Problems · by component

2003 Ford F-150 vehicle speed control problems

33 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Ford F-150 cite vehicle speed control, 7% of all 464 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
33
7% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
5
Reported by owners
Injuries
6
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the vehicle speed control

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“GAS PEDAL IS STICKING. TRUCK SPEEDS UP, ONLY WAY TO STOP IS SHIFT TO NEUTRAL.HAPPENED ON HIGHWAY AND I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND HIT PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES TO GET BACK TO IDLE”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 18, 2019Vehicle speed controlODI 11180820
“SEPTEMBER 05, 2017 3:49PM WHEN APPROCHING THE CAPE COD MA BRIDGE, MY 20 YEAR OLD DAUGHTERS FORD F-150 SUDDENELY ACCERELATED WHEN THE CRUSE CONTROL WAS OFF. SHE REACHED SPEEDS EXCEDING 80MPH AND THE BRAKES WHERE USELESS. SHE HAD TO SHIFT OUT OF DRIVE AND SHUT THE ENGINE OFF WHILLE WEAVING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC TO REGAIN CONTROL. HAD SHE BEEN IN ANY HEAVER TRAFFIC OR ON THE BRIDGE SHE AND MAYBE OTHERS WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY SEVERLY INJURED!!! THIS SEEMS TO BE A WELL KNOWN ISSUE YET FORD AND MY LOCAL FORD DEALER KNOW NOTHING ABOUT IT (STRANGE) THE RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE JUST IS NOT FOR HER F-150. WHEN I SPOKE TO BOTH FORD AND MY LOCAL DEALER. THIS IS A LIFE AND DEATH ISSUE. (CRICKETTS FROM FORD)”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 6, 2017Vehicle speed controlODI 11021723
“CPSC:I HAVE A 2003 FORD 6 CYLINDER TRUCK AND IT HAS NEARLY GOTTEN US KILLED A NUMBER OF TIMES!I'VE CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE IS A RECALL AND CAN'T FIND ONE AND I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN COVINGTON LOUISIANA AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I SENT EMAILS TO THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND NEVER GET A RESPONSE. *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE RAPIDLY AND UNINTENTIONALLY. IN ORDER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN THE DRIVER HAD TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL, WHICH WAS BECOMING DIFFICULT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. UPDATED 08/31/2017*JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 30, 2017Vehicle speed controlODI 11020829
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAD NOT SEIZED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000. 06/01/17UPDATED *LJ *AS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 20, 2017Vehicle speed controlODI 10979632
“PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF A MEDICAL CLINIC, GOING MAYBE 5 -8 MPH AND I HAD THE BRAKE DEPRESSED AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AT FULL THROTTLE AND HIT A BUILDING--YOU CAN SEE THE SKID MARK IN THE FIRST PICTURE. I ENDED UP HITTING A BUILDING AND WHEN IT GOT STOPPED THE TIRES JUST KEPT SPINNING UNTIL I SHUT IT OFF. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, MYSELF AND MY GRANDCHILDREN WERE HURT. MAJOR BUILDING DAMAGE AS WELL. MILEAGE AT TIME THIS HAPPENED 140,000”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 6, 2016Air bags, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10863668
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT 50 MPH AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED THE VEHICLE INTO A MEDIAN WALL AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND EYE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 195,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 25, 2015Air bags, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10690520

Showing 6 of 33 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Vehicle speed control

Remedy pending

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.

Vehicle speed controlReported Aug 3, 2007NHTSA 07V336000

Vehicle speed control

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, GASOLINE OR NATURAL GAS ENGINES, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT.

Vehicle speed controlReported Mar 6, 2007NHTSA 07V078000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

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