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2001 Ford E-150: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

37 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

73,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 37 complaints (10.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1129.7%
Steering behavior38.1%
Electrical and battery issues25.4%
Fuel system concerns25.4%
Transmission and shifting12.7%
Engine operation12.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Engine And Engine Cooling
4
Electrical System:Wiring
3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
3
Electrical System
2
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
2
Power Train
2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling4
Electrical System:Wiring3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor3
Electrical System2
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly2
Power Train2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic2

Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Electrical System:Wiring: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor: 3; Electrical System: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 2; Power Train: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
4
50,000 to 74,999
4
75,000 to 99,999
3
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
3
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9994
50,000 to 74,9994
75,000 to 99,9993
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above3

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 3

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 18 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2001
4
2002
5
2003
4
2004
2
2005
3
2006
1
2007
2
2008
4
2009
1
2010
3
2011
3
2014
2
2016
1
2021
1
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20014
20025
20034
20042
20053
20061
20072
20084
20091
20103
20113
20142
20161
20211
20231

2001: 4; 2002: 5; 2003: 4; 2004: 2; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 4; 2009: 1; 2010: 3; 2011: 3; 2014: 2; 2016: 1; 2021: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10003916 · 2003-01-31 (January 31, 2003)

THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED THE FOLLOWING: WATER LEAK IN THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR, ELECTRICAL SHORT, THE BRAKES/ROTORS GROOVED/PADS ARE WORN, THE PASSENGER MIDDLE SEAT WILL NOT MOVE, AND A PAINT DEFECT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM IS NORMAL. SCC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003916 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10025660 · 2003-07-08 (July 8, 2003)

WITH ONLY 43,000 MILES, AND 21 MONTHS OLD, I HAD TO REPLACE OUTER TIE ROD, DRAG LINK, AND BALL JOINTS ON OUR 2001 FORD E-150 VAN. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN USED AS A PRIVATE VEHICLE. MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PER FORD SCHEDULE, AND PERFORMED BY THE SAME FORD DEALERSHIP WHICH DID THE STATE INSPECTION WHICH LEAD TO THE PART REPLACEMENTS. WHILE FORD DID CONTRIBUTE ABOUT 40% TOWARDS THE WORK, IT SEEMS SUSPENSION AND STEERING PARTS WEARING OUT SO PREMATURELY IS A DEFECT WHICH SHOULD BE CONCIDERED FOR RECALL. PURSUING FURTHER WITH FORD ONLY RESU…

Owner-reported narrative. 43,371 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025660 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10041292 · 2003-10-06 (October 6, 2003)

2001 FORD E150 CONVERSION VAN. HAD TO REPLACE STARTER AT 8,000 MILES. VIBRATION OF VEHICLE AT BRAKING - NEVER FIXED BY DEALER. STARTER NOW CLICKS AND DOES NOT START FOR 2 -4 TRIES BEFORE VEHICLE TURNS OVER - AFTER BEING OFF FOR SEVERAL HOURS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041292 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10045418 · 2003-11-04 (November 4, 2003)

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE LATE 2001 AND HAS BEEN IN 6 TIMES FOR NEW ROTORS AND BREAKS DUE TO VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. FORD HAS COVERED IT SO FAR, AND THE DEALERSHIP JUST TELLS ME THAT BECAUSE THE VAN IS HEAVY IN THE FRONT THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW IN THE VEHICLE. WHO CAN AFFORD A $600.00 BRAKE JOB EVERY 4 TO 5 MONTHS? *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10045418 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10048475 · 2004-01-06 (January 6, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH HEADLIGHTS ON, THEY WILL CUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, LEAVING CONSUMER WITHOUT A VISION OF THE ROAD. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. *NLM *SC

Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10048475 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10079738 · 2004-06-23 (June 23, 2004)

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED VEHICLE STALLED/LOST POWER. CONSUMER DRIFTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. VEHICLE WAS AT DEALER ON SEVEN SEPARATE OCCASIONS, BUT MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10079738 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10108153 · 2005-01-28 (January 28, 2005)

TRANSSMISSION FAILED AT 50,000 MI. REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT IT WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM THAT CAUSES THE PRESSURE IN THE TRANSMISSION TO BECOME TO HIGH AND CAUSES FLUID TO BE PUSHED BACK INTO THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS OF THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING TOTAL FAILURE/BREAKAGE. TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108153 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10112745 · 2005-03-08 (March 8, 2005)

I WAS REAR ENDED. SEAT BELT DID NOT WORK AS IT SHOULD HAVE,CAUSING ME TO END UP WITH A BAD WHIPLASH. THE SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT MOST OF THE TIME. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THES DEFECTS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 79,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112745 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

01V114000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Reported: 2001-04-05 (April 5, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ON CERTAIN VANS WITH AMBULANCE PREP PACKAGES OR OTHER SEVERE-DUTY APPLICATIONS INVOLVING OPERATION AT OR NEAR THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT WITH FREQUENT TWISTING OF THE VEHICLE BODY, SUCH AS OFF-ROAD, ROUGH ROAD OR SPEED BUMP EVENTS, THE 35 GALLON MID-SHIP FUEL TANK COULD DEVELOP A CRACK WHERE IT CONTACTS THE FRAME CROSS MEMBER. IF THE FUEL TANK CRACKS, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR.

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK AND, IF CRACKED, WILL REPLACE THE TANK. INSULATOR PADS WILL BE INSTALLED ON ALL VEHICLES TO REDUCE THE STRESS LEVELS IN THE FUEL TANK. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 19, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
07V336000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Reported: 2007-08-03 (August 3, 2007)

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
08V051000 · Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control

Reported: 2008-02-04 (February 4, 2008)

FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.

Consequence: AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
09V399000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Reported: 2009-10-13 (October 13, 2009)

FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE COULD OCCUR WITH OR WITHOUT THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.

NHTSA campaign record ↗