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2001 Ford F-150 engine complaints

Page 6 of 10: complaints 131 to 160 of 278, newest first, as owners wrote them.

See the summary of 2001 Ford F-150 engine problems: which part fails, at what mileage and related recalls.

Filed Mar 17, 2009 · Acceleration, Engine · 197,000 miles · TN · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford f-150. The vehicle caught fire while parked outside the contact's place of work. The fire department was notified, but did not state what caused the fire. The fire burned the motor, created a hole through the hood of the vehicle, and scorched the entire dashboard. The windshield glass burst into pieces and the vehicle was towed to his residence. The ford dealer filed a case and followed-up with the contact within 15 business days and informed him that someone would diagnose the vehicle. The contact was also informed that there was a recall for the cruise control. The VIN and the federal safety agency campaign id number were unknown. The failure and current mileages were 197,000. Updated 04/17/09. *lj updated 04/20/09.

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 Feb 7, 2009 · Engine · 90,000 miles · KS

Driving 35 to 40 miles an hour. Heard a loud pop under the hood pulled over and found a spark plug had blown out of the engine. Not fixed yet.

Filed Jan 11, 2009 · Engine · 144,560 miles · AL

I own a 2001 ford f 150 w/ the 5.4 triton engine, while I was backing the truck out of a restaurant, the engine made a loud pop. I took the truck to a ford dealership...they told me that the engine blew the # 3 spark plug out. The service department told me that this is a common problem with the motor because of bad designed heads. They advised me that I would be better off with a new engine at the cost of $4800.00. I pulled up a site on the internet that states that there have been thousands of complaints with the same problems. I feel like ford should have a recall on this engine.

Filed Jan 9, 2009 · Engine · 71,000 miles · MD

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford f-150. While driving 15 MPH, the contact noticed that his vehicle would drive extremely rough. He took the vehicle to a local repair shop and they stated that the intake manifold and passenger side bolts in the engine had excessive rust. In addition, the intake manifold needed to be replaced at the cost of $600. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 71,000.

Filed Dec 29, 2008 · Engine · 127,455 miles · CA

I was driving on interstate 5 when there was a loud pop followed by rapid popping from the engine. At first I thought it might be a flat and pulled onto the shoulder, but the noise continued even though I was stopped. I opened the hood and at first (based on the sound) thought it might be the exhaust manifold. I was towed to the nearest ford dealer where the problem was determined to be a blown spark plug which had stripped the plug's threads. The dealer inserted a heli-coil and after a tow, an overnight stay at a nearby motel, 5 hours of waiting the next day and $415 in repairs I was back on the road. I have since done some internet searching and have come to find that this is a very common occurrence with the triton engine and has been so for several years due to insufficient material and threads.

Filed Dec 1, 2008 · Engine · 157,889 miles · TX · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford f150 ld. The contact's vehicle caught fire while it was parked. She stated that the fire originated near the motor and brake fluid. The fire department was not called to the scene. The contact extinguished the fire by disconnecting the battery. The manufacturer has not yet been notified and the vehicle has not been repaired. The vehicle is still at the contact's residence. The VIN was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 157,889.

Filed Nov 13, 2008 · Engine · 92,000 miles · NJ

Intake manifold leak. Plastic part cracked. I just had repair made and was told ford has a problem with this type of manifold. My truck is a 2001 f150 with 90,000 miles.

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 Oct 1, 2008 · Engine · 150,000 miles · FL

My 2001 ford f-150 blew a spark plug out of the 7 head on 09/30/2008. The truck has 150k on it. I bought it new in 2001 and have always maintained it. I went out to go to work in the am and the truck just roared when I started it, I found the spark plug on the driveway the threads on the plug were completely in tact. Took it ford service and it will cost me $2500.00 to fix with no guarantee. I have found that this is a really common complaint from owners of v8 triton engines. Ford needs to do a recall on these vehicles. My brother-in-law is an asi front end mechanic for ford and he says he has seen a lot of this problem. If he didn't live in denver I would have him fix it. My family has always driven ford products. My father was an engineer for ford in detroit. But, I feel that because ford will not stand behind this problem that maybe it is time to switch loyalties. The service department at the dealership displays a so- what attitude. I requested a factory rep to look at the truck and they said either fix it now, or move the truck off their premises. The consumer has no rights anymore.

Filed Sep 29, 2008 · Engine · 97,673 miles · 00

Experienced spark plug blowout during regular driving, occurred once in one cylinder of a 2001 ford f150 5.4 triton dual fuel factory propane. Used a helicoil kit and repaired the damage and other cylinders to prevent further damage.

Filed Sep 22, 2008 · Engine · 108,000 miles · ID · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford f-150. After driving 35 MPH, the contact parked the vehicle in her driveway. Minutes later, the vehicle caught fire under the hood. The fire damaged the neighbor's vehicle and the landlord's fence. The contact later discovered a recall relating to the fire. The detective at the scene believed that the fire was due to the recall. A police report was filed. The manufacturer has not been notified. The federal safety agency campaign id number was unknown. The failure mileage was 108,000.

Filed Aug 19, 2008 · Engine · 90,000 miles · IL

My 2001 ford f150 blew a spark plug right out of the aluminum head on 8-17-08. Vehicle had about 90,000 miles on it. It is a common and repeating failure of the 5.4l v-8 engine and ford will not acknowledge it as a problem. I opted for the helicoil replacement option ($640) over a complete new head ($3000). Ford will not pay for any of this even though it is their design flaw. Later models have been changed to correct this problem. If it was not a problem then why was it corrected?

Filed Jul 31, 2008 · Engine · 140,000 miles · MO

2001 ford f150 with v8 4.6 liter engine blows spark plugs out of the head. Had 2 do this in the last 2 months. Had to get out of traffic because engine will not run, call tow truck and deliver to repair shop. They redrilled the hole and installed an insert both times. Alot of ford engines of this type do this as I now know. Afraid to drive this truck and alot of money out of my pocket!!!!!!!

Filed Jul 28, 2008 · Engine · 190,590 miles · GA

Spark plug blow out on 2001 ford f150 4.2 v6. Purchased the truck new in 2001 and recently replaced the engine because of the plug blow out. Now the replacement engine is running bad and I think it is getting ready to happen again.

Filed May 27, 2008 · Engine · 107,000 miles · CO

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford f-150. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the contact heard a knocking noise. He pulled to the side of the road and discovered that the front passenger side spark plug blew out of the head, busted the coil, and caused fuel to spill from the head. The current and failure mileages were 107,000. Updated 08/14/09. *lj updated 08/17/09

Filed May 21, 2008 · Engine · 78,000 miles · CA

In january I had driven my f150 to the store, when I returned to it in the parking lot and started it I heard a loud pop from under the hood. This sound was followed by a loud backfiring sound upon adding a few RPM's to the engine. I shut it off to inspect and discovered the far rear spark plug had been shot clear out of the head and was lying loose inside the engine compartment. The spark plug and the head each had enough threads left for the plug to reset. The coil was damaged and needed to be replaced. Three days ago (5/18/08) I started the vehicle again heard the same pop and the same backfire sound. Upon inspection this time I found that although the plug had not come out of the head this time it was clearly loose. There are no longer usable threads on either the head or the plug and I have been quoted $2500 (discounted rate) to repair a vehicle that has only 78000 miles on it and that I owe $16000 and can't even trade in now. I have done extensive research and have found that this is a very common complaint with the ford tritan v8 engine and that ford has not chosen to remedy this defect.

Filed May 18, 2008 · Engine · 85,000 miles · OR

I have a 2001 f-150 triton 5.4 liter ford with 85,000 miles on it -- it blew out the number 3 cylinder spark plug stripping the threads and breaking the coil pack. I heard a ticking sound for a few weeks prior and had it checked at a shop and they thought it wasn't a bad problem -- 3 days later it blew out the plug.

Filed Apr 28, 2008 · Engine · 100,600 miles · KS

I have a 2001 ford f 150 w/a triton v8 engine. It blew a plug out and ford knows there is a problem and won't fix the issue. I am have to pay $1,000.00 to repair an engine that is defective right off the factory floor. I have done a lot of research and there is a serious problem and some have caught fire. Will people actually have to die before ford is required to do something about it?

Filed Apr 28, 2008 · Engine · 157,000 miles · SC · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford f-150. After being parked for one hour, the vehicle burst into flames and was destroyed. Two vehicles next to the contact's vehicle were damaged. The fire department stated that the fire originated from the engine compartment and a report was filed. The contact has pictures. The failure mileage was 157,000.

Filed Apr 25, 2008 · Engine · 61,000 miles · NY

During normal driving the spark plug in cylinder #3 blew out of the cylinder. This disables the vehicle. Spark plug ejection is dangerous because fuel vapor starts coming out the spark plug hole, which is clearly a serious safety issue. The fuel vapor can be ignited by the ejected spark plug. The spark plug was the original installed in the engine from the factory. The blow out damages the spark plug hole threads and it also damaged the coil pack. Repair is very expensive and requires a technician to tap a new hole and place a threaded insert in it. The problem is these type of repairs are not usually reliable.

Filed Apr 19, 2008 · Engine · 129,000 miles · WI

Blown spark plug on 5.4l, number 3. Threads were completely removed. Coil was damaged.

Filed Mar 31, 2008 · Engine · 113,000 miles · IN

While leaving a stop sign under normal acceleration my 2001 f 150 with 113,000. Miles blew a spark plug out of the right side / third cylinder back . It broke the coil and the plug was just laying on the head . The sparkplug threads were not damaged.

Filed Mar 12, 2008 · Engine · NY

Spark plug blew out of my 2001 ford f150 with only 84,000 miles on it.

Filed Mar 7, 2008 · Engine · 56,000 miles · TX

My 2001 f-150 had #4 cylinder spark plug blow out. Actually melted the metal portion of the spark plug. I have 56,000 miles on my truck. Sales man told me the truck did not require any type of tune up until 100,000 miles. I guess he was wrong.

Filed Mar 2, 2008 · Engine · 127,000 miles · WA

I have a 2001 ford f150 lariat supercrew with the 5.4 liter engine. My family and I were on vacation when the 3rd sparkplug back on the drivers side blew out of the engine and left us stranded. It destroyed the coil in the process and nicked the fuel rail. We had to have a forty mile tow to a mechanic who could put in a helicoil to hold the new sparkplug and also put in a new coil. This cost us $600 including the tow. This was the 2nd ford with a 5.4 liter engine in a week that this mechanic fixed with a blown sparkplug. The nearest ford dealer wanted to replace the entire head at my expense for $3,300 not including a tow. This took place in kalispell montana. Since then I have had to check and retighten at least one of my spark plugs every 3,000 miles. The truck had approximately 127,000 miles on it when I blew my sparkplug.

Filed Feb 12, 2008 · Engine · 126,000 miles · KY

#3 spark plug drivers side blown out , damaged coil and possibly fuel rail. 5.4 triton engine is in a 2001 f-150 4x4 with 126,000 miles, not very safe with the possibility of a spark right next to the fuel rail.

Filed Feb 5, 2008 · Engine · 47,200 miles · OR

'99 - '08 ford 5.4l v8's are equipped with 100,000 mile spark plugs from the factory. They are failing in large numbers at well under 50,000 miles. Most times pulling the threads out of the aluminum heads of the motor. Other times the spark plugs break leaving part of it in the block. My problem was the #7 plug breaking in half while the vehicle was in operation. When I took my '01 f-150 super crew to the dealer I was told that they couldn't replace the rest of the spark plugs because they would probably strip the threads out of the heads when they removed them.

Filed Jan 28, 2008 · Engine · 70,990 miles · IL

Had minor ticking noise - was told this is typical in this ford engine. 16 months ago I had the dealer replace the spark plugs, ticking was still there, and just last week one of the plugs blew out of the head. Luckily no accident or injury. This could be quite dangerous having a plug sparking with fuel vapors escaping from the hole where the plug used to be. After talking to a number of f150 owners - found this is a rather common problem. Why no recall? Dealer installed spacer insert rather than helicoil. Rather expensive repair, and if it happens again, will need new head.

Filed Jan 22, 2008 · Engine · 14,200 miles · MS

Ford 2001 f150 crew4x4 replaced spark plugs after #4 coil pack went bad then number2 coil pack went bad after only 65,000 miles. Then at 142,000miles #6coil pack and sparkplug blew out of motor.

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