2001 Ford E-350: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 52 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is engine and engine cooling (25% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 52 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The driver's side seat belt randomly comes unlatched. This has happened before this date and happens multiple times each time it is driven. It does not matter if the vehicle is in motion or not. It has happened sitting still in the driveway and at highway speeds. This is a trw 33012760 part.”Owner report · Seat Belts · May 2018
“My 2001 ford e350 super duty van blew out a spark plug while driving 40 mph and cost me $900 for dealership to repair....with only 117,000 miles on it. Ford needs to do a recall on this. *tr”Owner report · Engine · Oct 2016
“Spark plug was ejected from engine. No advanced warning or unusual sounds of any kind. Engine had been running perfectly and reliably up until this event.”Owner report · Engine · Sep 2015
Show 7 more owner reports
“While driving vehicle started running rough/missing lost engine power. Had to have the vehicle towed home replaced the fuel filter and pump. Still had problems. Towed to the dealer who finally advised fuel tank laminate was flaking. Found 4 other complaints on this site for the same problem. Online found that this is happening in multiple years/diesel types from ford. *tr”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Apr 2012
“2001 ford e-250. Consumer states leak in fill hose *tgw the consumer stated the fill hose had to be replaced twice, because it leaked when re-fueling. *jb”Owner report · Fuel System, Other · Sep 2011
“I parked my f 350 diesel in front of my house for the night. Next morning ,before 6 a.m., I woke to the noises outside:cracking, popping, and explosions. The front of my truck was on fire. It was coming around all sides of the hood and around the front wheel area,also through the dash and steering area. I called the fire dept. And started putting the fire out using the garden hose. Four more explosions happened,and two front tires exploded as well. I fought the flames until fire trucks set up and took over. They put it out just in time to save $ 4,000 cash and ammo inside the cab. *tr”Owner report · Tires · Jun 2011
“2001 ford f350. Consumer writes in regards to engine problems *tgw the consumer stated as he was driving, the engine began to lose power. He managed to get to the emergency lane and had the truck towed to the dealer. Upon inspection, the dealer found the fuel filter over the diesel tank was clogged due to rust from the bottom of the tank.”Owner report · Fuel System, Diesel · Dec 2010
“Tl*the contact owns a 2001 ford e-350. The contact stated that while driving 25 mph, there was a loud popping noise from the engine compartment. The contact pulled over and noticed that a spark plug and coil pack had come out of place. The vehicle was repaired by the contact. The failure occurred again two weeks later. The vehicle was towed to his garage. The contact called the dealer who stated that they would file a report and repaired the vehicle with a temporary fix. The failure mileage was 167,350 and the current mileage was 167,422.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Nov 2010
“Spark plug blow out on ford engine for the third time different plug each time and also has happened over the interval of 80,000 miles. *tr”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Sep 2010
“Tl* the contact owned a 2001 ford e350. The vehicle was parked outside of the contact's residence when he heard an loud explosion. The vehicle had caught fire. The fire department was called. Once the fire was extinguished, the contact discovered that a hole had been burned in the hood of the vehicle, right above the master cylinder. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle remained outside of the contact's home and was not drivable. The failure and current mileage was 150,411.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Aug 2010
When filing, owners marked a crash in 0 of these complaints and injuries in 15 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
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 DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
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 AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ON CERTAIN VANS WITH AMBULANCE PREP PACKAGES OR OTHER SEVERE-DUTY APPLICATIONS INVOLVING OPERATION AT OR NEAR THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT WITH FREQUENT TWISTING OF THE VEHICLE BODY, SUCH AS OFF-ROAD, ROUGH ROAD OR SPEED BUMP EVENTS, THE 35 GALLON MID-SHIP FUEL TANK COULD DEVELOP A CRACK WHERE IT CONTACTS THE FRAME CROSS MEMBER. IF THE FUEL TANK CRACKS, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK AND, IF CRACKED, WILL REPLACE THE TANK. INSULATOR PADS WILL BE INSTALLED ON ALL VEHICLES TO REDUCE THE STRESS LEVELS IN THE FUEL TANK. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 19, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 2001 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact E-350 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Ford E-350 reliable?
NHTSA has 52 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 2001 Ford E-350. The most complained-about area is engine and engine cooling (25% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2001 Ford E-350 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 89,000 miles or less.
Does the 2001 Ford E-350 have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning vehicle speed control. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.