Ford F-150 Vehicle Speed Control Problems
Owners have filed 2,690 complaints with NHTSA about vehicle speed control problems on the Ford F-150 across 32 model years. The 2013 model year has the most (302). The words owners use most often: “cruise control” (23% of reports).
- 2,690vehicle speed control complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 188mention a crash
- 82mention an injury
- 7related recalls
- $1,300typical repair cost reported by owners
- 63%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Cruise control: mentioned in 614 of 2,690 complaints (23%)
- Caught fire: mentioned in 285 of 2,690 complaints (11%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical vehicle speed control repair on the Ford F-150 at $1,300, and half of them between $580 and $1,850.
Based on 20 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2005–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do vehicle speed control problems happen?
Based on 1,667 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 2,690 complaints, 188 mention a crash, 571 a fire, 82 an injury.
Ford F-150 vehicle speed control complaints by model year
| Model year | Vehicle Speed Control complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 F-150 | 1 | 8% | — |
| 2025 F-150 | 11 | 10% | 6,500 |
| 2024 F-150 | 7 | 4% | 13,290 |
| 2023 F-150 | 18 | 4% | 22,000 |
| 2022 F-150 | 16 | 3% | 18,000 |
| 2021 F-150 | 20 | 2% | — |
| 2020 F-150 | 16 | 2% | 23,000 |
| 2019 F-150 | 44 | 3% | 35,000 |
| 2018 F-150 | 73 | 3% | 15,500 |
| 2017 F-150 | 66 | 5% | 14,000 |
| 2016 F-150 | 100 | 5% | 38,869 |
| 2015 F-150 | 145 | 8% | 44,000 |
| 2014 F-150 | 102 | 7% | 52,000 |
| 2013 F-150 | 302 | 10% | 69,074 |
| 2012 F-150 | 194 | 11% | 30,500 |
| 2011 F-150 | 213 | 10% | 57,000 |
| 2010 F-150 | 39 | 5% | 52,000 |
| 2009 F-150 | 54 | 17% | 36,370 |
| 2008 F-150 | 41 | 11% | 27,225 |
| 2007 F-150 | 54 | 11% | 44,500 |
| 2006 F-150 | 31 | 5% | 50,000 |
| 2005 F-150 | 57 | 5% | 50,251 |
| 2004 F-150 | 70 | 3% | 39,500 |
| 2003 F-150 | 32 | 8% | 85,000 |
| 2002 F-150 | 86 | 10% | 120,000 |
| 2001 F-150 | 180 | 15% | 103,000 |
| 2000 F-150 | 188 | 17% | 100,000 |
| 1999 F-150 | 79 | 8% | 78,500 |
| 1998 F-150 | 116 | 8% | 108,500 |
| 1997 F-150 | 223 | 8% | 120,000 |
| 1996 F-150 | 36 | 11% | 130,000 |
| 1995 F-150 | 76 | 12% | 121,382 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (7)
Vehicle speed control
Model years: 2003, 2004
Problem: 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.
Risk: This could result in an underhood fire.
Fix: 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 speed control
Model years: 2003
Problem: On certain trucks equipped with speed control, gasoline or natural gas engines, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat.
Risk: Overheating could result in smoke, burn, or an underhood fire.
Fix: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness into the speed control system free of charge. The recall began on march 12, 2007. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673. (note: also see recalls 05v017, 05v388, and 06v286)
Vehicle speed control
Model years: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002
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)
Vehicle speed control:cruise control
Model years: 2000
Problem: On certain sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn.
Risk: This condition could lead to a fire. Fires have occurred while the vehicles were parked with the ignition 'off.'
Fix: As an interim repair, owners will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected. As soon as replacement parts are available (early april 2005), owners will be instructed to return to the dealers for installation of a new switch free of charge. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673. (note: also see recalls 05v388 and 06v286)
Vehicle speed control:cables
Model years: 1999
Problem: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks. A speed control cable may not have fully seated into the accelerator bracket at time of installation. If the cable is not fully seated into this bracket, the cable could separate from the bracket.
Risk: A loose cable can result in the throttle not fully returning to idle and cause an increase in stopping distance.
Fix: Dealers will add a retaining clip to the speed control cable fitting at the accelerator bracket.
Vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal
Model years: 1997, 1998
Problem: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks equipped with a 4.2l engine and originally sold or currently registered in one of the following states: alaska, montana, north dakota, minnesota, wisconsin, new york, vermont, new hampshire, maine, michigan, idaho, wyoming, south dakota, colorado, nebraska, kansas, iowa, missouri, illinois, indiana, ohio, pennsylvania, and massachusetts. The throttle is unable to return to idle due to ice forming in the throttle body when the temperature ranges from -10 to -40 degrees fahrenheit.
Risk: Increased brake pedal efforts or some increase in stopping distance could result.
Fix: Dealers will install a revised pcv system on these vehicles.
Vehicle speed control
Model years: 1997
Problem: Vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the following states: alaska, montana, north dakota, minnesota, wisconsin, michigan (upper peninsula), new york, maine, vermont, and new hampshire. Operation at highway speeds during extreme cold, northern climate winter conditions, can result in ice forming in the throttle body of the engine.
Risk: This ice can cause the throttle plate to remain in the highway cruising position after the accelerator is released or the speed control is deactivated. Under such conditions, the vehicle stopping distances would be increased possibly resulting in an accident.
Fix: Dealers will install a foam insulating sleeve on the line from the pcv to the hose fitting on the throttle plate.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
On 10/13/2026, driving about 25 mph on a city street, my truck entered failsafe with no prior warning lamps or symptoms. The PCM cut most engine power, leaving no acceleration, and set P1285 (CHT Overtemp Sensed) and P1299 (CHT Overtemp Protection Active). The engine was not overheating; a $40 CHT…
I own a 2014 Ford F-150 equipped with the 6R80 six-speed automatic transmission (VIN: [XXX]), currently at approximately 133,000 miles. On XXX, while driving at ~70 mph on [XXX], my truck experienced an abrupt, unintended downshift â the precise failure mode described in Recall 24S37. The…
In mid-September 2026, I had safety recall 26S28 (NHTSA 26V-237) performed on my 2016 Ford F-150 at Corwin Ford Reno in Reno, NV. The recall remedy was a powertrain control module software update intended to prevent unexpected transmission downshifts. Before the recall repair, the vehicle had no…
My 2017 Ford F150 has been downshifting unexpectedly now for weeks. There have been a few times when I literally lost control of my truck. I am afraid to drive on Highway. I use my truck for work and everything else. The local Ford dealership here Astro Ford in D'Iberville, Ms told me yesterday…
Was driving on the interstate and the speedometer stopped working, the truck shifted to first gear and entered limp home mode. This is a know issue with the lead frame and even though I only have 95k miles on the truck, ford only offered a 10 year extended warranty CSP 19N01 to cover it which has…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford F-150s have vehicle speed control problems?
No. NHTSA has 2,690 owner complaints about vehicle speed control for the Ford F-150. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford F-150 vehicle speed control?
Yes: 7 safety recalls list vehicle speed control. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix vehicle speed control problems on the Ford F-150?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,300 (half paid between $580 and $1,850), from 20 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about vehicle speed control problems on the Ford F-150?
The most frequent phrase is “cruise control”, in 614 of 2,690 complaints, followed by “caught fire” (285).
Other Ford F-150 problems
- Power Train problems (8,971)
- Engine problems (4,524)
- Electrical System problems (3,642)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (2,502)
- Steering problems (2,253)
- Service Brakes problems (2,080)
- Visibility problems (2,074)
- Structure problems (2,017)
See all Ford F-150 problems.