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9.3

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$580
Average Mileage:
150,700 miles
Total Complaints:
27 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. insert or new heads (19 reports)
  2. not sure (8 reports)
2001 Ford F-250 engine problems

engine problem

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2001 Ford F-250 Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #27

Feb 192021

F-250 XL 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 170,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

A spark plug blowout, but Ford has no warranty, too many miles.

- Jimmy S., Saltillo, US

problem #26

May 192019

F-250 XLT 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,718 miles

We used my truck to tow our brand new travel trailer to an RV site about 100 miles away from home. All was going well until we decided to take the truck from our camp site to go watch some local races at the drag strip. We were about 1/4 mile from the dragway when we heard a loud bang from the engine and after pulling into a safe location we found that we had blown a spark plug from one of the cylinders. This is where our nightmare began. We were scheduled to leave the RV site the next morning. It was too late in the day to contact a repair facility.

I had to rent a truck to take our camper home. We paid a man $100.00 for him to drive us from where we parked our truck to the truck rental location. I had to pay $137.00 for the truck rental. We paid $456.00 to have our truck towed home. I've been researching this issue and it looks like the cost is going to be anywhere from $700 - $3500 to have this issue repaired. I don't have that kind of money right now so my truck sits broken and we have a camper we can't use. Ford seems to think people will just not complain. Well I'm complaining.

- Robert P., North East, US

problem #25

Mar 072018

F-250 XL 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 200,000 miles

Spark plugs keep blowing out, not just one but 5 have blown out. Ford has ripped off the people with this problem. I will never buy another Ford. That's all I have owned my whole life, but never again.

- dodgeracetosee2000, Rocky Mount, VA, US

problem #24

Nov 242016

F-250 LX 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 220,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This is actually the third time a spark plug blew out, but it's the second time with this one cylinder. A sleeve was purchased through the dealer and put on but this last time the plug blew out with the sleeve still attached. I took it back and now that the sleeve blew out too there's no larger sleeve to fit the now larger hole..PASMF!!

For as old as this problem is and for as many vehicles has this 5.4 engine in them I don't see why this hasn't been remedied. There's class action suits on certain vehicles and years but not on that same engine they keep putting in vehicles. If somethings going on that I'm not aware of pertaining to how this problem has been fixed can someone let me know.. devincurtis19@yahoo.com

- devinmd, Baltimore, MD, US

problem #23

Sep 222016

F-250 LXT 5.4L Triton

  • Automatic transmission
  • 149,887 miles

Went out to start my truck for work and kapow it was a loud explosion from under the hood and smoke blue in color. Looked at the engine and one of the coil packs was laying near the top of the motor. The spark plug was laying on top of the motor too near the fuel rail. I have had it and it is going to be very expensive.I paid 29,000 for this truck brand new.Hard earned money working 6 days a week.I have had it with this kind of negligence on behalf of Ford Motor Company. I will never buy another Ford truck that's it for for me F.M.C. John M. Roddy given under my hand this day 09/23/2016

- John R., Chester, VA, US

problem #22

Sep 172016

F-250 TK 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 106,000 miles

I actually had this "fixed" about a year ago. Second time this spark plug blew out.

- Michael S., Elyria, OH, US

problem #21

Jun 162016

F-250 6.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 135,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

IT WAS AWFUL AND UNPLEASURABLE EXPERIENCE. RIDING FROM KENTUCKY TO INDIANAPOLIS NOT KNOWING IF THE CAR WAS GONNA STOP OR CATCH ON FIRE. THIS IS HOW MY FATHER'S DAY WEEKEND WENT. WHEN ALL I WANTED TO DO IS SPEND TIME WITH MY FAMILY.

- Earl J., Indianapolis, IN, US

problem #20

Jan 262016

F-250 Lariat 5.4L Triton

  • Automatic transmission
  • 151,161 miles

Spark plug blew out of head, breaking the coil pack mounts and scaring the hell out of me.

Update from Jan 27, 2016: Traveling at approximately 35 MPH when spark plug blew out. The plug was found on the intake manifold and the coil pack was hanging out of the plug race and retained from blowing off completely by the injector rail.

- edsmith, Modesto, CA, US

problem #19

Jan 182016

F-250 XLT 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 205,036 miles

this is the second time this has happened. wanted all cylinders fixed but ford wont do it. this is an absolute factory defect that the consumer has to bite. i am taking ford to small claims court. would like to hear from others with same complaint. please send your detailed experience. shegren@aol.com

- Terry R., richfield, MN, US

problem #18

Apr 032014

F-250 XLT 5.4L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 186,744 miles

very inconvenient timing. was headed on vacation up north when sparkplug blow out. limped to ford for repair. took all day and a lot of money. fords response was they have not seen this before, but heres the fix. liars

- Terry R., richfield, MN, US

problem #17

Mar 112014

F-250 Lariat V10

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

We have 2 plugs from the right and left that continue to blow out. We had it bored out and it fixed it for a while. Now we have the very back cylinder that is too big and we will have to change the cylinder head. I think Ford should cover this. Once I researched this problem I seen it was indeed a problem. Hello Ford, stand behind what you sell........

- southworth, Cassatt, US

problem #16

Nov 192014

F-250 XL 6.8L V10

  • Automatic transmission
  • 151,000 miles

I never had a problem like this before. I have owned two F-150 pickups and they were great. I bought a used F-250 v10 and this truck is about to change my opinion of Ford all together. The spark plugs are blowing out and there is no end in site. I have owned the truck eight months and I'm already two plugs in.

I happened to be across the street from a dealership when the first plug blew so I walked over to get an estimate for the repair. For one plug repair I was quoted about 500 dollars plus tax!! Wow, immediately I replied that the repair of ten plugs was the same as the cost of a new engine!! The guy goes yeah, but all ten won't fail at the same time. But eventually they all will. I don't want this problem but at the same time how can I sell this to someone else. Stuck, I don't know what to do.

- Jamie J., Hamilton, OH, US

problem #15

Dec 152014

F-250 XLT 5.4L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 135,000 miles

My F250 blew a spark plug at 135000 miles. NOT HAPPY!!!!

- Clayton O., Columbus, IN, US

problem #14

Dec 052014

F-250 Lariat V10

  • Automatic transmission
  • 189,000 miles

The other day I went to the bank, went I came back out to start my truck it was like I shot a gun off under the hood of my F250. Have you I'm a lady so I'm scared to death. I called my local shop and he had me try to start it up, then asked if the engine light was flashing. Once I told him no, he told me to get it in there it wasn't even a mile away ,but if you could have seen the looks on people's faces my truck sounded like a piece of sh*t and I take good care of my truck.

Once I got there they told me it was a spark plug and that Ford has been having this problem. WTF I get on here and see several people have had this happen, but still no recall BS!! The guy told me hopefully it's an easy fix and you don't need a new head! Well I was lucky this time, but I have to worry when is this going to happen again? Why isn't Ford doing something they know this keeps happening!! Feeling really angry!

- walthers, Avondale, AZ, US

problem #13

Aug 282014

F-250 XLT 6.8L V10

  • Automatic transmission
  • 161,000 miles

Ford F250 2001 6.8 V-10 Spark plug blow out

I just had two of my ten plugs blow out on my 2001 F250 Gas 6.8 V-10 with 161K miles.

I tuned up the engine at the recommended 100k miles using the specified procedures for this engine. I knew there was a problem with this engine and was extremely careful during the tune-up and plug replacement.

I am a certified aircraft mechanic with FAA inspection authorization. I used a certified torque wrench to install the plug with the correct torque. There was no error in technique or installation on this spark plug replacement.

I just paid $720 to have two spark plug heli-coil inserts done on this engine that blew out the two front left plugs.

There is a similar procedure for aircraft aluminum cylinders (called jugs) with stripped spark plug boss defects.

An aircraft spark plug has a larger 18mm diameter plug with full depth threads (not the ¼” thread of the Ford V-10 and other Ford engine designs). Aircraft spark plugs are torqued to 35 ft/lbs (vs the 8.9 ft/lbs (107 in/lbs) specified by Ford). The maximum rpm of most aircraft engines is 2700 rpm as opposed to 6000+ rpm in the Ford engines. This results in a significantly less stress on the plug boss area that it would have in a Ford engine.

The engineering thought that went into this Ford design is totally nonsensical or non-existent. There is NO logical reason that they should design this thread depth with ¼” depth in an aluminum head instead of the fully available 7/8” of the spark plug threads that are installed. This is a gross error in design consideration that has resulted in thousands of spark plugs blowing out of Ford aluminum heads.

How long before my remaining 8 plugs blow? Where will I be when it happens? What will be the resultant damage to the engine, vehicle or persons in the truck? How much will it cost to repair?

The only legitimate recourse is for Ford to repair this design error. This can be done in two ways. It can be done by removing the heads and threading full depth plugs into the head or by heli-coil inserts in the heads without removing the heads.

- Kurt M., Elizabeth, CO, US

problem #12

Jul 132013

F-250 XLT 6.8L V10

  • Automatic transmission
  • 130,000 miles

I have a ford crew cab truck and drive from Madison wi to Milwaukee daily for construction and have blown 3 spark plugs out in less than three years. When a consumer buys a product I believe the makers should correct it or replace it I can't believe I wasted my time calling ford motor company they told me that there was no recall so there is nothing they can do meanwhile on line I find out this is a big problem with ford triton v10 engines what a bullshit company never again buying a Ford

- gruberwi, Deerfield, WI, US

problem #11

Sep 302012

F-250 F V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 146,000 miles

We have a Ford 2001 F250 in which the #5 spark plug blew out. We took it to our local mechanic to have it helicoiled as we'd heard many have done with this typical problem - great idea F.O.R.D... - and the plug was stuck. The mechanic had to soak it overnight to loosen the plug but the damage was already done as part of the plug had broken off when it blew thereby damaging the cylinder. We're now facing a very costly repair. To add insult to injury, the truck is only a couple months out of warranty & Ford will do nothing.

- dmmarsh, Big Bear Lake, CA, US

problem #10

Sep 302012

F-250 F V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 143,000 miles

Our F250 Super Duty V8 was purchased with 133,000 miles on it with the spark plugs already helicoiled. We felt fairly safe purchasing it as the common problem of spark plug blowouts was, we thought, corrected. On the way back from a very long trip, the truck started running very rough. When we got home, it was discovered the coil was loose on #5 plug - when my husband went to remove and change the spark plug it was discovered the plug was stuck. We brought it to a very reputable mechanic in our area who had to soak the plug overnight to remove it only to discover it had already been heli-coiled. So, now what?? We have to have it scoped to make sure nothing has broken off into the cylinder and go from there $$$$$ Very angry at Ford for not owning up to this obvious defect!!

- dmmarsh, Big Bear Lake, CA, US

problem #9

Oct 102011

F-250 Super V10

  • Automatic transmission
  • 167,386 miles

Question: if Ford is having this problem and they know about it why are they not recalling it. Wife was driving home and heard a loud pop. She pulled over and call me after looking into the matter I notice one plug had blowout and was laying on top of the engine. I noticed that this problem is common in a couple other Ford trucks as well. Not limited to just the 2001 model. Cost little over 500.00 for the repair.

- tshrabal47, Syracuse, UT, US

problem #8

Jul 262011

F-250 Lariat V10

  • Automatic transmission
  • 143,738 miles

4th time this truck has blown a sparkplug. Very expensive. I took it to a Ford dealer in Wasilla, AK while on vacation. He replaced the plug, and I had the remaining 9 plugs re-torqued. Drove over 4,000 miles home to NC. No problem on return trip. Ford does not share its torque specs with independent mechanics. Therein lies the problem (in addition to major aluminum block problems which they won't acknowledge). I'm writing Ford to recoup some of my losses. If they won't help, then I'm done with Ford products.

- Tom S., Taylorsville, NC, US

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