2001 Ford F-150 Vehicle Speed Control Problems

Source: NHTSA · Updated Jul 17, 2025 · 180 complaints analyzed

Owners have filed 180 complaints with NHTSA about vehicle speed control problems on the 2001 Ford F-150, 15% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 103,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “cruise control” (36% of reports).

What owners describe

Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.

  • Cruise control: mentioned in 64 of 180 complaints (36%)
  • Caught fire: mentioned in 58 of 180 complaints (32%)
  • Deactivation switch: mentioned in 18 of 180 complaints (10%)
  • Engulfed flames: mentioned in 10 of 180 complaints (6%)

At what mileage do vehicle speed control problems happen?

Based on 119 complaints that reported the odometer reading.

Under 10k miles0 · 0%
10k–25k miles3 · 3%
25k–50k miles8 · 7%
50k–75k miles18 · 15%
75k–100k miles22 · 18%
100k–150k miles40 · 34%
150k+ miles28 · 24%

How serious are the reports?

Of 180 complaints, 11 mention a crash, 115 a fire, 3 an injury.

Ford F-150 vehicle speed control complaints by model year

Peak: 2013, with 302 complaints
1995: 7619951996: 361997: 2231998: 11619981999: 792000: 1882001: 18020012002: 862003: 322004: 7020042005: 572006: 312007: 5420072008: 412009: 542010: 3920102011: 2132012: 1942013: 30220133022014: 1022015: 1452016: 10020162017: 662018: 732019: 4420192020: 162021: 202022: 1620222023: 182024: 72025: 1120252026: 1

n = 2,690 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Model yearVehicle Speed Control complaintsShare of that yearMedian miles
2026 F-15018%—
2025 F-1501110%6,500
2024 F-15074%13,290
2023 F-150184%22,000
2022 F-150163%18,000
2021 F-150202%—
2020 F-150162%23,000
2019 F-150443%35,000
2018 F-150733%15,500
2017 F-150665%14,000
2016 F-1501005%38,869
2015 F-1501458%44,000
2014 F-1501027%52,000
2013 F-15030210%69,074
2012 F-15019411%30,500
2011 F-15021310%57,000
2010 F-150395%52,000
2009 F-1505417%36,370
2008 F-1504111%27,225
2007 F-1505411%44,500
2006 F-150315%50,000
2005 F-150575%50,251
2004 F-150703%39,500
2003 F-150328%85,000
2002 F-1508610%120,000
2001 F-15018015%103,000
2000 F-15018817%100,000
1999 F-150798%78,500
1998 F-1501168%108,500
1997 F-1502238%120,000
1996 F-1503611%130,000
1995 F-1507612%121,382

When owners reported it

Peak: 2005, with 38 complaints
2000: 120002001: 82002: 720022003: 52004: 520042005: 38382006: 1920062007: 152008: 1920082009: 82010: 820102011: 132012: 420122013: 32014: 620142015: 42016: 520162017: 42019: 120192020: 12022: 220222024: 12025: 32025

n = 180 complaints · Source: NHTSA

Related recalls (1)

Vehicle speed controlSep 7, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V388000 · 4,500,000 vehicles

Problem: On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn.

Risk: A fire at the switch could occur.

Fix: By letter dated september 12, 2005, owners were instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected. Owners who have had their speed control deactivated are being notified that parts will be available and advised to make an appointment to reconnect the speed control beginning in february 2006. Owners who did not have their speed control deactivated are being notified to have their system remedied beginning in february 2006. Owners are urged to avail themselves of the free disconnect service as soon as possible because of the significant risk of fire. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673. (note: also see recalls 05v017 and 06v286)

What owners report

Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.

The contact owned a 2001 Ford F-150. The contact stated that he parked the vehicle on the street in front of the residence, and ten minutes later, the contact heard the horn abruptly sounding. His son looked out the window and discovered the vehicle in flames. No warning light was illuminated. The…

Received Jun 30, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11670333

The contact owned a 2001 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied, the vehicle caught on fire. The contact stated that a bystander driving by became aware of the fire underneath the hood of the vehicle and used a fire extinguisher to extinguish the fire. The…

Received Jun 25, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11669284

The contact owned a 2001 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL); The contact's husband had left the vehicle unoccupied and parked outside his workplace. The contact's husband was then contacted by his co-workers via walkie-talkie to…

Received Feb 27, 2025 · NHTSA complaint 11645428
Ford F-150
Ford F-150 (fourteenth generation) at Rutesheimer Autoschau 2025. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Alexander Migl, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Frequently asked questions

Do all 2001 Ford F-150s have vehicle speed control problems?

No. NHTSA has 180 owner complaints about vehicle speed control for the 2001 Ford F-150 (15% of the 1,236 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.

Was there a recall on the 2001 Ford F-150 vehicle speed control?

Yes: 1 safety recall list vehicle speed control. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.

At what mileage do vehicle speed control problems start?

The median reported mileage is 103,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.

What do owners say about vehicle speed control problems on the 2001 Ford F-150?

The most frequent phrase is “cruise control”, in 64 of 180 complaints, followed by “caught fire” (58).

Other 2001 Ford F-150 problems

See all 2001 Ford F-150 problems or vehicle speed control problems across all F-150 years.