FORD FORD · model year

2001 FORD FORD

34 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2001FORDFORD carries 34 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, 0 injuries, 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 FORD is engine and engine cooling:engine with 3 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition:switch (3) and vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal (2). 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.

NHTSA currently has 74 investigation files overlapping the 2001 FORD, and 2 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.

34
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

34 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
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL2
STEERING1
PARKING BRAKE1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER1
SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS1
TIRES:SIDEWALL1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH1

Recent Complaints

20100615ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

I HAVE A 2001 FOCUS ZX3 - 5SP THAT TENDS TO STALL WHEN THE AC IS ON. BUT IT MAY NOT STALL DURING THE "INITIAL" USE PERIOD. WITHOUT WARNING, IT WILL STALL AFTER THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. MY SERVICE SHOP CHECKED THE COMPUTER CODES FOR A PROBLEM AND NOTHING CAME UP. YESTERDAY, IT WAS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 30MINS WITH THE AC ON (OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AROUND 80+ DEGREES). THE VEHICLE RAN FINE WITH THE RPMS NORMAL WHEN STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT 90 MINS. WHEN ATTEMPTING TO RESTART IT WOULD STALL. TO GET STARTED I NEEDED TO KEEP FOOT ON GAS PEDAL (TO MAINTAIN A HIGH ENOUGH RPM TO PREVENT THE STALL). IF I DID NOT KEEP THE RPMS UP, VEHICLE WOULD STALL. WHILE DRIVING AND STOPPING, I NEEDED TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL TO MAINTAIN THE RPMS. (THIS CAN BE CHALLENGING WITH A 5-SPD.) THE VEHICLE WAS THEN PARKED FOR OVER FOUR HOURS. IT THEN STARTED WITHOUT PROBLEM AND RAN NORMALLY. DURING THIS PERIOD I DID NOT HAVE THE AC ON. I SEE THAT THIS MA

Mileage: 85,800

20100514SUSPENSION:REAR

I WAS PULLING OUT THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE REAR AXLE SNAPPED IN TWO. THIS IS GOING TO KILL SOMEONE. *TR

20090206ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

2001 FORD HAS AN OIL LEAK ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. CONSUMER STATES THAT FORD FEEL THAT THE LEAK IS NORMAL AND THAT THERE IS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEM. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE OIL LEAK WAS CAUSED BY METAL CHIP DEBRIS OR DAMAGE TO THE SEALING SURFACE THAT OCCURRED DURING THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS. IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, THE ENGINE MUST BE PULLED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *JB UPDATED 03/01/10

20080820WHEELS

WE HAVE HAD THREE INCIDENTS INVOLVING TWO VEHICLES IN WHICH WHEELS HAVE COME OFF OF FORD F-550 VEHICLES DUE TO SHEARED LUG BOLTS. THE WEIGHTS OF ALL OF OUR VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RECORDED AND FALL BELOW THE MANUFACTURERS GVWR. PER A TIRE COMPANY'S RECOMMENDATION, WE HAVE ISSUED A MANDATE THAT ALL SIMILAR VEHICLES HAVE THEIR WHEELS RE-TORQUED, TO MEET THE MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS AFTER DRIVING, AFTER TRAVELING 50 MILES FOLLOWING ANY WORK DONE ON THE WHEELS. WE HAVE HAD THE WHEELS ON VEHICLE THAT DID NOT COME OFF INSPECTED AND CHECKED TO PROPER TORQUE FOLLOWING ALL INCIDENTS AND THEY HAVE BEEN TORQUED APPROPRIATELY. THE INCIDENT DATES WERE, 12/29/07 ,02/15/08, AND 07/17/08 . ON 12/29/07 AN EMPLOYEE WAS DRIVING UP A ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 20 M.P.H. WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE BACK DUAL WHEELS CAME OFF DUE TO BROKEN LUG BOLTS. THIS WAS A NORMAL USE OF THE VEHICLE ON A WELL-MAINTAINED DIRT ROAD. ON 02/15/08 TWO EMPLOYEES WERE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 84 TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60

Mileage: 150,000

20080301VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISCONNECTED BY FORD DEALERSHIP IN OCTOBER OF 2007 BECAUSE OF RECALL. THEY SAID IN DECEMBER THAT I SHOULD HAVE NEW PARTS READY FOR INSTALL ON MY 2001 FORD VAN. THIS IS MARCH OF 2008 AND NO ONE CAN TELL WHEN THIS PART WILL BE REPLACED. I FELL LIKE I HAVE PAID FOR THE COMFORT OF CRUISE CONTROL AND DO NOT HAVE IT. I FELL LIKE I CANT SELL VAN WITH A DEFECTIVE PART OR CRUISE UNPLUGGED. HOW LONG DOES FORD HAVE TO REPAIR THIS PART. *TR

20071228VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

I AM HAVING THE EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN EA0515. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SAID IT HAS SEEN THE PROBLEM BEFORE. MY LEAK HAS RUINED THE GEM MODULE ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TOTAL DAMAGE $980.00. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS THE BELIEF THIS IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE EITHER. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

20071228VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING

I AM HAVING THE EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN EA0515. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SAID IT HAS SEEN THE PROBLEM BEFORE. MY LEAK HAS RUINED THE GEM MODULE ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE TOTAL DAMAGE $980.00. MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAS THE BELIEF THIS IS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT AND IS NOT RESPONSIBLE EITHER. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

20071210ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

UPPER INTAKE GASKET MANIFOLD. *TR

Mileage: 88,000

20071210ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

UPPER INTAKE GASKET MANIFOLD. *TR

Mileage: 88,000

20071121ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

EMISSIONS LIGHT WENT ON AND OFF AND THE CAR SEEMED TO MISFIRE. DID NOT DRIVE SMOOTH. I WAS GLAD I WAS CLOSE TO HOME. I FELT THE CAR WOULD CONK OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *TR

20071121ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

EMISSIONS LIGHT WENT ON AND OFF AND THE CAR SEEMED TO MISFIRE. DID NOT DRIVE SMOOTH. I WAS GLAD I WAS CLOSE TO HOME. I FELT THE CAR WOULD CONK OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING. *TR

20071022ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

WHENEVER IT RAINS MY 2001 FORD EXPEDITIONS ELECTRICAL GOES CRAZY, I GET A LEAK FROM WHEAT I AM GUESSING IS THE WINDSHIELD, AND THE FLOOR GETS WET, THEN MY AC RUNS WITHOUT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION AND MY LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF, THE RADIO GOES ON AND OFF AND KEEPS DRAINING THE BATTERY, TOOK IT TO FORD, BUT ALL THEY SAY IS IT NEEDS A NEW GEM MODULE BUT NEVER SAYS ANYTHING ABOUT THE WINDSHIELD. THIS HAS BEEN AN ON GOING PROBLEM FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. *JB

20070928FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

2001 FORD EXPEDITION SITTING IN DRIVEWAY CATCHES FIRE. FIRE SPREAD TO HOUSE. CAR A TOTAL LOSS, HOUSE DAMAGED. YARD ALSO DAMAGED. *TR

Mileage: 107,000

20070706SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

DURING ~55,000 MILE BRAKE CHECKUP IT WAS FOUND THAT BOTH REAR COIL SPRINGS ON MY 2001 FORD TAURUS ARE BROKEN, SEEMINGLY IN THE SAME PLACE. PARTS ARE BEING REPLACED BY LOCAL SERVICE CENTER. *TR

20070321ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH, HE STARTED SMELLING A BURNT ODOR AND SUDDENLY ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE 2001 FORD FOCUS STARTED FLASHING. AFTER 3 CYCLES OF FLASHING ALL THE LIGHTS WENT OUT, THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED HOME. HE THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS HAD A SHORT CAUSING IT TO BURN. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE INVOICE REPAIR. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE BOTH 63500 MILES.

Mileage: 63,500

20051019POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

DRIVING ALONG AND THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE JUST CAME ON AND I DIDN'T TOUCH ANYTHING. THE WHEELS FELT LIKE THEY HAD LOCKED UP AND WERE SCREECHING ON THE DRIVEWAY. THERE WERE BLACK MARKS ON THE DRIVEWAY FROM THE TIRES. HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A FORD DEALER, THEY CHECKED IT AND TOLD ME THE SHIFT MOTOR AND GEM MODULE HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A TSB ON THE PROBLEM. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANT. AFTER READING ABOUT THIS I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WILL NOT COVER THIS AND THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOT COVER THIS PROBLEM. THE FORD MOTOR CO. HAS SAID THAT THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN THE 99-2001 EXPEDITIONS AND F250 LD AND F-150 AND LINCOLN 99-2001 NAVIGATOR. THEY ALSO HAVE SAID WHAT THE NEW PART NUMBER THAT IT SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH. I WOULD THINK IF I WAS DRIVING 65 MPH AND THE 4X4L COMES ON I COULD GET INTO A MAJOR ACCIDENT, SINCE YOU ARE ONLY SUPPOSED TO GO 30 MPH OR LESS IN 4X4L. I HAVE NOT YET HAD THE CAR REPAIRED. REPAIRS

20050922UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A 2001 FORD EXPEDITION XLT IN JULY 2001. WE HAVE ONLY RECEIVED 1 RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE WHICH PERTAINED TO THE PCV VALVE. WE HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF ANY OTHER RECALLS BY FORD. WE HAVE CHECKED YAHOO.COM AND CURRENTLY THERE ARE 7 RECALLS. WE ARE WONDERING IF OUR VEHICLE IS AFFECTED. THE VIN # IS [XXX]. WE ARE ALSO WONDERING IF THERE MAY BE A RECALL ON THE AXLES OF 2001 MAKES. A YOUNG MAN WRECKED IN OUR FRONT YARD THE OTHER NIGHT BECAUSE HIS BACK RIGHT AXLE BROKE INTO AND MADE THE BACK RIGHT TIRE COME OFF AND FLY ACROSS OUR YARD. LUCKILY, HE WAS NOT HURT. WE HAVE 3 CHILDREN IN THIS VEHICLE WITH US AND ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR SAFETY AS WELL AS OUR OWN. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP IN THIS MATTER. *JB UPDATED 07/18/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

20050909UNKNOWN OR OTHER

9/8/05 MY HUSBAND CALLED VARSITY FORD ABOUT RECALL OF RE: CRUISE ON EXPEDITION 9/9/05 AS INSTRUCTED, I TOOK EXPEDITION TO VARSITY FOR REPAIR. ON WAY HOME NOTICED CRUISE DOES NOT WORK. MY HUSBAND HAD BEEN TOLD THIS WOULD BE A REPAIR NOT A DISCONNECT SO HE CALLED VARSITY. HE WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED AN APPT. TO CHECK THE CRUISE. I CALLED TO MAKE THE APPT. AND STATED SINCE THE CRUISE WORKED FINE BEFORE THE RECALL WORK, VARSITY WOULD NOT CHARGE ME TO GET IT WORKING AGAIN. I WAS TOLD,"NO. PROBABLY THE CRUISE MODULE HAS BLOWN." VARSITY REP, MONTY GUY STATED WOULD DO THE CHECK FOR FREE BUT TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRS. I STATED THE CRUISE WORKED FINE BEFORE THE RECALL WORK. I WAS AGAIN TOLD VARSITY WILL TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY PARTS GOING OUT FROM RECALL WORK. I CALLED FORD MOTOR. I WAS TOLD TO HAVE THE CHECK FOR FREE AND IF THE HARNESS IS LOOSE THERE WILL BE NO CHARGE, BUT FORD TAKES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY DAMAGE DONE TO THE VEHICLE BY THE DEALER. THIS IS A SCAM

20050906POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE AND REVERSE WENT OUT WHILE WE WERE ON VACATION. I WAS ABLE TO START GOING IN 2ND GEAR AND THEN SHIFT TO DRIVE TO GO UNTIL I GOT HOME. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHTS THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. BOB TOMES FORD SAID THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THIS SEEMS A LITTLE BIT RIDICULOUS SINCE MY VEHICLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED. WE BOUGHT IT NEW. I HAVE ALWAYS DRIVEN A FORD AND HAVE DRIVEN OTHER ONES WELL INTO THE 100,000 MILE RANGE WITH NEVER A PROBLEM. IT IS NOW SITTING UP AT FORD GETTING REPAIRED. IT HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

Mileage: 66,500

20050719EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH

UPON TURNING MY DIRECTIONAL ON TO MAKE THE LEFT HAND TURN IT HESSITATED TO COME ON WHILE THE DIRECTIONAL STILL STAYED DOWN TO GO LEFT. AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS THE DIRECTIONAL CAME ON AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN AS WELL AS A STREAM OF SMOKE OUT OF THE HAZARD LIGHTS BUTTON ON THE STEERING COLUMN. I SHUT THE DIRECTIONAL OFF AND THE SMOKE STOPPED AND CLEARED AWAY. I PROCEEDED TO MY DESTINATION WHICH WAS ABOUT 100 YARDS AWAY NOT USING THE DIRECTIONAL AGAIN. I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM AND THEY SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE THE "TURN SIGNAL SWITCH FRIED." BEING THAT THE DEALERSHIP WAS ONLY ABOUT 20 YARDS AWAY THEY CAME AND PICKED MY VEHICLE UP GIVING ME A LOANER VEHICLE TO USE. THEY TOLD ME THE PART HAD TO BE ORDERED AND THAT IT WAS GOING TO COST ABOUT $120.00 FOR THE PART AND LABOR. I HUNG UP WITH THEM AND WAS NOT HAPPY. THAT EVENING AFTER DISCUSSING THE MATTER WITH MY FATHER HE AND I FELT IT SHOULD NOT BE MY RESPONSIBLITY TO PAY THIS AMOUNT ON A D

Mileage: 47,747

Compare 2001FORDFORD to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2001 FORD FORD have?
The 2001 FORD FORD has 34 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 FORD FORD?
The most-complained component for the 2001 FORD FORD is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
Is the 2001 FORD FORD 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.