Is the 2001 Ford F-250 SD a bad year?
508 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 129, 8.1× a quiet F-250 SD year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 67k–120k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2001 F-250 SD owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 97,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 125 (25%) | 69k–120k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 73 (14%) | 40k–98k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Electrical system | 51 (10%) | 62k–116k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Steering | 43 (8%) | 39k–146k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Brakes | 37 (7%) | 32k–102k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Speed control | 34 (7%) | 65k–125k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Seat belts | 26 (5%) | 67k–150k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 11 (2%) | 47k–154k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| TiresSTANDS OUT | 89 (18%) | 30k–62k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Suspension | 25 (5%) | 40k–79k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 13 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 11 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 11 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 8 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 97,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 508 complaints: 26 mention a crash · 43 mention a fire · 20 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Mar 2025.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
My 2001 Ford F-250 was destroyed on 8/11/06 and approximately 75 acres of range Land was burned when the truck caught on fire.
Cam position sensor failed on my 2001 Ford F-250 7.3L diesel while driving on I-495 in va. Failure was without warning which caused the engine to immediately shut down, thus causing severely reduced steering and braking.
I have a 2001 Ford F250 super duty with a 7.3L powerstroke diesel engine. Over the last 18 months I have had no less than 4 cam positioning sensors fail.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 97,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2001 Ford F-250 SD: 13
The scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn. A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Certain federal-mogul replacement wheel hub assemblies with the brand names: national, carquest p/nos. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, and 515060, shipped between january 23, 2006, and december 20, 2007, sold for light duty and medium duty trucks. Wheel separation can result in a vehicle crash.
On certain heavy duty trucks equipped with 7.3L diesel engines, the camshaft position sensor located on the engine of the vehicle may function intermittently, possibly resulting in an engine stall. In the event of an engine stall, a crash could result without warning.
Certain cequent 90 degree 7-WAY right angle adaptors sold by distributors in tow packages for aftermarket sales to tow 5th wheel RV travel trailers. Due to incorrect wiring of the harness, the trailer lights may not operate properly. If the trailer lights are not working properly, a vehicle crash can occur.
On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat. Overheating could result in smoke or burn and an underhood fire.
Certain eagle eyes headlamps, p/nos. FR208-B101R, FR208-B101L, FR208-B001R, and FR208-B001L, sold for use as replacement equipment for the passenger vehicles listed above. Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
Certain pro-a motors corner lamps, turn signals, and headlights sold as replacement lamps for use on certain passenger vehicles listed above. Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
Vehicle description: passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, and light and medium duty pickup trucks. Loss of visibility while driving increases the risk of a crash.
Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans. Equipped with seat belts supplied by trw. It is possible that the driver's and/or front passenger's outboard seat belt buckle may not fully latch. In the event of a crash, the restraint system may not provide adequate occupant protection, increasing the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant.
Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles. The inflator canister in the driver air bag module may have an inadequate weld near the igniter. In the event of a vehicle crash, the driver air bag may not deploy as intended, potentially resulting in reduced occupant protection, or a burn injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 1
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2001 Ford F-250 SD. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The restraint control module (RCM) when using vcm II, would have an error code 35 and diagnostic trouble code (DTC) B1035…
NHTSA defect investigations: 8
Engine stalling
Engine stalling
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
Engine compartment fires
Front seat belt buckle assembly
Neighbouring years
2000 F-250 SD: 559 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2002 F-250 SD: 401 complaints, consider selling.
Every Ford F-250 SD year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All F-250 SD years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2001 Ford F-250 SD a bad year?
508 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 129, 8.1× a quiet F-250 SD year. At 97,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 67k–120k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Ford F-250 SD?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (125), transmission and drivetrain (73), electrical system (51), steering (43), brakes (37). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 67k–120k miles.
How many recalls does the 2001 Ford F-250 SD have?
13 recall campaigns list this model year: Speed control (NHTSA 09V-399), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09E025000), Exterior lighting (NHTSA 09E012000), Wheels (NHTSA 07E106000) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.