Problems · by component
2001 Ford F-150 steering problems
37 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2001 Ford F-150 cite steering, 3% of all 1,340 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
37
3% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the steering
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“THE TRUCK WAS PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS WITHOUT BEING USED OR TURNED ON. THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK SUDDENLY WENT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT IT OUT. THE FIRE BURNED ONLY THE FRONT UP TO THE WINDSHIELD LEAVING THE CAB PARTIALLY MELTED AND MY DAUGHTERS CAR SEAT UNSAFE. NOW THIS MESS SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY AS I WAIT FOR INSPECTOR. AS IT FALLS APART MORE AND MORE EACH DAY AS MY FAMILY AND NEIGHBORS SMELL THE BURNT RUBBLE AND ARE REMINDED OF THAT FRIGHTENING AFTERNOON. *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, THE STEERING WHEEL ABRUPTLY SEPARATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE AS THE STEERING COLUMN BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE UNIVERSAL JOINT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE UNIVERSAL JOINT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.”
“THE FUEL TANK STRAPS ON MY 2001 FORD F150 ARE COMPLETELY RUSTED. OTHER AREAS HAVE ALSO RUSTED OUT SUCH AS THE RADIATOR SUPPORTS - RADIATOR AND SHROUD DROPPED OUT AND ARE HITTING AGAINST THE ENGINE FAN. THE PICK-UP BED OF THE TRUCK IS ALSO RUSTING OUT. UPDATED 08/11/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE INSPECTED THE STRAPS, HE FOUND ONE OF THEM COMPLETELY COVERED IN RUST, BUT STILL IN TACT. ALSO, THERE WAS UNUSUAL RUSTING ALL OVER THE UNDERSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE LOWER RADIATOR SUPPORT WAS ROTTED OUT AND THE UNDERSIDE OF THE PICK-UP BED AND OTHER SUPPORTS HAVE MAJOR RUST. UPDATED 08/12/11 THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN THE SUPPORT GAVE OUT THE RADIATOR AND RADIATOR SHROUD FELL ONTO THE FAN THAT IS MOUNTED TO THE ENGINE. ALSO, THE BALL JOINTS AND STEERING WERE WEARING PREMATURELY DUE TO LACK OF GREASE FITTINGS. UPDATED 08/30/11 *TR”
“I HAVE A 2001 FORD F150 REGULAR CAB LONG BED WITH 75,000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE RIGHT INNER TIE ROD BROKE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUDDER SIGNIFICANTLY UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THIS BRIEF SHUDDERING CAUSED THE REAR FUEL TANK STRAP TO SNAP IN HALF PRIMARILY DUE TO EXCESSIVE CORROSION OF THE STRAP. LOSS OF THE SUPPORTING STRAP CAUSED THE REAR OF THE TANK TO DROP ALMOST TO GROUND LEVEL WHICH ALSO BROKE THE FILLER INLET OFF OF THE TOP OF THE TANK, COMPLETELY DISCONNECTING THE FILLER TUBE AND PRESENTING A LARGE HOLE FOR FUEL TO ESCAPE. BOTH OF THESE FAILURES ARE NOT WHAT I WOULD EXPECT FROM A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 75,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. EITHER COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. *TR”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD F150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE STEERING COLUMN BOLT UNEXPECTEDLY DETACHED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE THE BOLT ON THE FLOOR AREA AND CONTINUED DRIVING. THE GEAR SELECTOR WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK AT ANY GIVEN TIME WHICH REQUIRED THE GEAR TO BE SHIFTED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND BRICKS PLACED BEHIND EACH TIRE TO AVOID THE VEHICLE FROM ROLLING AWAY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION AND THEY INFORMED THAT THE REPAIR WOULD BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CONTACT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.”
Showing 6 of 37 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.