2001 Ford F-150 Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 137about this part
- Share
- 11%of 1,236 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 88,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 137 complaints about the electrical system of the 2001 Ford F-150, 11% of the 1,236 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 88,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved and 76 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“All I know is I was at a neighbors for around 1 1/2 hours and we hear a loud boom. We ran out side and my truck hood was on fire, it burned everything visible on top of the motor and toward the driver firewall . It busted the driver side tire and completely burned everything visible under the hood. The dash components as far as the eye can see are not bad, unknown of internal damage.I'm not sure what caused the problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #10766128, filed 2015-09, 286,457 miles“I have a 2001 f150 truck I went to leave work I started my truck and went to put it in gear to leave when I smelled something burning I noticed smoke coming from under my hood I open to hood to find a fire at the master cylinder . I grab the plug that was burning and yanked it out of the truck , it burn a hole in my reservoir holding my brake fluid and my hand.”
NHTSA complaint #10407312, filed 2011-06, 149,000 miles“I had just arrived at a campsite with my family and turned the engine off in my 2001 Ford f150 truck. I got out of the truck and noticed smoke coming out from under the hood. The truck's engine compartment had caught fire while parked, the entire truck was destroyed and my family and I narrowly escaped with our lives.”
NHTSA complaint #10344249, filed 2010-07, 103,000 miles“My f150 blower motor unit just shorted out and caught fire while I was on the freeway. I am just so disgusted as I already got past blowing out sparkplugs on this truck as I had to remove the head and re thread it so they would be safe and now this. How does Ford continue to get a away with producing vehicles that are dangerous to the public? I loved my truck but will probably have to move to a safer vehicle now.”
NHTSA complaint #10442522, filed 2012-01, 192,000 miles“We purchased our 2001 f150 supercrew used. I am a mechanic, so the first thing I do when buying a used vehicle is inspect it thoroughly. There were a few minor issues, but one stood out as a major safety hazard. Upon further research, it seems to be extremely common to all 1997-2003 f-150s. Symptoms - this issue mainly affects the rear left and right brake lights, turn signals, and hazard lights. These lights, particularly brake lights, can cease to function entirely, intermittently and unknown to the driver. Cause - there is a wire harness which connects to the multi - function switch . …”
NHTSA complaint #11406715, filed 2021-04, 164,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10013063Oct 28, 2002Heavy static or signal loss on two way radio communication . Bi fuel lpg vehicle only.
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 17% |
| 2025 | 23 | 21% |
| 2024 | 40 | 21% |
| 2023 | 84 | 20% |
| 2022 | 126 | 21% |
| 2021 | 130 | 13% |
| 2020 | 88 | 12% |
| 2019 | 100 | 7% |
| 2018 | 172 | 7% |
| 2017 | 136 | 9% |
| 2016 | 189 | 9% |
| 2015 | 176 | 10% |
| 2014 | 162 | 11% |
| 2013 | 324 | 11% |
| 2012 | 173 | 10% |
| 2011 | 235 | 11% |
| 2010 | 166 | 20% |
| 2009 | 46 | 14% |
| 2008 | 29 | 8% |
| 2007 | 42 | 9% |
| 2006 | 60 | 10% |
| 2005 | 73 | 7% |
| 2004 | 99 | 5% |
| 2003 | 47 | 11% |
| 2002 | 106 | 13% |
| 2001 | 137 | 11% |
| 2000 | 191 | 18% |
| 1999 | 85 | 8% |
| 1998 | 87 | 6% |
| 1997 | 198 | 7% |
| 1996 | 56 | 17% |
| 1995 | 65 | 10% |
| 1994 | 88 | 13% |
| 1993 | 34 | 6% |
| 1992 | 48 | 10% |
| 1991 | 50 | 16% |
| 1990 | 37 | 13% |
| 1989 | 52 | 23% |
| 1988 | 49 | 35% |
| 1987 | 37 | 41% |
| 1986 | 22 | 36% |
| 1985 | 10 | 36% |
| 1984 | 7 | 47% |
| 1983 | 3 | 30% |
| 1982 | 1 | 20% |
Other parts of the 2001 Ford F-150
234 complaintsVehicle speed control
180 complaintsFuel system
132 complaintsSeats
86 complaintsSeat belts
78 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
74 complaintsBrakes
69 complaintsAir bags
66 complaintsBody and structure
65 complaintsTires
52 complaintsEngine
44 complaintsOther or unknown
40 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Ford F-150
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology