2002 Ford F-150 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The contact owns a 2002 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH and attempting to pass a slower vehicle, the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the pedal suddenly extended to the floorboard causing the vehicle to immediately accelerate faster than intended. During the failure the speed increased to over 75 MPH before the contact shifted the transmission into neutral and the vehicle decelerated. The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure on two other occasions and the cruise control feature was never activated during the failure. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 94,000.
I WAS DRIVING AND THE SPEED WOULD GO UP TO 90 MPH, THE TRUCK WAS NOT GOING THE SPEED IN REALITY. THEN THE RPM'S WOULD GO UP REALLY HIGH, I STOPPED THE TRUCK PUT IT IN PARK AND BACK IN DRIVE TRIED TO DRIVE OFF. THE TRUCK THEN WOULD NOT GO OVER 30 MPH AND THE GAS PEDDLE WAS ALL THE WAY DOWN TRYING TO GO, THE ENGINE STARTED SMOKING AND WHEN I PULLED OVER OPENED THE HOOD IT WAS SMOKING FROM THE DRIVER SIDE UPPER CORNER OF THE TRUCK. AFTER HAVING A MECHANIC LOOK AT IT, HE SAID THE BREAK PRESSURE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT'S A HOT WIRE AND IT'S LEAKING. AFTER CHECKING THE FORD VIN CHECK IT DIDN'T SAY MY TRUCK WAS APART OF THE RECALL BUT THEY YEAR AND MAKE AND MODEL IS. I'M CONFUSED AND AT THIS POINT DON'T WANT TO PUT MY CHILDREN IN A FIRE BALL LIKE THAT IF IT CATCHES ON FIRE...
CAR WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 65 MPH. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES I WAS ABLE TO SLOW IT DOWN AND CONTROL THE CAR. WHEN I GOT OFF THE EXIT RAMP AND TRIED TO BRING THE CAR TO A STOP, THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AT HIGH RPMS AND I COULDN'T COMPLETELY STOP CAR UNTIL I REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. I'VE TRIED TO START THE CAR AFTER THAT, BUT THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY STARTS RACING AS IF I HAVE MY FOOT PRESSED ON ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE GAS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 FORD F-150. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT'S HOUSE, IT CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FIRE WAS NOT HEAT RELATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
GOT HOME FROM WORK PARKED MY VEHICLE IN MY CARPORT AVAILABLE SPACE IN MY APARTMENT. TURN OFF THE TRUCK COMPLETELY, NOTHING LEFT ON OR ANYTHING SUSPICIOUS TO CAUSE A INCIDENT. WHEN TO MY APARTMENT UNIT TOOK A SHOWER AND NOT MORE THAN 20-30MINS WAS ALARMED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS CAUGHT ON FIRE. I IMMEDIATELY RAN OUTSIDE TO THE CARPORT SAW THE ENGINE ON FIRE, TRIED TO STOP IT WITH ANYTHING THAT I COULD FIND (WATER HOLES) OR EXTINGUISHER. MY NEIGHBORS CALLED 911 AS I SAW THE FLAMES GETTING HIGHER AND STRONGER THE FIRE MOVED INTO MY DAUGHTERS VEHICLE WHICH WAS PARKED NEXT TO OUR OTHER CARPORT SPACE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE AS WELL. OVERALL, THERE ARE TWO VEHICLES COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THERE WAS ALSO TWO OTHER VEHICLES INVOLVED THAT HAVE SOME BURNING DAMAGES. AS WELL AS PROPERTY DAMAGES INTO OUR AVAILABLE PARKING SPACES. SOME WINDOWS FROM THE LOWER APARTMENTS WERE CRACKED. MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED INTO MY PARKING PORT, NOT IN MOTION BUT TURNED OFF COMPLETELY.
IN 12-14 AND 1-10-2016 THE BUTTERFLY IN THE THROTTLE BODY STUCK AND VEHICLE WOULDN'T SLOW DOWN. 1ST INCIDENT -10F, CAME FROM WARM GARAGE, INTERSTATE, CRUISE CONTROL IN USE, IN ABOUT 15 MINUTES OF DRIVING EVENTUALLY SPEED GOT TO 85MPH ON ITS OWN, CRUISE SHUT OFF AND VEHICLE MAINTAINED 85 MPH, ONCE STOPPED THROTTLE AND CRUISE CABLE WERE CHECKED AND FREE, BUTTERFLY WAS STUCK PARTIALLY OPEN WHEN MANUALLY MOVED AND BROKE FREE, PROBLEM WENT AWAY; 2ND DATE -5F CAME FROM WARM GARAGE, INTERSTATE, CRUISE ON, 20 MINUTES INTO TRIP, SIMILAR RESULTS, WEATHER CLEAR LOW HUMIDITY, VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN, CRUISE SHUT OFF, NO-LOAD ENGINE SPEED OVER 5000 RPM, VEHICLE SPEED 65MPH ON LEVEL WITH NO THROTTLE INPUT, CABLES WHEN CHECKED WERE FREE, BRAKES WOULD BARELY SLOW VEHICLE, ENGINE OPERATED NORMALLY ONCE BUTTERFLY WAS BROKE FREE BUT PROBLEM REOCCURRED ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER. FORD F150 XLT 4.6L AUTOMATIC SUPERCREW, NO PROBLEM NOTED WHEN WEATHER IS WARMER
I WAS DRIVING TO THE OFFICE, AND APPROACHED A RED LIGHT SO I STARTED SLOWING DOWN. ONCE I REACHED 15 MPH MY 2002 4.2 L F150 ACCELERATED EXTREMELY HIGH. I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKE BUT THE TRUCK WAS STILL SLOWLY MOVING, SO WITH MY FOOT STILL ON THE BRAKE I TURNED INTO THE OFFICE PARKING LOT. I TRIED TO PUT IT IN PARK BUT IT WAS A STRUGGLE, I CALLED MY DAUGHTER OUTSIDE WHEN I WAS IN THE OFFICE PARKING LOT, AND SHE TOLD ME THE REAR TIRES WERE SPINNING. WHEN I FINALLY GOT IT IN PARK I TURNED THE TRUCK OFF. I GAVE IT APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE AND TURNED THE TRUCK BACK ON, AND IT WAS STILL ACCELERATING EXTREMELY HIGH SO I TURNED THE TRUCK BACK OFF SO IT WOULDN'T DAMAGE MY ENGINE. AFTER AN HOUR I TURNED THE TRUCK BACK ON, AND THE TRUCK WAS BACK TO NORMAL. AFTER DOING A BIT OF RESEARCH I SAW TONS OF ARTICLES WITH INSTANCES SIMILAR TO MINE, SO I DISCONNECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND TOOK IT TO THE NEAREST SHOP. *TR
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, I PUSHED THE ON BUTTON FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL AND PUSHED THE SET/EXCEL BUTTON AT 70 MPH. AFTER A MINUTE OR SO I LOOKED DOWN AND WAS GOING 75 AND ACCELERATING. I TAPPED THE BREAK WHICH HAD NO EFFECT. I TAPPED THE BREAK SEVERAL MORE TIME BUT THE TRUCK KEPT ACCELERATING. I PUSHED THE OFF BUTTON SEVERAL TIMES WHILE CONTINUING TO PUMP THE BREAK. THE CRUISE CONTROL FINALLY WENT OFF. SEVERAL MILES DOWN THE ROAD I TRIED TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AGAIN WITH THE SAME RESULTS. MY TRUCK IS A 4.2L V6 AND HAS HAD THE RECALL TAKEN CARE OF SEVERAL YEARS AGO. THIS APPEARS TO HAVE HAPPENED TO SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE AND COULD HAVE HAD A DISASTROUS OUTCOME. *TR
GAS PETAL STICKS AND WHEN PUSHED ON TRUCK ACCELERATES RAPIDLY, THIS HAPPENS WHEN STARTING OUT FROM A STOP AND DURING ALL DRIVING. *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE BURST INTO FLAMES AFTER THE ALARM SOUNDED. THE CONTACT PERSONALLY EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 05V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND NOT OPERATING WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND ONLY THE BED OF VEHICLE REMAINED. NO ADDITIONAL INFORMATION WAS AVAILABLE REGARDING THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, HE ATTEMPTED TO INCREASE SPEED VIA THE CRUISE CONTROL STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS. AFTER REACHING THE TARGET SPEED, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED TO DEACTIVATE. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE TO REGAIN CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,899.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNOCCUPIED, IT IGNITED INTO FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THERE WAS A BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SIMILAR CONSEQUENCE AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING FROM OF RESIDENTIAL GARAGE, SPARKS AND SMOKE STARTED TO EMIT FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE STOPPED ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 142,000.
FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SHORTED OUT CAUSING FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND DAMAGING SOME WIRES, AIR FILTER HOUSING, FUSE BOX, BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, HOOD STRUT AND HOOD. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AT HIS HOME; DESTROYING THE VEHICLE AND THE HOME. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ASSISTED WITH PUTTING OUT THE FIRE, BUT THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE A REPORT. A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE CRUISE CONTROL WAS RECEIVED BY THE CONTACT; STATING THAT IF NOT REPAIRED, THE VEHICLE MAY CATCH FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F150 SUPER-CREW. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) WAS PERFORMED APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS AGO BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. WHILE HE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE HE FOUND THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCHES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS LEAKING FLUID ABNORMALLY. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH THE REPAIR. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 134,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED AND SITTING IDLE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH HAD BURNED THE MASTER CYLINDER, CRUISE CONTROL CABLE AND THE WIRING THAT CONNECTED THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT OFFER THE CONTACT ANY ASSISTANCE IN REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRABLE BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IDLE WHEN IT IGNITED IN FLAMES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE USING A WATER HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. TWO VEHICLES THAT WERE PARKED NEAR THE CONTACTS VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGES FROM THE FIRE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED BUT NEITHER A POLICE OF FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS SIMILAR TO ONES THEY HAD WITNESSED THAT STARTED FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED FOR THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 102,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO ASSIST AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BUT THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY INCLUDED IN THE RECALL THAT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) YET THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY ADVISED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE BRAKE FLUID WHICH CAME IN CONTACT WITH A WIRE FROM THE CONTROL MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN AUGUST OF 2010 HE RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V388000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS AND HE WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITHIN THE COMPONENT AT THAT TIME AND REPAIRS WERE NOT NEEDED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT MOST RECENTLY, THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH FAILED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT REPAIRS WOULD NOT BE PERFORMED UNDER RECALL BECAUSE HE HAD PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT ACCORDING TO THEIR RECORDS, THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AUGUST 2010. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NEVER REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL AND THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE REFUSING TO HONOR THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 147,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL, IT DID NOT WORK. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH WAS LEAKING WHICH CAUSED THE FAILURE. HE WAS ALSO TOLD THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 05V388000, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. HE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND A REPRESENTATIVE CONFIRMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,730. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY APPROXIMATELY 113,000.
OUR 2002 F150 CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE FRONT OF OUR HOME. AFTER TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY OUR TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE WE FOUND ONLINE THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL ON THE CRUISE CONTROL/BRAKE SAFETY SWITCH RECALL FROM FORD. WE CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT AFTER WE PUT OUT FIRE AND HAVE RECORD THAT THEY CAME TO MAKE SURE ALL HARM WAS OUT OF THE WAY. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD F-150. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE EXITING A PARKWAY TO GET ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH HE APPLIED THE BRAKES TO YIELD AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT DRIVER INTENT. HE WAS FORCED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ON A SIDEWALK IN ORDER TO GET OUT OF TRAFFIC WHICH CAUSED HIM TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT. HE TRIED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL BUT IT WENT INTO REVERSE INSTEAD. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN IN REVERSE AND CROSSED A SIX LANE HIGHWAY BEFORE CRASHING INTO A LIGHT POLE, WHICH FINALLY STOPPED THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A STORAGE LOT. THE STATE POLICE RESPONDED TO THE SCENE AND FILED A REPORT WHICH IS AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. FORD WAS CONTACTED AND COULD NOT OFFER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 82,200. UPDATED 11/22/10 *BF UPDATED 11/23/10*JB
MY 2002 F150 CATCH ON FIRE TODAY. THE FIRE SEEMS TO HAVE COME FROM THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AREA. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 2002 Ford F-150 has 73 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL complaints on file. 3 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.