2001 Ford F-350 SD: engine failure

Filed Oct 26, 2009 · Transmission · 138,000 miles · CO

I was driving my 2001 ford f350 to work. Just as I turned off the highway my truck lurched and the rear wheels began to skid. I put my truck into neutral and the rear wheels began to roll again. I coasted to a stop on the shoulder of the road. I tested the brakes and they where fine. I tried reverse and forward and everything seemed fine. I was close to work and the road shoulder was very narrow so I decided to see if I could get to work. The truck started out fine. However when it shifted to 3rd gear it lurched again and the rear wheels began to skid. I manually shifted back to second gear and the truck resumed normal operation for that gear. After talking to a number of transmission mechanics the consensus was clear. The 'mechanical diode' on the direct drum was seized. This problem is well documented. It is common on 2001 fords trucks with the 4r100 transmission. These are the only ford trucks with this 'mechanical diode'. After approximately 6 months of production ford switched back to using a roller sprag just as it had used in all automatic truck transmissions before and after. If this catastrophic transmission failure had occurred moments before or at any point the next day (snow rain mix) the result would have been total loss of control of the vehicle. I have had a transmission shop remove the defective part. They replaced it with the a redesigned ford part that replaces the 'mechanical diode' with a roller sprag.

Filed Apr 30, 2009 · Engine · 134,500 miles · NJ

The oil pans on most late model ford 7.3 liter power stroke diesels has a severe problem with the oil pans rusting through, causing massive oil leaks, possible fire hazards, and severe engine failure, if the problem is not caught in time. The cost to have this repaired is close to two thousand dollars, and this problem is extremely well documented among owners of vehicles equipped with this engine. Ford has done nothing to correct this problem, no recalls, no tsb's, nothing. A new oem oil pan from ford is close to $400 dollars, an aftermarket close to $100. The way to rectify this problem is to remove the entire engine from the vehicle, a job requiring extensive training and skill, as well as extremely expensive equipment. (in order to do the job properly, and safely). It is the personal opinion of my personal ase certified automotive technician, as well as any person I have spoken with in regards to this matter that the only fair thing to do would be for ford to acknowledge and correct this issue, at no cost to the vehicle owner.

Filed Feb 8, 2007 · Electrical · 41,000 miles · WV · fire

Ford f350 super duty xlt lariat 7.3l powerstroke diesel 2001 model my truck has a factory installed engine block heater, which I have to use to get it to start on cold mornings. At 7:15am, I was talking to my wife on our cordless phone & it went dead. After some searching, I found out that the circuit breaker had tripped. This circuit breaker powers the wall the phone base station was plugged into, and that wall is shared with the garage. After some more searching, I could not locate the short that caused the trip and I reset the breaker. It tripped again. I had to take my daughter to school, so I figured I would wait and look some more when I came home. I opened my garage door to find my truck on fire. The plug for the engine block heater had shorted out, melted & caught fire....this caught my truck on fire. The back side of the plug had melted and the wire had burned and become disconnected. No other part of the wire was damaged....only the plug. I called ford, and they said that it was not part of a recall & the could do nothing for me. My concern is that, other than feeling a little "put out" at the situation & how I was treated by ford, what if I had pulled my truck as far forward as I usually do.....there is an ornamental pine tree at the corner of my house......and the flaming molten plastic from my truck had dripped on the pine needles & caught the pine tree on fire........this would have engaged my home. And, what if it had happened at night & I had not put it out right away. I don't want this to happen to someone else. By the way, the plug on my engine block heater has always been warm to the touch when plugged in. I have never had a diesel before & assumed this was normal due to the amount of electrical current that the heater pulled, and the mechanic said this was true. My new engine block heater works just fine & the plug is not warm to the touch. Obviously, it was defective from the time I bought it.

Filed Apr 19, 2006 · Engine · 59,898 miles · OR

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 20 MPH the vehicle engine failed without warning. The vehicle was towed to dealer; upon inspection the cam shaft sensor was replaced. The manufacturer was alerted.

Filed Mar 25, 2006 · Engine · 79,500 miles · OR

I own a 2001 ford f-350 7.3 liter diesel truck. Last month I was pulling a trailer in heavy traffic when my engine died. I lost brakes and steering. It was all I could do to fight the wheel over to the right and I used my electric trailer brakes to pull me down. We were almost hit by many cars. After being towed, we found that it was a bad cam position sensor, or cps. I have since spoken to other ford owners and many of them have had similar experiences. This is scary! I am now afraid to drive the truck, especially to pull a load. What can be done? Thanks. *jb see also 10191279.

Filed Feb 4, 2004 · Engine, Transmission · 37,700 miles · NY

Engine failure in december of 2003 ford covered motor under warranty.transmission failure in feb of 2004. My truck has 37,700 miles on it and ford offered to pay for parts but not labor. I was told I should have bought the extended warranty, which tells me ford only stands behind their vehicles for 36,000 miles. I am very dissapointed.I have found many other ford vehicles same make, model and year with transmission failure. I do not feel I should have to pay for any of the repairs. My vehicle is is stilll under the 3 years and just over the mileage.