2001 Ford F-350 SD Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe two kinds of trouble: original-equipment tires losing their tread, and diesel trucks shutting off unexpectedly, sometimes with a camshaft position sensor found at fault. Steering and front-end play, transmission shifting complaints, and a few reports of spark plugs being ejected from gas engines also appear. Many complaints come in between roughly 30,000 and 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Tires

   Tire tread separation and blowouts

   • 33 complaints (21%)
   • median 42,967 mi at 4.9 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $2,600 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2014

   Complaints describe tread peeling away from original-equipment tires at highway speed, sometimes with the tire still holding air, and sometimes as a blowout that damaged the fender or bodywork. Several owners say they contacted the tire maker and were told there was no coverage, while others note a tire recall existed but their tires were not included. Tires named in the complaints include several brands and sizes fitted when the truck was new, and some failures occurred shortly after pressure had been checked. Mostly reported between about 25,000 and 95,000 miles, frequently at highway speeds of 55-70 mph.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Look at the tire date codes and brand on any truck you consider, and replace aged original-style tires regardless of remaining tread. Ask whether front-end vibration or wobble over bumps has been addressed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving home from a camping trip, the tire lost all the tread, causing approximately $1,500 damage to the side of the truck. The tire had not lost any air, was fully inflated. I have contacted firestone and they refused to claim any liability concerning the tires on my truck. I had to buy all new tires for the vehicle and will have to have my truck repaired.”

   NHTSA complaint #10090665, filed 2004-09, 44,000 miles

   “The tread separated from the right rear tire on my 2001 Ford 350 truck. As it left, it did considerable damage to the right side of the vehicle. I replaced the tire, sent the damaged one to firestone, who have denied responsibility, and are sending it back-(c.o.d.) the tires were original, with plenty of legal tread left.”

   NHTSA complaint #10138959, filed 2005-10, 71,000 miles
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Diesel engine stalls, camshaft sensor

   • 28 complaints (18%)
   • median 78,000 mi at 6.0 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2004–2010

   Owners of diesel trucks describe the engine quitting without warning while driving, often while towing or in traffic, with loss of power steering and power brakes. In several cases the dealer replaced the camshaft position sensor, and some owners say the part failed more than once and they began carrying a spare. A few complaints describe rough running or stalling in very cold weather before the engine died. Typically reported between about 30,000 and 100,000 miles, sometimes while towing or in cold weather.

   Recall 07V553000

   What to check: Ask for service records showing whether the camshaft position sensor has been replaced and how often; on a diesel, confirm the sensor part number and carry a spare if the history is unclear.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The cps on the vehicle failed three times. Two of the three failures left me stranded for over two hours while waiting for Ford roadside assistance to recover the vehicle. The frequency of the problem has caused me to now carry a spare cps in my glovebox in the event of a future failure.”

   NHTSA complaint #10152297, filed 2006-03, 30,000 miles

   “2001 Ford f350 7.3 diesel. Truck stalls without warning causing loss of power, power steering and brakes. Has happened 3 times in last 7 days. I lost control of truck and hit a curb from stall. Read on internet to replace cam sensor. I replaced sensor on 10/6/06”

   NHTSA complaint #10170113, filed 2006-10, 105,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shifting and clutch problems

   • 28 complaints (18%)
   • median 49,781 mi at 3.9 yrs old (28 state mileage)
   • owner-quoted repair $3,478 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2003–2009

   Complaints describe delayed or harsh shifts, failure to shift into overdrive, clunking on engagement, and in some cases a transmission that had to be replaced. Owners of manual trucks report the clutch pedal going to the floor without disengaging, requiring heavy braking to stop, with master and slave cylinders replaced. Some owners say the dealer attributed the behavior to normal wear or told them it was outside warranty. Mostly reported between about 35,000 and 90,000 miles, with some fluid leaks noted in hot summer weather.

   5 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the truck from a stop and through a light-throttle 1-2 shift, and on a manual press the clutch pedal to feel for a firm return. Ask about prior transmission or clutch work and fluid leaks.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2001 Ford f350 superduty - I am a disabled veteran who does not use this vehicle to tow. The transmission would not shift from 2nd gear. The transmission has to be replaced completely at my expense. With so many complaints, why is there not a recall, or why has Ford not paid for the replacement?”

   NHTSA complaint #10093431, filed 2004-10, 48,000 miles

   “2001 f-350 super duty crew cab, the screws that hold the transmission shifter cable plate to the steering column shift tube, backed out of their holes. As the company mechanic I experienced the same problem previously on a different truck. I repaired the problem the same way, lowering the steering column, installing longer bolts with thread lock compound on the threads, added a nyloc nut on the end of the bolt.”

   NHTSA complaint #10134353, filed 2005-08, 29,947 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Front-end and steering play, ball joints

   • 33 complaints (21%)
   • median 62,000 mi at 5.4 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2016

   Owners describe wandering steering, a shimmy over bumps, and scraping noises on turns traced to worn upper and lower ball joints and a bad drag link. Some complaints involve steering wheel vibration over road irregularities, and a few describe loss of steering after a bump or a failed steering shaft component. Dealers replaced ball joints and front-end parts at the owner's expense in several reports. Reported from about 27,000 miles into the 100,000-plus range, often noticed on uneven pavement or snow-covered roads.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test drive over uneven pavement and listen for clunks or scraping on turns, then have the ball joints and drag link inspected before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Scrapping noise heard after hard left or right turn. Found to have bad upper and lower ball joints. Ford dealership replaced the two lower and suggested that the uppers were showing signs of wear. Cost for replacement was $727.00 (old parts are available) the vehicle is a 2001 Ford f350 super duty truck with only 27k miles to date. Is this normal, or are others having the same problem?”

   NHTSA complaint #10114803, filed 2005-03, 27,285 miles

   “Sector shaft failure on a 2001 Ford f-350 superduty. Shaft separated while driving through a chuck hole in a gravel/mud parking lot. Failure did not result in a crash. Sector shaft was a 36 spline, 1-1/4 diameter. I have both ends of the shaft for inspection.”

   NHTSA complaint #10002672, filed 2003-01, 66,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine cooling

   Spark plug ejected from cylinder head

   • 8 complaints (5%)
   • median 77,000 mi at 5.6 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2009

   Owners of gas V10 and V8 trucks describe a loud pop followed by an exhaust-like noise, and diagnosis of a spark plug that had come out of its threaded hole in the head. Complaints mention loss of power and the truck being undrivable, with repairs handled at the dealer at the owner's cost. Some reports involve factory-installed plugs that had never been changed. Reported from roughly 33,000 to 89,000 miles, often with original factory spark plugs.

   What to check: On a gas truck, listen for a ticking or exhaust-like sound under the hood and ask whether the spark plugs and their threads have been inspected or repaired.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Spark plug blow out on my 01 Ford f-350 v-10. Loss of power un drivable. The truck only has 35k miles. I called coley Ford to get info, they told me to call Ford customer care to se if they can help with the expensive costs! I was basically told to bad cant help, & it only had 35k miles at the time it happened but was almost 4 yrs after time of purchase.”

   NHTSA complaint #10132918, filed 2005-08, 35,300 miles

   “V-10 triton. I started hearing a ticking noise coming from the engine about 2 weeks ago. I had taken it to shop for unrelated work and they did not think it unusual. On 1/8/09, I heard a loud pop and then it started to sound like an exhaust leak coming from the engine. As the engine seemed to otherwise run ok, I drove it to a Ford dealer in snohomish where they diagnosed the problem as a spark plug ejected from the #4 cylinder. The plugs have never been changed, originally installed at the factory.”

   NHTSA complaint #10254372, filed 2009-01, 83,000 miles

Buying note. Check tire age and brand first, since original-style tires on these trucks account for a large share of complaints, and get a diesel truck's stalling history and sensor replacements in writing. A pre-purchase inspection covering front-end parts and transmission behavior is worth the cost on this model year.

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.