Problems · by component

1996 Ford F-150 vehicle speed control problems

40 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Ford F-150 cite vehicle speed control, 11% of all 360 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
40
11% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
29
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the vehicle speed control

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owned a 1996 Ford F-150. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 05V017000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The contact stated that while parked in the driveway, she observed fire between the finder and the hood. The heat from the fire rippled the front of the garage causing property damage. The vehicle was not diagnosed and the origin of the fire was not determined. The fire was extinguished by the fire department. The vehicle was towed to an unknown impound lot. It was unknown if a police report or fire department report was filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 11, 2024Vehicle speed controlFire reportedODI 11582443
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT WAS NOTIFIED BY HIS MOTHER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE CONTACT NOTICED FLAMES UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE HOOD, HE NOTICED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS, FUSE BOX, AND RELAY BOX WERE BURNED, AND THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER WAS COMPLETELY MELTED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 23, 2017Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlFire reportedODI 10968179
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 58 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE UNDER CONTROL AND COASTED ONTO THE ROAD SHOULDER. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE THROTTLE FAILED. THE CONTACT CLEANED THE THROTTLE AREA AND DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 195,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 16, 2012Vehicle speed controlODI 10484884
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS. FOUR YEARS LATER, THE NEW PARTS THAT WERE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE UNDER THE RECALL BEGAN TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 167,000. UPDATED 06/01/11*LJ UPDATED 1/18/2012 *LN THE CONSUMER STATED THE CONTROL VALVE WAS REPLACED ON 4/26/11”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 26, 2011Vehicle speed controlFire reportedODI 10397926
“1996 FORD F-150 TRUCK BURST INTO FLAMES WHILE IT WAS TURNED OFF AND WAS SITTING FOR 5 DAYS. FIRE INSPECTOR DETERMINED THE ORIGIN OF FIRE WAS AT THE MASTER SOLENOID OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. THE CRUISE CONTROL, WHICH HAD STOPPED WORKING ONE WEEK PRIOR TO THE EVENT, RESTS ON THE MASTER BRAKE SOLENOID.. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS BEEN RECALLED ON THIS VEHICLE. THE OWNER HAD NOT RECEIVED A RECALL FROM THE FORD COMPANY. THE TRUCK IS A TOTAL LOSS WITH BOTH ENGINE AND CAB COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE HOUSE THAT WAS APPROX. FIVE FEET AWAY WAS DAMAGED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 17, 2010Vehicle speed controlFire reportedODI 10330739
“CRUISE CONTROL REFUSES TO DISENGAGE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. ISSUE REPORTED TO FORD DLR. IN 2002 AND DLR. REFUSED TO REPAIR AS NOT UNDER WARRANTY RECALL AND UNIT OUT OF WARRANTY. I DO NOT TRY TO USE CRUISE CONTROL AS VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITH CONTROL ON AND WILL NOT DISENGAGE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT FORD NEEDS TO CORRECT AT NO CHARGE TO ME. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 10, 2010Vehicle speed controlODI 10318450

Showing 6 of 40 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Vehicle speed control

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Vehicle speed controlReported Sep 7, 2005NHTSA 05V388000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 7, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.