Problems · by component
2001 Ford F-150 engine problems
50 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Ford F-150 cite engine, 4% of all 1,340 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
50
4% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
18
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
Reported by owners
What owners say about the engine
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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 the rear doors failed to open due to a fractured cable. The contact added WD-40 to the doors. The contact stated that the battery was draining while the door was opened. The contact stated that the resonator connecting the engine and muffler was rusted. The contact added putty to the area. Additionally, the check engine warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.”
“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.”
“The contact owns a 2001 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the driveway flames were suddenly present coming from the engine compartment. The fire department was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The contact indicated that prior to the fire the vehicle had not been driven or turned on for two days. The failure mileage was 89,000.”
“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.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE REVVED UP AND STALLED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS EXPOSED AND INSTALLED ADDITIONAL BOLTS. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211,000.”
Showing 6 of 50 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.