Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (wheels, lug nuts, original-equipment tires, TPMS).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2001 Ford F-350 SD owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 2001 Ford f350 super duty vehicle with cooper discover stt p351/85r16 tires. While driving approximately 60 MPH the front passenger side tire blew out. The vehicle was towing a race car which was destroyed along with the truck and all of its contents, which caught fire due to the blow out. A passenger in the vehicle sustained a major concussion and the driver sustained a compounded left wrist injury. A police report was filed. The approximate failure mileage was 214,000.
Driving west bound on I-40 in a 01 Ford f350 dually diesel pulling an enclosed car trailer w/55 Chevy belaire. Front drivers side tire tread peeled off which caused us to go into median and the truck jackknifed against the car trailer and was titled off the ground about 3 feet. Truck was a total loss. Husband sustained back injury. Tire was a cooper discoverer s/t lt255/85r16
On September 17 one our crew vehicles experienced a tread separation of the right front tire at highway speeds resulting in one severe injury, two much less severe injury's and a total loss of the vehicle. The tire is a bf goodrich commercial t/a lt 265/75/16 and was purchased on or about February 2012. The tire had approximately 40K miles. The dot number is bfw8jd110312.
Firestone steetext tires on f350 Ford pick-up. 02-04-2004 left front tire ruptured, causing accident . Vehicle was total. No injuries. Florida highway patrol acc. #fhpc04off0115584. Crash report #70818961. Statefarm ins. Claim #59y649922.
Driving my 2001 f 350 at 45 MPH the left front tire exploded loud enough for a neighbor to come out thinking a shot had been fired! The tire's side wall was shredded. This was my second experience recently with a blow-out of my bf goodrich rugged terrain t/a lt275/65r18 tires. In May the left rear blew out at highway speed with the side wall shredded similar to the recent blow out. I was pro-rated for that tire but after this recent event I am changing out all the tires and going back to cooper, I wouldn't chance having a more serious lost-of-control event! I bought my tires 3 years ago (2011) and use this truck on the ranch--there are less than 4,000 miles on these tires. From the outside the tires appear alright, but the handling started to feel rocky prior to the blow out although nothing was visibly showing on the exterior.
In the last 4 months I had 2 tire treads separate causing thousands in damage. In both cases 100% of the tread came off. Repairs include new left quarter panel, new1/3 of the truck bed, new left front fender, new front bumper, repair of braking system and numerous other parts. The tires were original equipment on my 2001 Ford f-350. The tires were Firestone steeltex radial a/t, lt265/75 r16, load range e, dot vnw8 1xl 1701. The middle 3" of the second tire that separated appeared that it was never bonded to the casing. I'm sure many people would have over reacted and had much more serious results. The body shop manager at gentry Ford (ontario, oregon) said his father had exactly the same tires on his vehicle and two of the four tires also separated.
Traveling from mass. To maine with my Ford f-350 with "cooper" mastercraft courser a/t tires. My rear drivers side tire separated sending the tread into wheel well..I was traveling at 65mph...it shook the truck very hard causing loss control...thankfully no one was around...slowed the truck to stop...major damage to the rear of truck...looking at tire the metal wire is rusted...note found there was a re-call on these tires...(never got mine) called the cooper hot-line. They instructed me they will send package in mail and for me to send the tire to them checked on line and found other people have done the same with no results blaming the drivers for hitting something....no injury or death...not out for the money.
I noticed a pull to the left on my 2001 Ford f350 with Firestone steeltex radial tires lt 265 75r 16 thinking it was air presure related the day before the incident I checked the presure in all tires and all had required presure, so I thought there May be an alignment issue. The next day the left front tire failed without notice while traveling 70mph down the turnpike causing signifiant dammage to my vehicle an almost a catastrophic crash. Upon installing the spare the pull to the left disappeared, thus no aligment issue the tire must have been on it's way to failure causing the pull to the left. The tread seaprated from the tire completly, but the tire sill held presure.
Pulling a fifth wheel trailer on I 75 about 50 miles north of tampa florida. 95 degrees and speed at 65 MPH, I had a blowout. I was able to control my truck and get to the side of the interstate. About $5000 in damages was done to my truck. I filed a complaint with general tire and sent the old tire to them for inspection (only 32000 miles on tire lt235/85r16). They claim the tire was damaged before blowout and would not be responsible for damages. I contacted my insurance company (nationwide) they have several cases of blowouts of this same tire. I believe someone other than general tire should inspect these blown tires.
Dt: 2001 Ford f350. The consumer stated that three tires experienced belt separation. The third belt separation was on the passenger's front tire. The last belt separation occurred on September 13, 2005 while going a 70 MPH. The two previous tire blowouts were not at highway speeds. The vehicle sustained scratches on the passenger's side running board and the front passenger's mud flap were ripped off. The consumer stated one of the other tires was on the rear of the vehicle. These problems all occurred within the last year. (12/07/05)
Wheel & Tire complaints in other F-350 SD years
Frequently asked questions
How common are wheel & tire problems on the 2001 Ford F-350 SD?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the wheels & tires of the 2001 Ford F-350 SD, 22% of the model year's 158 complaints. The component named most often is tread/belt (18 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2001 Ford F-350 SD wheel & tire problems?
No. NHTSA lists no wheels & tires recall for the 2001 Ford F-350 SD, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2001 Ford F-350 SD wheel & tire problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 43,000 miles, and 10% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 crashes, 1 fire and 5 injuries to wheels & tires problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.