Is the 2001 Ford F-350 SD a bad year?
318 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 54, 5.4× a quiet F-350 SD year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
The engine draws 5.4× the complaints of a quiet F-350 SD year, spread over 58k–122k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2001 F-350 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 82,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 54 (17%) | 58k–122k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 40 (13%) | 38k–101k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Electrical system | 30 (9%) | 68k–150k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Seat belts | 16 (5%) | 45k–120k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 13 (4%) | 66k–151k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Speed control | 10 (3%) | 54k–177k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Wheels | 5 (2%) | 96k–195k miles · ahead | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| TiresSTANDS OUT | 65 (20%) | 31k–54k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 45 (14%) | 38k–77k miles · mostly behind | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Brakes | 33 (10%) | 30k–78k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 11 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 10 (3%) | 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 82,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 318 complaints: 30 mention a crash · 23 mention a fire · 15 report an injury · 1 says the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Jan 2024.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
V-10 triton. I started hearing a ticking noise coming from the engine about 2 weeks ago. I had taken it to shop for unrelated work and they did not think it unusual.
I have a 2001 F-350 super duty with 58,000 miles. Approximately 3 weeks ago I noticed a 2-3 in oil leak under the truck.
I have a 2001 Ford F-350 with the 7.3 diesel motor. I have replaced the cam sensor in it twice and there are many people on the internet upset about this.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 82,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2001 Ford F-350 SD: 9
The scds may leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn. A vehicle fire could occur with or without the engine running.
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.
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: f-super duty crew cab pickup trucks (F-350 short wheelbase trucks equipped with a 6 3/4' pickup box and dual rear wheels) were built after a change was implemented to delete a clamp, and later a bracket that provided a ground for the fuel filler pipe. Without proper grounding, an electrostatic discharge could result during fuel fill up, potentially leading to a fire.
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: 2
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2001 Ford F-350 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: 9
Engine stalling
Engine stalling
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
Engine compartment fires
Front seat belt buckle assembly
Neighbouring years
2000 F-350 SD: 461 complaints, keep it · 2002 F-350 SD: 239 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
Every Ford F-350 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-350 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-250 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-350 SD a bad year?
318 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 54, 5.4× a quiet F-350 SD year. At 82,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. The engine draws 5.4× the complaints of a quiet F-350 SD year, spread over 58k–122k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Ford F-350 SD?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (54), steering (40), electrical system (30), seat belts (16), fuel system (13). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 58k–122k miles.
How many recalls does the 2001 Ford F-350 SD have?
9 recall campaigns list this model year: Speed control (NHTSA 09V-399), Wheels (NHTSA 07E106000), Engine (NHTSA 07V-553), Equipment (NHTSA 07E066000) 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.