford said even though there was a recall in 2001, I believe, on the front seat belts that there is nothing on the back middle. This is a safety hazard and should not occur.”

   NHTSA complaint #10235773, filed 2008-07, 76,021 miles

   “The contact owns a 2001 Ford F-150. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the passenger’s and driver’s side seat belts would unbuckle without warning. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer. Upon investigation, the contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 01V227001 (Seat Belts) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11443792, filed 2021-12, 170,000 miles

Buying note. Have any 2001 F-150 inspected for fuel tank strap corrosion, fire damage or repaired wiring near the brake master cylinder, and spark plug thread repairs before buying. Confirm which of the open recalls for this year were actually completed on the specific truck by its identification number.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.