2001 Ford F-150 Engine
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
The contact owned a 1996 N/A Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off, the firewall located on the driver's side had caught on fire. The fire was extinguished by the Fire Department. A fire report was filed, and a fire report number was not provided. The origin of the fire was not yet determined. A Police report was not filed. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 249,000.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the engine compartment. After visual inspection, the contact was able to conclude that the sound originated from the passenger’s side exhaust manifold. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that there was a failure with the bolts securing the exhaust manifold. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred three times. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 85,000.
The contact owns a 2001 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked unattended, he heard an abnormal popping noise and noticed the vehicle was engulfed in fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. There were no reported injuries or police reports. The contact was able to move the other vehicles away from the fire. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000. The contact mentioned she never received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 05V017000 (Vehicle speed control). Consumer stated manufacture was contacted multiple times and was told to file insurance claim. Insurance was for collision and liability only.
CLUTCH FAN BELT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THEY DROVE THEIR VEHICLE TO THE STORE AND THEN BACK TO THEIR RESIDENCE. A FEW MINUTES LATER THE CONTACTS NEPHEW CAME INTO THE RESIDENCE AND STATED THEY SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THEIR VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT WENT BACK OUTSIDE THEY SAW SMOKE AND FIRE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LIFT THE FRONT HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND WITH A WATER GARDEN HOSE WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. NO ONE WAS INJURED, THERE WAS NO FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
I OWN A 2001 F150 SUPER CAB 44 THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS ALREADY ADMITTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS THEIR FAULT SOMETHING ABOUT FOR SOME REASON THEY LEFT METAL SHAVINGS BETWEEN THE HEAD OF THE MOTOR AND THE BLOCK OF THE MOTOR CAUSING IT TO LEAK OIL REALLY REALLY BAD ONTO THE STARTER AND THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND IT JUST POURS OIL AS FAST AS YOU CAN POUR IT IN WHICH IS A HIGH PROBABILITY OF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD TO IGNITE THE OIL AND BURST INTO FLAMES WHY THEY HAVEN'T ALREADY DONE A RECALL IS BEYOND ME THEY MADE A UPGRADED HEAD GASKET THAT THEY WILL SELL YOU AND YOU CAN FIX THEIR MISTAKE ON YOUR OWN NICKEL BUT I DON'T HAVE OVER 3000 DOLLARS TO PULL THE ENGINE AND FIX THE PROBLEM ITS A 5.4 ENGINE AND EVERY ONE I HAVE SEEN AROUND THE SAME YEAR MODEL HAS THE EXACT SAME OIL LEAK THAT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS NOT TO MENTION IT HAS ALREADY MESSED UP THE INTEGRITY OF MY ENGINE
SOFT ALUMINUM HEADS ALLOWING SPARKPLUG THREADS TO WALLOW OUT AND SHOOT THEM OUT HEAD LIKE A RIFLE AND BREAKING COIL MOUNT AND SINCE FUEL STILL BEING SQUIRTED IN IT IS EJECTED INTO A HOT ENGINE MANIFOLD THAT COULD IGNITE THE FUEL AIR MIXTURE AND CAUSE A FIRE. HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET. FORD IS ADDLE IF THEY THINK THEY CAN PASS IT ON TO THE CONSUMER UNSCATHED!
SOFT ALUMINUM HEADS ALLOWING SPARKPLUG THREADS TO WALLOW OUT AND SHOOT THEM OUT HEAD LIKE A RIFLE AND BREAKING COIL MOUNT AND SINCE FUEL STILL BEING SQUIRTED IN IT IS EJECTED INTO A HOT ENGINE MANIFOLD THAT COULD IGNITE THE FUEL AIR MIXTURE AND CAUSE A FIRE. HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH. ON FM1093 ROAD. FORD IS ADDLE IF THEY THINK THEY CAN PASS IT ON TO THE CONSUMER UNSCATHED!
SOFT ALUMINUM HEADS ALLOWING SPARKPLUG THREADS TO WALLOW OUT AND SHOOT THEM OUT HEAD LIKE A RIFLE AND BREAKING COIL MOUNT AND SINCE FUEL STILL BEING SQUIRTED IN IT IS EJECTED INTO A HOT ENGINE MANIFOLD THAT COULD IGNITE THE FUEL AIR MIXTURE AND CAUSE A FIRE. HAPPENED IN MOTION ON CITY STREET. FORD IS ADDLE IF THEY THINK THEY CAN PASS IT ON TO THE CONSUMER UNSCATHED!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY WENT INTO LIMP MODE AND THE POWER FAILED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO PRESTIGIOUS MOTORS DEALER LOCATED IN RIVERHEAD, NY WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE THE RECALL COMPONENT AND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR OTHER REPAIRS, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. UPDATED 09/01/17*LJ *CN
EJECTED OR BLOWN SPARK PLUG WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND HERD A LOUD POP AND THEN THE TRUCK STARTED DRIVING REALLY ROUGH. GOT IT TO THE SHOP AND THEY CONFIRMED AFTER I GAVE AN EXPLANATION OF WHAT I HEARD AND EXPERIENCED.
MY VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE WITH A S SPEED OF 30 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND AND LOSS OF POWER, ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING BUT EXTREMELY ROUGH. I TURNED INTO A LOT WITHIN THE NEXT 75 YARDS AND PARKED, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF. I OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND A IGNITION COIL AND AN INTACT SPARK PLUG FROM CYLINDER #3 SITTING ON TOP OF THE VALVE COVER.
SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK, AS VEHICLE WAS MOVING ON A HIGHWAY. DISABLED, NEEDED A TOW. REPAIR VERY EXPENSIVE. *TR
SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF HEAD. SPARK PLUG #7 BLEW OUT 9 MONTHS AGO. NOW PLUG #8 BLEW OUT. MECHANIC SAYS IT'S DUE TO POOR DESIGN OF ALUMINUM HEAD AND INSUFFICIENT THREADS. BOTH TIMES, THIS HAPPENED WHILE COASTING AT A SLOW SPEED (< 30 MPH).
WHILE MOVING TO COEUR D ALENE, ID, FROM CALIFORNIA, A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK FOR THE SECOND TIME, CAUSING IT TO BE UN DRIVABLE, LEAVING US BROKE DOWN ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE, AND REQUIRING A VERY EXPENSIVE TOW FROM OREGON TO OUR NEW HOME IN IDAHO.
THE SPARKPLUG BLEW OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST TIME WAS ABOUT 9 MONTHS AGO. RUNNING FINE THEN ABOUT 40 MPH THE PLUG BLEW OUT
BLOWN SPARK PLUG ON CYLINDER 8.
ENGINE BLEW THE SPARK PLUG OUT WHILE IDLING. COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE.
THE SPARK PLUG POPPED OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD.
SPARK "BLEW OUT" OF CYLINDER HEAD AND ALSO DAMAGED COIL-ON-PLUG ASSEMBLY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, IT IDLED ROUGHLY AND MADE A POPPING NOISE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE RODE ROUGHLY AND HAD DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING. WHILE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND STILL WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.
SPARK PLUG HAS BLOWN OUT ON 3 DIFFERENT TIMES 1 PLUG HAS BLOWN TWICE. NO FIRE, BUT IF I HAD CONTINUES IT MAY CAUSE A FIRE, FUEL AND SPARK OUT SIDE THE ENGINE. *TR
I WAS DRIVEN AND THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD. *DT
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH FORD F-150'S BLOWING SPARK PLUGS. I HAVE BLOWN 2 SO FAR AND READ ON NUMEROUS WEBSITES OF MANY MANY PEOPLE HAVING THIS SAME ISSUE. BOTH TIMES I HAVE PULLED OVER AND DISCONNECTED THE IGNITION COIL. IF I WOULD NOT KNOW HOW TO DO THIS THE BLOWN PLUG COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT FORD NEEDS TO FIX! *TR
COILS BURNS OUT, SPARK PLUGS BURN OUT, HAVE CHANGED NUMEROUS TIMES, GET ONE FIXED THEN A DIFFERENT ONE GOES OUT. CHANGED ALL EIGHT 3 WEEKS LATER STARTED BURNING OUT AGAIN. COMSTANT PROBLEM. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2001 Ford F-150 has 261 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.