1998 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
UNDERHOOD FIRE ON 1998 FORD F-150 WHILE TRUCK WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. TRUCK HAD BEEN PARKED SEVERAL HOURS PRIOR TO FIRE. WAS AWAKEN BY FIRE DEPARTMENT STATING THEY PUT OUT FIRE. TWO DAYS AFTER FIRE WE RECEIVED A NOTICE ON A SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. EVERYTHING LETTER STATES IS IDENTICAL TO WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR VEHICLE. WE SUBMITTED CLAIM TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY FAILED TO ACKNOWLEDGE OUR CLAIM STATING "THAT DUE TO EXTENSIVE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE THEY WERE UNABLE TO VERIFY A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. THEY MADE THIS DETERMINATION BY OBSERVING PICTURES THAT WE SENT VIA EMAIL TO THEM. WE ASKED HOW THEY COULD MAKE THIS DETERMINATION WITHOUT SOMEONE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE AND ONLY LOOKING AT PICTURES AND THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE ON MOST ALL COMPLAINTS MADE TO THEM OF VEHICLE FIRES OF THIS NATURE AND THAT OUR CASE WAS CONSIDERED CLOSED. WHEN I ASKED MR KELLAR TO LET ME SPEAK WITH HIS BOSS HE STATED THAT HE WOULD NOT TRANSFER ME TO HIS BOSS BECAUSE HE CONSIDERED OUR CASE CLOSED AND THAT I DID NOT NEED ANY FURTHER INFORMATION PERTAINING TO HIS BOSS. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V388000 CONCERNING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE NOT AVAILABLE AT LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER , WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE .*AK
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL 05V170000 CONCERNING CRUISE CONTROL. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE MANUFACTURER, WHO CONFIRMED THE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME. *AK
DT: 1998 FORD F-150 CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 2 TO 3 HOURS. ONLY INFORMATION THAT CALLER HAS IS A RECALL ON THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES ON LATER MODELS. DID CONTACT FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE NOTHING TO BE DONE. LOST ALL THE THINGS INSIDE THE CAB OF TRUCK, LOSS WAS ESTIMATED BETWEEN $1,200 - $1,500. FIRE DEPARTMENT FILED A REPORT. *AK
FORD DEALERSHIPS IN RALEIGH NC AREA ARE REFUSING TO REPAIR 1998 F150 UNDER SPEED CONTROL RECALL. *NM
CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH CAUSED TRUCK TO CATCH FIRE. *NM
I HAVE A 1998 FORD F-150. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF PARK WHILE IN MY DRIVEWAY. I EXAMINED THE FORD OWNERS MANUAL AND IT ADVISED HOW TO GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK AND TO CHECK THE FUSE TO THE BRAKE LIGHTS. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING AND I REPLACED THE FUSE AS INSTRUCTED AND STARTED THE VEHICLE. IMMEDIATELY I COULD SEE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I OBSERVED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WHICH PLUGS INTO THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS ON FIRE. I PULLED THE WIRE FROM THE MELTED SWITCH AND THE FIRE WENT OUT. NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN AS FORD SAYS MY VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER RECALL. NO DAMAGE OTHER THAN THE SWITCH AND WIRING, I WAS LUCKY. *JB
DT: PRIOR TO THE FIRE TOOK A TRIP AND THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. FORD F-150 CAUGHT ON FIRE AT 12:50 AM 7/5/05 IN THE MORNING. IT HAD BEEN SITTING TURNED OFF FOR 12 HOURS, AND THERE WAS AN EXPLOSION. VEHICLE WAS PAID OFF 2 MONTHS AGO, ANOTHER WAS A RECALL. SOME OF VINYL SIDING MELTED, RESULTING IN $2500.00 DAMAGE. THERE WAS ALSO BLACK RESIDUE ON THE CARPET INSIDE THE HOUSE.*AK
I WAS AT THE STORE SHOPPING AND WALKED BACK TO MY TRUCK AND IT WAS GIVING OFF A VERY STONG ELECTRICAL SMELL. I STARTED THE TRUCK AND COULD NOT TAKE IT OUT OF PARK. I TURNED IT OFF AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD. THE SENSOR ATTACHED TO THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS BURNT TO A CRISP AND THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR WAS MELTED. I FOUND OUT THIS IS BEING RECALLED ON 2000 AND 2001 FORD F-150'S. THIS RECALL IS THE SAME PART THAT IS ON MY TRUCK. I OWN A 1998 AND NOT A 2000 OR 2001. I FEEL THIS WILL HAPPEN TO ANY F-150 REGARDLESS OF THE YEAR SINCE THEY HAVE THE SAME EXACT PART THAT IS BEING RECALLED. THIS IS A VERY BAD PROBLEM THAT YOU SHOULD RECALL ALL VEHICLES THAT HAVE THESE FAULTY PARTS ON THEM.
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 1998 FORD F-150 CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED. THIS HAPPENED ON SEPTEMBER 27, 2005. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND HAD BEEN TURNED OFF FOR AROUND SIX HOURS. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD NOT BEEN USED THE DAY OF THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO MALFUNCTIONS ON THE TRUCK. EVERYTHING WAS IN WORKING ORDER. THE CONSUMER WAS AWAKENED BY A NEIGHBOR WHO SPOTTED THAT THE GARAGE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE FIRE CONSUMED THE GARAGE, THE TRUCK AND ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE GARAGE AND THE VEHICLE WERE COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES TO REPORT. THERE WAS A FIRE INVESTIGATOR ON HAND TO EXAMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE INVESTIGATOR STATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE TRUCK. THIS WAS BEFORE THE CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 05V170000 CONCERNING THE SCDS ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2005. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE INSURANCE COMPANY, AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY DEALT WITH FORD, WHO TOLD THE INSURANCE AGENT THAT SOMEONE WOULD COME AND EXAMINED THE REMAINS. THEY WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE THE SCENE UNDISTURBED, AND IT MAY BE A MONTH OR SO BEFORE THEY WOULD EVEN COME AND CHECK. FORD TOLD THE INSURANCE AGENT TO PAY THE CONSUMER, AND FORD WOULD DEAL WITH THE INSURANCE COMPANY LATER. THERE WAS AN INSURANCE AND A FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT AVAILABLE TO ANY INVESTIGATOR.*AK UPDATED 12/07/05.*JB
DT: CALLER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT CRUISE CONTROL FIRES. CALLER SAID CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT, AND BRAKE FLUID WAS IN WIRING. CALLER HAS DISCONNECTED CRUISE CONTROL. DEALER OR MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THE OWNER NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE TOP FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE HOOD. CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WIRE HAD A SHORT. HE DISCONNECTED IT TO AVOID FURTHER DAMAGE.*AK *BF *NM
MY 1989 F-150 TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE AT APPROXIMATELY 9:30 PM, OUTSIDE MY HOUSE. THE TRUCK WAS UNATTENDED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED APPROXIMATELY 2-4 MINUTES AFTER IGNITION. DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO DRIVER'S SIDE, WITHIN 15" - 20" INCHES OF THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE BRAKE FLUID WAS APPARENTLY THE FUEL FOR THE FLAMES THAT BURNED PLASTIC COMPONENTS. BECAUSE THE FIRE WAS SPOTTED AND EXTINGUISHED QUICKLY, THIS MAY BE OF INTEREST TO YOUR ORGANIZATION. FORD VIN [XXX]. *AK *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
MY 1998 FORD F-150 HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, BUT DOES NOT WORK NOW FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I BELIEVE THERE IS A SHORT IN THE TRUCK'S CRUISE CONTROL WIRING, WHICH I READ THE NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING IN FORD TRUCKS. MY VIN IS [XXX]. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN WHEN ALL SUDDEN THE ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE ON ITS OWN. RESULTS SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT WITHIN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH.*AK.....*AK
THE CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE AROUND 5:00PM AND AROUND 8:00PM HE WAS ALERTED THAT THERE WAS A FIRE. THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE FIRE WAS MORE TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. PRIOR TO THE FIRE ON 12/1/04 THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. THE ONLY OTHER PROBLEM WAS THAT A FUSE BLEW THAT KEPT THE CONSUMER FROM GETTING THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. THE FUSE WAS REPLACED. NO AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT THAT WAS ELECTRICAL. NO STRUCTURE INVOLVED. HAVE PHOTOS THAT WILL BE E-MAILED TO BRUCE YORK. INSURED BY FARM BUREAU INSURANCE PLOICY #AP4818406 731-285-1275 RANDY BROOKS.
WHEN DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED EXCESSIVE HEAT COMES FROM THE BUTTONS. THE CAUSE HAS YET TO BE DETERMINED. THE CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL COMPARTMENT WILL OVER HEAT AND THE VEHICLE WILL CATCH FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
ACCELERATOR DOES NOT RETURN TO IDLE ON VERY COLD DAYS. IN NEUTRALL THE ENGINE REVS AT ABOUT 4000 RPM. I HAVE HAD CLOSE CALLS WHILE APROACHING INTERSECTIONS. I REALLY NEEDED TO LAY ON THE BRAKES. MY VEHICLE IS 1998 FORD F150 WITH A 5.4 ENGINE. I NO THERE IS A SAFTEY RECALL (98V007) FOR THE SAME VEHICLE WITH A 4.2 L ENGINE BUT MY TRUCK TRUCK HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEIR WAS A KIT AVAILABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I ALSO SUSPECT THAT THE KIT IS FOR THE 4.2 LITER ENGINE . *AK
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
CONSUMER STATED THIS VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V017000 CONCERNING CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH FIRE. *AK
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V3880000. CONCERNING CRUISE CONTROL. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE CONTACT HAS NOT SPOKEN TO THE MANUFACTURER, JUST T TO HE DEALERSHIP. *AK
DT: THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH WHICH WAS OVER THE MASTER CYLINDER ON A 1998 FORD F150 CAUGHT ON FIRE. THIS, IN TURN, CAUSED THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR TO CATCH ON FIRE. IT BURNT TWO FUSES AND UNDER THE WHEEL WELL. THIS HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS OFF, AND IT WAS AT THE MECHANIC. VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER SITTING FOR A WEEK. THE MECHANIC HAD CHANGED THE MOTOR APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AGO. THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE MECHANIC WAS THE ONE WHO DETERMINED THAT CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH CAUSED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN FIXED. THIS OCCURRED ON JULY 21, 2005. *AK *JB
CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH FAILED. *AK
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE DRIVER HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO SLOW IT DOWN. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO CLEANED THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. *NM
THROTTLE UNABLE TO RETURN TO IDLE DUE TO ICE FORMING IN THROTTLE BODY. *BF RECALL CAMPAIGN; ID NUMBER : 98V007000. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE IS HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL NOT TURNING OFF WHEN HE PRESSES ON THE BRAKE PEDAL OR HIT THE OFF BUTTON. *TC *JB
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Quick Summary
The 1998 Ford F-150 has 92 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL complaints on file. 8 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.