FORD E-150 · model year

2001 FORD E-150

52 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 4 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2001FORDE-150 carries 52 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 2 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2001 E-150 is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc with 7 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling (4) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 4 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle, the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 2001 E-150, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page, a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

52
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

52 filings

Crashes Reported

1 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC7
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING3
TIRES2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY2
POWER TRAIN2
STEERING2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN1
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES1
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS1

Recalls (4)

09V39900013/10/2009

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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

01V11400005/04/2001

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

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

08V05100004/02/2008

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

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

07V33600003/08/2007

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

Recent Complaints

20230520STEERING

Frame/ chassis cracked at steering box mount due to rusting from the inside of the frame out. There are holes and small open areas in the 4 sided frame. There is no wheel well material protecting this area from excessive amount of salt, water, dirt and debris entering in these holes as well, there is no way to maintain, clean, protect or inspect the insides of the frame to know your steering is going to fail. I am not the only person that is having this problem. Please review. Thanks for reading. Sincerely [XXX] or [XXX]. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

20210814STEERING

Frame corroded causing steering box to break through the frame and complete steering loss which nearly caused a head on collision and leaving van inoperable and completely without steering

20160606ENGINE

SPARG PLUG BLOWN OUT OF PASSENGER SIDE CYLINDER #4, VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IN IDLE

Mileage: 168,000

20140621TIRES

WHILE PARKING, TIRE SUDDENLY WENT FLAT, TIRE LOOKED TO BE PERFECT EXCEPT FOR SEPARATION OF BEAD OF TIRE. *TR

Mileage: 130,000

20140502SUSPENSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING, HE HEARD A LOUD DRAGGING NOISE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE TIE ROD WAS FRACTURED. ALSO, HE STATED THAT HE HAD REPLACED THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE 30,000 MILES BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE WHAT HAD CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 171,578.

Mileage: 171,578

20111026ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

EXHAUST MANAFOLD RUST BOLTS RUSTED OFF UNDER CARIGE BADLY RUSTED. *TT

Mileage: 67,000

20110621ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF MOTOR BREAKING THE COIL PACK IN THE PROCESS AND COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE SPEWING FUEL MIXTURE FROM THE CYLINDER. *TR

Mileage: 118,000

20110317SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I HAVE A 2001 E 1-50 VAN, I AM ALWAYS GETTING A BRAKE TO THE FLOOR ISSUE THIS HAS CAUSED ME SOME SCARY INCIDENTS AT TIMES, I HAVE HAD EVERYTHING REPLACED THAT I CAN THINK OF BUT STILL HAVING THIS ISSUE, I GET THE RUN AROUND WITH FORD SAYING THIS IS NORMAL TO ME THIS IS NOT NORMAL WHEN I HAVE TO PUMP MY BRAKES AT TIMES, BEFORE I STOP ALSO SITTING AT LIGHTS I CAN FEEL MY PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR THIS IS NOT NORMAL SOMETHING IS WRONG, SOMEWHERE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE CAUSE I TRIED TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE IS HAVING THIS SEEMS A LOT ARE HERE ARE SOME STORIES ON THIS ISSUE HTTP://WWW.FORD-TRUCKS.COM/FORUMS/937993-MY-BRAKES-GO-TO-THE-FLOOR-AND-SO-DO-YOURS-I-THINK.HTML I'M TIRED OF TOSSING MONEY INTO THIS ISSUE, I DON'T WANT TO GET INTO A ACCIDENT AND KILL MYSELF OR SOMEONE ELSE, I THINK THIS PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. I'M SURE NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS ISSUE. *TR

Mileage: 168,000

20101016FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

GAS FILLER HOSE AND GAS VENT HOSE DETERIORATE ON 2001 FORD E-150 MAY CAUSE FIRE WHEN FILLING GAS TANK. *TR

Mileage: 85,000

20100802FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD E-150 CARGO VAN. THE CONTACT WAS REFUELING THE VEHICLE WHEN HE SMELLED AN OVERPOWERING GASOLINE ODOR. GASOLINE WAS LEAKING FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO LOCATE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 01V114000 (FUEL SYSTEM,GASOLINE: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 73,200.

Mileage: 73,000

20100310POWER TRAIN

2001 F-150 FORD 4.6 LITER SPIT # 3 SPARKPLUG OUT OFF CYLINDER DESTROYING COIL OVER PLUG (COP) AND STRANDING ME OVER 500 MILES FROM HOME, HAD IT TOWED BACK TO MY HOMETOWN FORD DEALER SHOP, THEY WANTED TO REPLACE HEADS AT MY EXPENSE,NO RECALLS BY FOMOCO ON THIS MANUFACTURING/ENGINEERING DEFECT. HELP NHTSA! *TR

20100310ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2001 F-150 FORD 4.6 LITER SPIT # 3 SPARKPLUG OUT OFF CYLINDER DESTROYING COIL OVER PLUG (COP) AND STRANDING ME OVER 500 MILES FROM HOME, HAD IT TOWED BACK TO MY HOMETOWN FORD DEALER SHOP, THEY WANTED TO REPLACE HEADS AT MY EXPENSE,NO RECALLS BY FOMOCO ON THIS MANUFACTURING/ENGINEERING DEFECT. HELP NHTSA! *TR

20091217POWER TRAIN

I CURRENTLY OWN A METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED 2001 FORD E150 VAN WITH A 4.6 LITER MOTOR. I HAVE APPROX 78000 MILES ON VEHICLE, AND RECENTLY STARTED HAVING SPARK PLUG ISSUES. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT CHANGING THE SPARK PLUGS WITH ALUMINUM HEADS CAN POSSIBLY RUIN MY VAN DUE TO THE PLUGS BLOWING OUT OF THE HEADS. AT THIS TIME I'M NOT IN A POSITION TO BY A NEW VEHICLE DUE TO SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AND BASIC AS A SPARK PLUG. DUE TO THE LOCATION OF MOTOR IN VAN THE REPAIR IS COSTLY AND TIME CONSUMING. THE MORE RESEARCH I DO WITH THIS ISSUE I FEEL THIS IS A HUGE DESIGN FLAW. *TR

Mileage: 78,000

20080827ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD E150. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE AND NOTICED STEAM COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS A RISK PIN IN THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THIS TYPE OF ENGINE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,900.

Mileage: 68,900

20080816SEAT BELTS

THE OUTER COVERS OF ALL THE SEATBELTS IN THE 3RD ROW HAVE ALL FRACTURED RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO LATCH ANY OF THE SEATBELTS. . THIS SOUNDS VERY SIMILAR TO THE FORD ESCAPE RECALL 03V507000. WHEN THE REAR OF CASING FRACTURED, THE INNER PART OF THE SEATBELT MOVED WITHIN THE CASING RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO LATCH THE SEATBELT. ATTEMPTS AT REPAIR WERE UNSUCCESSFUL. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

20080229VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD E150. THE CONTACT RECEIVED FORD RECALL NOTICE NUMBER 05S28 IN AUGUST OF 2007 FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. HE FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS NOT WORKING HARD TO PROVIDE THE PARTS TO THE DEALER. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE DEALER INFORMATION WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,000. UPDATED 03-19-08 *BF UPDATED 03/19/08 *TR

20080105FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

AQRE: FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALL 05S28 FOR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN AUGUST OF 2007 STATING THAT MY SCDS MAY BE DEFECTIVE AND CAUSE A FIRE WHETHER OR NOT THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED. THE SCDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TO DATE ALL FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS DONE IS TO HAVE VARSITY FORD REMOVE THE SCDS...THEY HAVE NOT SUPPLIED THE DEALER WITH ANY NEW PARTS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE ONES. THE DEALER SERVICE REP HAS TOLD ME HE HAS NO IDEA WHEN OR IF REPLACMENT PARTS WILL BE PROVIDED. *CN

20071126ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD E-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC IGNITION COIL HAD TO BE REPLACED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE COIL SLOWLY BECOMES DEFECTIVE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION COIL WAS BURNING OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR COSTS $300 EACH TIME. THE CONTACT HAD TO PAY $900 BECAUSE THE COIL WAS REPLACED THREE TIMES. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE COIL FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHILE DRIVING UPHILL AND ON LEVEL GROUND AND THE VEHICLE ALSO LOSES POWER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 41,000. UPDATED 12/31/07 *BF THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. UPDATED *JB

Mileage: 41,000

20070125FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

I PURCHASED A USED 2001 FORD PICKUP ON 10/26/06. ON JANUARY 10,2007 IT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE BEING PARK OVER NIGHT. I REPORTED THE FIRE TO FORD AND THEIR RESPONSE IS THAT THE DAMAGE WAS TOO SEVER TO VERIFY ANY MFG DEFECT. I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE THE FOLLOWING WEEK. FORD SHOULD NOTIFY BUYER'S SOONER! *JB

20070125FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

I PURCHASED A USED 2001 FORD PICKUP ON 10/26/06. ON JANUARY 10,2007 IT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE BEING PARK OVER NIGHT. I REPORTED THE FIRE TO FORD AND THEIR RESPONSE IS THAT THE DAMAGE WAS TOO SEVER TO VERIFY ANY MFG DEFECT. I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE THE FOLLOWING WEEK. FORD SHOULD NOTIFY BUYER'S SOONER! *JB

Compare 2001FORDE-150 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 FORD E-150 have?
The 2001 FORD E-150 has 52 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 2 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2001 FORD E-150?
Yes, the 2001 FORD E-150 has 4 recall(s). The most common affected component is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 FORD E-150?
The most-complained component for the 2001 FORD E-150 is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 2001 FORD E-150 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.