Most common 2001 Ford F-550 SD problems
Share of the 29 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford F-550 SD complaints by model year
Best F-550 SD years: 2018, 2013, 2017. Years to avoid: 2000, 1999, 2004, 2006, 2005. Compare all years →
2001 Ford F-550 SD recalls (6)
Vehicle speed control
Ford is recalling model years 1995-2003 windstar, 2000-2003 excursion diesel, 1993-1997 and 1999-2003 f-250 sd through f-550 sd diesel, 1992-2003 e-150 through e-550, 1995-2002 explorer, 1997 and 2002 Mercury mountaineer, 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 ranger, and 1994 f53 vehicles equipped with the texas instruments speed control…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners that dealers will install a fused wiring harness in line with the scds. On 1999-2003 windstar vehicles with a leaking scds, dealers will also inspect the ABS control module connector and repair…
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Diesel
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the sensor and replace it with an improved camshaft position sensor free of charge. The recall began on December 29, 2007. Owners May contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Vehicle speed control
On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch May overheat.
Remedy: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness into the speed control system free of charge. The recall began on August 7, 2006. Owners May contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. (note: also see recalls 05V017 and 05V388)
Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Motor
Vehicle description: passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, and light and medium duty pickup trucks. A switch located in the plastic cover of the wiper motor gear case could malfunction and overheat, potentially resulting in loss of intermittent wiper function, loss of wiper park function, complete loss of wiper function, or…
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the date code on the wiper motor. Motors built with the suspect time frame will have the wiper motor gear case cover replaced. Owner notification began August 20, 2001.
Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
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. Ford crown victoria built at st.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the front outboard seat belt buckles and if the buckle fails the inspection process, it will be replaced. Owner notification began July 25, 2001.
Tires › Valve
Vehicle description: trucks equipped with commercial truck tires that have steel cords in the tire sidewall. The valve stems May have been torn or damaged during assembly and could leak causing sidewall damage.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the valve stems for leakage, and will replace both the valve stem and the tire if leakage is present. Owner notification began March 28, 2001.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 7 possible defects involving the 2001 Ford F-550 SD:
Front seat belt buckle assembly
Under recall campaign (01V227), Ford recalled approximately 1.3 million vehicles to inspect and if necessary replace the front driver and/or passenger seat belt buckle.approximately 1.1 million owners responded by taking their vehicles to a dealer for inspection of the buckle using a specialized buckle test tool.Ford reported that 829,927 vehicles had both buckles pass the tool test and another 167,336 vehicles had…
Engine stalling
In a December 3, 2007 letter, Ford advised NHTSA that it will conduct a safety recall to replace the cam position sensor (cps) in approximately 1.2 million subject vehicles to address reports of engine stalling.a new design cps with improved performance and durability will be installed as a remedy.owner notifications will begin in December 2007.
Engine compartment fires
Ea05-005 is closed with Ford?s actions in recalls 05v-017, 05v-388, and 06v-286, recalling approximately 6.7 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).the brake systems in these recalled vehicles generate a vacuum that can potentially cause the scds to fail and, in certain switch installation orientations, catch fire.Ford is also including the entire population of…
Front seat belt buckle assembly
During the initial recall campaign in 2001, the subject vehicles were inspected by Ford dealerships using a test tool that would detect a defective front seat outboard seat belt buckle assembly.approximately one million vehicles passed the inspection test for one or both front buckles.subsequent to the recall service action, odi received 15 consumer reports alleging that a passed inspection buckle subsequently…
Accelerator pedal sensor (etc)
Failure counts from odi?s analysis are stated above; see the additional problem experience discussion in the summary report.Ford data contained duplicative reports for 4 odi complaints and 1 crash.three crashes were allegedly due to intermittent operation of the electronic throttle control (etc) pedal, one crash occurred when an etc disabled vehicle was struck by another motorist, one report contained no detail.the…
Rapid tire deflation
This investigation was opened on certain Ford pickup trucks and vans to evaluate the effects of a valve stem ejection (with rapid air loss) and a slow leaking valve stem on vehicle handing.during the investigation, odi evaluated over 1,100 complaints and warranty claims, conducted vehicle dynamic testing on a subject vehicle with the failure mode replicated, interviewed owners, and examined complaint vehicles in the…
Sector shaft fractures
This ea was opened based on a response received from Ford motor company to an information request (ir) submitted during sq00-018.Ford stated in an internal service message that it had changed the steering gear sector shafts and pitman arms installed 1999 model year f-series super duty vehicles on March 22, 1999.Ford stated that these design changes were implemented to make improvements in vehicle steering and…
What 2001 Ford F-550 SD owners say
Fuel & propulsion system
I have been experiencing power failure, fuel starvation on my 2001 f550 diesel truck. I replaced the filters today at the onset of the incident, but just replaced them about a month ago with my mechanic. It runs fine on level ground, but at an incline it loses power and barely makes it up a hill. I removed the tank pump from the top of the tank and looked in to it with a flashlight. The lining of my tank is peeling off. After investigating online, I find this is a serious issue with Ford. I cannot afford to repair this vehicle again. I run a small business, and rely on this only truck to support my family of 7 kids, wife and mother. I have put 3 transmissions in this vehicle in its 110,000 mile lifetime, and now this.
I have a 2001 Ford f550 super duty flatbed towtruck, the trucks design is a combination from Ford and international, which due to the faulty fuel tank delaminating and causing a financial lose of not only a days work, but also the need of having a two vehicles which while in tow stop traffic when all of a sudden the truck looses power and service engine soon light turns on. Cost over 1000.00 just in wrecker bills, and not to mention trashed the injectors, pump, and filter system and all the lines. Ford or international will not take any responsibility for a bad fuel tank recall. Truck is still down and seems that I will probably have to replace all parts mentioned at my cost.
Wheels & tires
Left rear outside dual tire had some tread separation. Original equipment, 1,836 miles, mounted on a 2001, Ford, f550. Tire size 225/70r19.5, consumer stated he was notified by the tire company or Ford that there was a recall on the valve stems until after the second blow out of the tire.
Recall 01V046000 on valve stems done on 24 apr.2001. Dealer only inspected valve stems, did not replace. Then on 1 June 2001, while driving about 45 MPH driver's rear inside tire went flat due to faulty valve stem. No accident.
Transmission & drivetrain
I have been experiencing power failure, fuel starvation on my 2001 f550 diesel truck. I replaced the filters today at the onset of the incident, but just replaced them about a month ago with my mechanic. It runs fine on level ground, but at an incline it loses power and barely makes it up a hill. I removed the tank pump from the top of the tank and looked in to it with a flashlight. The lining of my tank is peeling off. After investigating online, I find this is a serious issue with Ford. I cannot afford to repair this vehicle again. I run a small business, and rely on this only truck to support my family of 7 kids, wife and mother. I have put 3 transmissions in this vehicle in its 110,000 mile lifetime, and now this.
This being 2nd diesel Ford truck that has had same issue....losing power , blowing smoke. On this 2001 , I have replaced numerous filters, drained tank to clean ,wire harnesses,fuel injectors only to replace motor within a month or so due to contamination to system also transmission was replaced before new motor which I feel could of been due to strain on vehicle....needless to say the truck has started the same problem again.I have sank so much into it I'd never get my money out of it if sold.I feel that Ford should be held responsible for this issue and all the money people have put out to correct the issues occurring, with hundreds of others. This issue is very dangerous when your trying to get home and it stalls out when driving due to loss of power.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Ford F-550 SD a good car?
Based on 29 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 F-550 SD rates use caution: 2.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the F-550 SD at the same age. It is one of the F-550 SD years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Ford F-550 SD?
The fuel & propulsion system — 13 complaints, 45% of all complaints for this model year, most often about inverter. Next are the wheels & tires (8) and transmission & drivetrain (4).
How many recalls does the 2001 Ford F-550 SD have?
There are 6 recalls for the 2001 Ford F-550 SD, the most recent from October 13, 2009 (vehicle speed control). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford F-550 SD?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2018, 2013 and 2017. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 1999, 2004, 2006 and 2005. See the full Ford F-550 SD years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Ford F-550 SD problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 130,000 miles; 14% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.