1998 Ford Ranger Vehicle Speed Control Problems
Owners have filed 71 complaints with NHTSA about vehicle speed control problems on the 1998 Ford Ranger, 12% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 78,650 miles. The words owners use most often: “cruise control” (25% of reports).
- 71vehicle speed control complaints
- 78,650median miles at failure
- 8mention a crash
- 4mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 26%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 18 of 71 complaints (25%)
- Foot off: mentioned in 6 of 71 complaints (8%)
- Caught fire: mentioned in 6 of 71 complaints (8%)
At what mileage do vehicle speed control problems happen?
Based on 12 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 71 complaints, 8 mention a crash, 10 a fire, 4 an injury.
Ford Ranger vehicle speed control complaints by model year
| Model year | Vehicle Speed Control complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Ranger | 5 | 12% | — |
| 2024 Ranger | 4 | 4% | — |
| 2023 Ranger | 2 | 11% | 38,000 |
| 2022 Ranger | 3 | 8% | 10,000 |
| 2021 Ranger | 8 | 7% | 4,500 |
| 2020 Ranger | 6 | 5% | 21,500 |
| 2019 Ranger | 12 | 4% | 6,000 |
| 2011 Ranger | 4 | 2% | 43,500 |
| 2010 Ranger | 4 | 3% | 2,500 |
| 2009 Ranger | 2 | 1% | 12,501 |
| 2006 Ranger | 5 | 2% | 93,500 |
| 2005 Ranger | 7 | 2% | 55,000 |
| 2004 Ranger | 19 | 5% | 42,500 |
| 2003 Ranger | 40 | 16% | 53,500 |
| 2002 Ranger | 51 | 15% | 65,000 |
| 2001 Ranger | 57 | 11% | 73,232 |
| 2000 Ranger | 55 | 8% | 85,000 |
| 1999 Ranger | 54 | 7% | 75,000 |
| 1998 Ranger | 71 | 12% | 78,650 |
| 1997 Ranger | 23 | 6% | 128,000 |
| 1996 Ranger | 34 | 8% | 109,128 |
| 1995 Ranger | 20 | 6% | 116,387 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Vehicle speed control
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
Problem: Vehicle description: certain 1997-1999 rhd explorer equipped with 4.0l ohv/sohc engines and cruise control built from may 29, 1996 through march 4, 1999; 1998-1999 explorer/mountaineers equipped with 4.0l ohv/sohc or 5.0l engines or 1998-1999 rangers equipped with 2.5l, 3.0l ffv/efi or 4.0l engines and cruise control built from january 5, 1998 through march 4, 1999; 1998-1999 mustangs equipped with 3.8l, 4.6l 2-valve or 4-valve engines and cruise control built from march 2, 1998 through march 4, 1999; 1999 f250/f350/f450/f550 (over 8,500 lbs.) trucks equipped with 5.4l or 6.8l engines and cruise control built from march 2, 1998 through march 4, 1999; and 1999 f-53 stripped chassis equipped with 5.4l or 6.8l engines and cruise control built from march 2, 1998 through march 4, 1999. A cruise control cable can interfere with the speed control servo pulley and not allow the throttle to return to idle when disengaging the cruise control.
Risk: If the cruise control is used and this condition is present, a stuck throttle could result, which could potentially result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the cruise control cables. At the present time, the replacement cables are not available. Customers are being advised not to use the cruise control system until a replacement can be made.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My fuse #27 for backup lights and the o/d keeps blowing out and now the o/d light flashes sometimes i pulled the cover off of the steering column but the o/d cord wasn't pinched or damaged also no appearance of any wire touching anything
Pulled into a sloping down parking spot. Stopped, foot on the brake. Before i could shift out of drive, the engine abruptly revved up to max rpm. I had both feet on the brakes, the back wheels started spinning creating a cloud of blue smoke. I jammed the gears into park and they engine only quit…
Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford ranger. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph the accelerator pedal fractured and detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who stated that the rivets attached to the accelerator pedal and brackets were…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1998 Ford Rangers have vehicle speed control problems?
No. NHTSA has 71 owner complaints about vehicle speed control for the 1998 Ford Ranger (12% of the 576 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 1998 Ford Ranger vehicle speed control?
Yes: 2 safety recalls 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 78,650 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about vehicle speed control problems on the 1998 Ford Ranger?
The most frequent phrase is “cruise control”, in 18 of 71 complaints, followed by “foot off” (6).
Other 1998 Ford Ranger problems
See all 1998 Ford Ranger problems or vehicle speed control problems across all Ranger years.