2001 Ford F-150: sudden loss of power

Filed Mar 20, 2017 · Engine · 80,200 miles · WI

My vehicle was in motion in a straight line with a s speed of 30 MPH when I heard a loud pop sound and loss of power, although the engine was still running but extremely rough. I turned into a lot within the next 75 yards and parked, turned the vehicle off. I opened the hood to find a ignition coil and an intact spark plug from cylinder #3 sitting on top of the valve cover.

Filed Oct 17, 2012 · Brakes · 213,000 miles · AR

Truck starting pulling badly to right, loss of power, speed and smoke coming from the right front wheel. Rim, caliper were smoking , had to pour water on to wheel to keep from burning. After towed to service center was told this is a common problem with the ford trucks that the slide pin on the caliper can seize and lock the brake in active position preventing it from releasing from the rotor causing the extreme heat and burning the brake bad and seals in the caliper. I was lucky it didn't happen at 70 MPH and lock the wheelcausing me to lose control. I ve also looked at the reports on the internet and see where others have reported this in blog but now to safety commission.

Filed Jan 5, 2012 · Engine · 103,000 miles · NC

I was getting on the interstate this am and heard a noise, the truck lost power and started running extremely rough. I turned around and barely made it home (only a few miles). When I raised the hood, a spark plug was laying on top of the engine. The coil pack was also broken when the spark plug blew out. There was a very strong smell of gas. I researched the internet and found that this is a major problem with ford engines built from 1997 - 2003. If I had been in a center or left lane, being rush hour traffic, this could have caused a major wreck. This problem should not be ignored and should become a recall for ford.

Filed Aug 1, 2011 · Acceleration · 167,257 miles · IL

Lost power steering assist while driving. Hose corroded through and lost all hydraulic fluid.

Filed May 19, 2011 · Engine · 31,000 miles · MA

I have a 2001 ford f-150 lightning with roughly 31,000 miles on it. Three weeks back I was turning into my neighborhood at 5 MPH, and I head a popping sound, and the truck begins to run roughly. I immediately pull over, and pop the hood, I smell gasoline. I shut the truck off. Call a tow truck to my ford dealership. There they tell me that the spark plug has shot out of the cylinder head, stripping the aluminum head. I get the bill for repair in which they re-bore the head, and install a heli coil at a cost of $560 plus labor. The dealership tells me this should in fact strengthen the cylinder, so I continue normal operation of the vehicle tuesday 5/17/11, I was driving on route 290 in worcester when all of a sudden at 70 MPH the heli coil pops out causing me instantly lose power. In an effort not to damage the vehicle further I put it in neutral, and coast to the break down lane of a three lane highway and proceed to call aaa to get a tow. Once back at the ford dealership the tech tries to do the same thing, and re-bore the head to install another heli coil. He does and takes it for a test drive. The heli coil that he just installed blows. Now they are telling me that I need a new cylinder head. A $1600 part, plus 19 hours of installation costing $3600 in total. This as I have been told by the dealership and upon hours of research, is a common problem with the 1999-2003 ford 5.4l triton engine. This is a factory ford defect, they did not drill the appropriate threads for the spark plugs. Now it has happened to me twice, this very easily could have gotten me hurt on the highway, or could have set fire to my vehicle since gasoline from the cylinder was spilling onto the hot engine block, directly next to the fuse box, there a current runs through. I have spoken to ford and there is no recall on this. A factory defect, that is costing me almost $4000, through nothing but careful care of the vehicle.

Filed Jan 21, 2010 · Engine · 98,000 miles · IL

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford f-150. While driving 40 MPH the contact heard a banging noise in the engine and the vehicle started to lose power. The contact was able to safely drive onto the emergency lane and after looking under the hood, he observed that a spark plug was missing. The vehicle was towed to a local mechanic to have the vehicle repaired. The contact is concerned that a crash could have occurred when the spark plugged popped out of the engine. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 98,000.

Filed Feb 18, 2009 · Engine · KY

2001 ford f-150 blew out a spark plug for the 2nd time. Caused the truck to go off the road since it immediately lost power while going 65mph. This is the 2nd one that has blown and will likely cost a few thousand dollars to fix. There is a forum on consumer affairs with hundreds of people with the same exact problem with their ford vehicle. The website link is http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/ford_spark.html if you would like to check it out.

Filed Oct 20, 2008 · Engine · 76,000 miles · OH

On 10/5/08, driving near home, slow speed, heard a loud noise from under the hood, lost power. Determined that the 4th spark plug on drivers side had unthreaded from engine, damaging coil. On attempt to replace with new spark plug, learned that the cylinder head threads were damaged (stripped). 76,000 miles, spark plug had never been removed, was original from ford factory.

Filed Jul 27, 2007 · Engine · 30,000 miles · FL

I was driving my 2001 ford svt lightning, with only 30,000 miles on the odometer. No sign of a problem whatsoever. While passing a big truck, pop........and then I lost power and almost didn't complete the pass in time. Once I pulled over, I found that a spark plug blew out, and took out a coil on it's way. The ford dealer wants big money for the repair (new heads), and I can't afford it right now. I've found this to be a common problem, and ford won't do anything about it. My plugs are original, so nothing was done by me to contribute to this failure. Now my truck is sitting in the driveway, and it can't be driven. Hope my other fords don't spit out a plug.

Filed Jan 31, 2007 · Engine · 48,000 miles · SD

While traveling on a busy highway near my home my 2001 f150 blew a spark plug from the motor. This is the second time this has happened to me. The first at 37k miles and the second at 48k. The loss of engine power nearly caused a collision. I was in heavy traffic and in the passing lane at the time. This is a frequent occurence with this ford motor from what I can see on the internet. Why is nothing being done to protect the consumer from this obvious design flaw? Does someone have to die first?

Filed Sep 15, 2006 · Electrical, Engine · 144,000 miles · FL

Dt*: the contact stated while driving any speed on various road conditions, the engine stalled and there was a loss of all power without warning. After an extended period of time, the engine restarted and the instrument panel provided an incorrect digital display. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who was unable to duplicate the problem. The manufacturer was not notified.

Filed Oct 13, 2005 · Engine · 72,490 miles · CA

Dt: the consumer owns a 2001 ford f150. On 9-2-05 while driving on interstate he heard a loud pop and lost power, pulled over and found that a spark plug blew out of the engine. The consumer drove the vehicle to the dealership, they said that the engine head would have to be replaced and the cost would be over $3000. The consumer had it repaired at a cost of $33000. The consumer talked to several different dealerships and they offered no assistance. *ak (11/17/05)