2001 Ford F-150 Electrical System
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
IN MARCH 08, MY F150 4.6L ENGINE BLEW A SPARK PLUG...FUEL WAS CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I WAS VERY CONCERNED THAT IT WOULD IGNITE, SO I REMAINED CLEAR OF THE VEHICLE FOR QUITE SOME TIME, GIVING THE FUEL TIME TO EVAPORATE. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM, PLEASE STEP UP AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT. FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES. *TR
MY 2001 FORD F150 HARLEY DAVIDSON EDITION CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED ON MY DRIVEWAY AND BURNED TO THE GROUND. HAD THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ANY LATER, MY HOUSE WOULD BE GONE AS WELL. *TR
THE TRUCK WAS SITTING IN MY DRIVE WAY FOR HOURS PRIOR TO CATCHING FIRE. MY FORD F-150 CAUGHT FIRE IN MY DRIVE WAY AND SET MY HOUSE ON FIRE THAT BURNED AND WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
WHENEVER IT RAINS MY 2001 FORD EXPEDITIONS ELECTRICAL GOES CRAZY, I GET A LEAK FROM WHEAT I AM GUESSING IS THE WINDSHIELD, AND THE FLOOR GETS WET, THEN MY AC RUNS WITHOUT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION AND MY LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF, THE RADIO GOES ON AND OFF AND KEEPS DRAINING THE BATTERY, TOOK IT TO FORD, BUT ALL THEY SAY IS IT NEEDS A NEW GEM MODULE BUT NEVER SAYS ANYTHING ABOUT THE WINDSHIELD. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. *JB
(1) VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY (2) VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES STARTING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT (ON THE DRIVERS SIDE) (3)FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLED TO SUPPRESS FIRE AS WELL AS MY ATTEMPTING WITH A GARDEN HOSE ONLY DAMAGE WAS TO VEHICLE AND SOME SCARS ON DRIVEWAY. *TR
FILED A REPORT #10207914. THE VIN NUMBER WAS INCORRECT. THE CORRECT VIN NO. IS HEREIN. ENGINE FIRE - FORD F-150 - PARKED AT 4AM - ELECTRICAL - SOURCE OF FIRE. COMPLETELY TOTALED. POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS FILED REPORTS. I LIVE IN MEXICO IN CABO SAN LUCAS. TRUCK WAS PURCHASED AT GALPIN FORD IN NORTH HOLLYWOOD, CA. *TR
I OWN A 2001 FORD F150 SUPERCREW TRUCK. THIS VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND IS A TOTAL LOSS. THE FIRE CAPTAIN TOLD ME THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOTORIOUS FOR CATCHING FIRE AND I SHOULD REPORT THIS INCIDENT. HIS OPINION WAS THAT THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL IN NATURE AND THAT IT MOST LIKELY WAS FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. THE TRUCK WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION BOTH AESTHETICALLY AND MECHANICALLY. *TR
MY HOUSE BURNED DOWN -- IT APPEARS THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS MY 2001 F150 TRUCK. THE FIRE STARTED AT APPROX 3:00 AM IN THE GARAGE. MY INSURANCE COMPANY, COUNTRY COMPANIES HAS A TEAM OF INVESTIGATORS ONSITE GOING THROUGH THE DEBRIS. *TR
FORD F150 2001 PARKED IN THE GARAGE IGNITED INTO FLAMES AFTER BEING PARKED FOR OVER ONE HOUR. NEIGHBOR SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE GARAGE AND KNOCKED ON THE DOOR. I OPENED THE KITCHEN THAT LEADS TO GARAGE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I OPENED THE GARAGE AND FIRE SPREAD TO ANOTHER CAR PARKED IN THE GARAGE BEHIND TRUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY. FLAMES ROSE TO UPSTAIRS BEDROOM AND THROUGHOUT THE GARAGE. *TR
WOKE UP TO IN THE EARLY MORNING TO TRUCK ALARM ACTIVATED. WHEN GOING OUT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED THE TRUCK WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN THE ENGINE AREA. THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED. THE TRUCK WAS SITTING ALL NIGHT. AND HADN'T BEEN DRIVEN SINCE 3:30 PM THE PREVIOUS DAY.*AK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHICH ORIGINATED FROM THE HOOD. THE ONLY PART OF THE VEHICLE THAT WAS NOT DESTROYED WAS THE BED. FORD ADVISED THE CONTACT TO SEND DOCUMENTATION AND PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE, AND STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL OF THE VEHICLE, IT COULD NOT BE DETERMINED THAT THE EXPLOSION WAS A RESULT OF THE RECALL, NOT EVEN BY THE VIN. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, AND THAT THE CONTACT COULD TAKE LEGAL ACTION IF NECESSARY. THE MANUFACTURER CONCLUDED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. AK
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH, HE STARTED SMELLING A BURNT ODOR AND SUDDENLY ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE 2001 FORD FOCUS STARTED FLASHING. AFTER 3 CYCLES OF FLASHING ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. HE THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD A SHORT CAUSING IT TO BURN. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE INVOICE REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 63500 MILES.
I TOOK MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN OUR FORD F150 SUPERCAB LARIAT TRUCK AND WENT TO A RESTAURANT ABOUT 5 MINUTES FROM OUR HOME. WE RETURNED HOME WITH TAKE OUT, PARKED THE TRUCK IN THE DRIVEWAY, OUR GARAGE DOOR OPENER WAS NOT WORKING. I JOINED MY WIFE FOR DINNER (ABOUT 7:00 PM). MY DAUGHTER WENT TO BED AT ABOUT 8:30, MY WIFE ABOUT 9:30. AT ABOUT 10:00 I WENT OUTSIDE WITH THE DOGS IN THE BACKYARD AND HEARD A POP SOUND LIKE A FIRE CRACKER. I THOUGHT THAT MAYBE THE NEIGHBOR KIDS WERE PLAYING WITH FIREWORKS, BUT IT SOUNDED PRETTY CLOSE TO THE HOUSE ON THE GARAGE SIDE. WHEN I LOOKED IN THAT DIRECTION I SAW AN ORANGE GLOW. I WENT AROUND THE SIDE OF THE HOUSE AND SAW MY TRUCK ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I RAN INTO THE HOUSE, CALLED MY WIFE TO GET UP, GET OUR DAUGHTER, GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND CALL 911. 911 TOLD US TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE AND AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE. WE EVACUATED OUR HOME W/ OUR DOGS IN TOW AND WE ALL PROCEEDED TO WATCH IN HORROR (WITH THE ENTIRE SUBDIVISION) AS THE TRUCK WENT UP IN FLAMES AND SMOKE, NOT KNOWING IF THE HOUSE WOULD BE NEXT. UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES MY TRUCK WOULD HAVE BEEN PARKED IN THE GARAGE. MY DAUGHTER'S BEDROOM IS RIGHT ABOVE. THE FIRE CHIEF SAID WE WOULD HAVE LOST OUR HOUSE NO QUESTION AND VERY POSSIBLY OUR LIVES IF THE TRUCK WAS IN THE GARAGE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS BEEN OUT TO LOOK AT THE TRUCK; IT'S DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. EVERYTHING FROM THE FRONT END THROUGH THE CAB IS BURNED UP OR A MESS OF METAL, PLASTIC, ETC. MELTED ON MY DRIVEWAY. WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN A FIGURE FOR THE TRUCK AND ASKED TO SETTLE. NO FURTHER DISCUSSION AS TO THE DAMAGE TO MY WIFE'S CAR, THE BOAT, AND RUINED CONCRETE DRIVE. THE FORD DEALERS RESPONSE WAS "WELL, FORD IS A BIG COMPANY AND HAS A LOT OF POWERFUL ATTORNEYS." HOW SICK IS THAT?! WE'RE AT A LOSS. WHAT WE SAW WAS TRAUMATIC. MY 4 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TALKS OF THE EVENT EVERY DAY. WE'RE THANKFUL YES THAT WE'RE ALL OK AND KNOW IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE, BUT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. *JB
I WENT FISHING ONE EARLY MORNING AND I STOPPED FOR GAS AND NOTICED THAT MY LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I NORMALLY KEEP THE SWITCH IN THE AUTO-DETECT MODE. I SWITCHED TO OFF AND THEY STILL WOULD NOT TURN OFF. AFTER GETTING TO THE DOCK, I TURNED OFF THE MOTOR AND LOCKED IT. MY F-150'S HEADLIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF AND WOULD BLINK ON AND OFF. THE SWITCH WOULD NOT WORK, NOR DID LOCKING THE VEHICLE TURN OFF THE LIGHTS. I EXPECTED THE BATTERY SAVER WOULD ACTIVATE TO TURN OFF THE EXTERIOR LAMPS. IT ALSO FAILED. THE BATTERY DIED AND I HAD TO BE TOWED INTO THE DEALER. DEALER STATES IT WAS A WIRING HARNESS (#12, #160 AND #161) THAT SHORTED A RELAY AND KILLED THE BATTERY. THE PARTS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. PARTS AND LABOR WERE $612. *NM
ODOMETER LIGHT GOES OUT WHEN IT WANTS AND ON WHEN IT WANTS. *NM
MY 2001 FORD F150 XLT CREW CAB EJECTED A SPARK PLUG ON 03-03-06. THE EJECTED SPARK PLUG CAME FROM THE SECOND CYLINDER FROM THE FIREWALL, ON THE PASSENGERS SIDE. THE ENGINE IN THIS TRUCK IS A 5.4 TRITON. THE FUEL RAIL IS IN THE FLIGHT PATH OF THE SPARK PLUG WHEN IT BECOMES A PROJECTILE. THIS HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME A MAJOR DISASTER, IF THE FUEL RAIL RUPTURES. BECAUSE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING THE COIL ON THE SPARK PLUG CAN AND WILL IGNITE THE SPRAYING FUEL. THE CYLINDER HEADS ON THESE 5.4 TRITONS ENGINE MUST HAVE A MAJOR DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. *JB
VEHICLE PARKED APPROX 4.5 HOURS, WHEN NOTICED VEHICLE HOOD WAS ENGULFED WITH FLAMES, DAMAGE PRIMARILY ON DRIVER'S SIDE TOWARD WINDSHIELD, TOTAL LOSS --- ONE MONTH PRIOR TO VEHICLE FIRE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GET OUT OF PARK AND BLEW 5 AMP FUSE
CONSUMER WAS AWAKENED BY A HORN GOING OFF, AND WENT TO SEE WHAT IT WAS. THEN SUDDENLY THERE WAS A BOOM, THEN ANOTHER BOOM. AFTER ARRIVING IN HIS GARAGE HE SAW FLAMES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO REMOVE HIS FAMILY, AND TRIED TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THERE WAS A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE HOME, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK
NO ACTUAL WARNING OF DEFECT. WINDSHIELD WIPERS, POWER WINDOWS, COURTESY LIGHTS, AND POWER DOOR LOCKS SUDDENLY CEASED WORKING. DEALER STATED THE WINDSHIELD LEAKED CAUSING THE GEM MODULE TO FAIL. WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED, AS WELL AS GEM MODULE. *JB
AFTER SITTING UNUSED FOR SIX HOURS IN A LOCKED GARAGE, MY 2001 FORD F-150 BURST INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE INSPECTOR DETERMINED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA WHERE WIRES CONNECT TO THE BRAKE MASTER CYLANDER. MY INSURANCE CO. (ST. FARM) PAID APXIMATELY $6,000 FOR REPAIRS. LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT QUICKLY. MY WIFE AND KIDS WERE ASLEEP IN BED. FIRE OCCURRED APXIMATELY 10:30 PM, TRUCK HAD BEEN PARKED SINCE 4:30PM.*AK
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH 2001 FORD EXPEDITION. FIRST NOTICED THAT THE HEATER FAN STAYED RUNNING AFTER IGNITION WAS SHUT OFF. THEN, DURING A STORMY WINTER, THE WIPERS, LIGHTS, RADIO, WINDOWS, AND KEYPAD ENTRANCE ALL STOPPED WORKING--SOMETIMES TOGETHER, OTHER TIMES SEPARATELY. FORCED TO PULL-OFF THE ROAD ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION AND TURN-OFF AND START OR RESTART THE VEHICLE UNTIL PROBLEM STOPPED. MY KEYPAD ENTRANCE AND REAR WIPER STILL AREN'T RIGHT. THESE PROBLEMS ONLY OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY AND DURING BAD WEATHER. FORD DEALER SAID I WOULD HAVE TO PAY NINETY DOLLARS FOR A DIAGNOSTICS TEST AND THAT IF THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM--TOUGH! *NM
DT: MY WIFE WAS AT WORK AND SHE HAD JUST PARKED, AND 15 MINUTES LATER, SHE WAS TOLD HER CAR WAS ON FIRE AND BURNED COMPLETELY. *AK
CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT FLASHING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE IT ON MY 2001 F150 TRITON 4.6L "3DR". TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP DUE TO TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS(SPRING BROKE ON 2ND TO 3RD GEAR SHIFTER)INQUIRED ABOUT THE CC LITE. SERVICE TECH POPPED THE HOOD,PULLED THE PLUG ON THE POWER BOOSTERAND WE BOTH SAW FLUID BUILD UP ON THE SURFACE AREA. SAME ST'D THAT THERE WAS A RECALL INPROGRESS BUT THAT HE HAD TO SEE IF THIS MODEL WAS INVOLVED...NOT. 89000PLUS MILES. *AK
2001 FORD EXPEDITION EDDIE BAUER MODEL HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE BY ITSELF AT MY DEALER LOT ON AUGUST 21 2004. I HAVE JUST INFORMED BY FRIENDS THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR THESE VEHICLES. I DO HAVE A SURVEILLANCE CAMERA THAT HAS RECORDED THE ENTIRE EVENT EARLY IN THE MORNING. *JB
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
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Quick Summary
The 2001 Ford F-150 has 108 Electrical System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.