Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2001 F-650.
The 2001 Ford F‑650 is a heavy‑duty, 650‑class chassis built on Ford’s durable platform, powered by an automatic four‑speed transmission and achieving EPA fuel economies of 11 mpg in the city, 15 mpg on the highway, and 13 mpg combined. Its standout feature is the robust power‑train configuration that earned it the highest complaint count—10—within the 1999‑2022 period, reflecting the model year’s notoriety for drivetrain issues. With only one recall and a total of 32 owner complaints, the 2001 F‑650 sits at the upper end of Ford’s light‑truck reliability spectrum, signaling a need for attentive maintenance for researchers examining long‑term durability.
Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd |
| EPA city / highway / combined | 11 / 15 / 13 mpg |
| Drivetrain | Rear-Wheel Drive |
| Recommended fuel | Natural Gas |
Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.
Torque the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs.
| Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts | 212 DI Diesel ft-lbs |
| Engine Flywheel Bolts | 89 ft-lbs |
| Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug | 18.0 ft-lbs |
| 1 | 52-53 ft. lbs., Step 2: 80 | 52–53 ft. lbs |
| 1 | 76 ft. lbs., Step 2: 96 | 76 ft. lbs |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The 2001 model year represents the apex of early-generation activity within the 1999–2003 arc, registering ten complaints—double the previous year’s five and the highest concentration in that five-year span—while recalls declined from six in 2000 to three, and technical service bulletins dropped sharply from seventy-nine to forty-seven. This data places 2001 at the crest of the complaint curve, with reported issues concentrated in Power Train and Engine & Engine Cooling categories, each accounting for six filings, alongside five tire-related complaints. Following 2001, the federal record shows a steady downward trend in complaints, recalls, and TSBs through 2003, suggesting the manufacturer addressed emerging issues in subsequent model years. Given the elevated complaint volume relative to its immediate predecessors and successors, the 2001 F-650 carries higher documented exposure than adjacent years, making 2002 or 2003 a statistically safer acquisition within this generation.
All 32 complaints on record, top 8 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
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… Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUEL FILLER PIPE GROUND. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 26, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND…
Showing 5 of 39 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| ASI-44408 | 2014-02-01 | Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | FORD: THE RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE (RCM) WHEN USING VCM II, WOULD HAVE AN ERROR CODE 35… |
| CSP-08B05 | 2008-10-13 | Engine And Engine Cooling | FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY: PROGRAM OF AFFECTED VEHICLES REGISTERED IN CA (8500 GVWR), MA (6000… |
| 07212 | 2007-10-01 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SOME 1997-2008 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, OR 6.8L 2V ENGINE--SPARK PLUG… |
| 19015 | 2006-01-01 | Fuel System, Other | FUEL CONDITIONER. LOW POWER, POOR FUEL ECONOMY, FUEL GELLING IN COLD WEATHER, EXCESSIVE… |
| 041601 | 2005-11-14 | Engine And Engine Cooling | WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR… |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.
EPA figures are 11 city / 15 highway / 13 combined mpg.