1996 Ford F-150 Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 36about this part
- Share
- 11%of 324 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 130,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 36 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 1996 Ford F-150, 11% of the 324 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 130,000 miles. 27 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I have a 1996 F-150 that the cruise control quit working onseveral months ago. Yesterday, the fuse that supplies power to the brake pressure switch blew. I found brake fluid in the electrical connector of the brake pressure switch. Why is this vehicle not part of the recall for this part? My dealer syas he has a replacement switch, but I am hesitant to buy. Think I'll just leave it unplugged for now.”
NHTSA complaint #10125172, filed 2005-06, 115,000 miles“Faulty cruise control switch fire on my 1996 Ford F-150 pick-up. The fire started this morning about 2 hours after I got to work today. This is the same problem that I am aware of with the 2000 F-150's but my truck is a 1996 and I have never had to replace the switch. I bought the truck in 1997 when it was about a year old. The Ford-smart web site said to contact you if any other years than 2000 had this same problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10132833, filed 2005-08, 130,534 miles“1996 Ford f150 had made a short trip to home depot. Approximately 1 hr. Later I smelled what seemed like burning tar. I looked and there was a large amount of smoke coming from under my hood.. Upon inspection I found the cruise control brake switch smoking profusely, a small flame. And extremely hot. I unplugged it and the immediate problem stopped.. The switch is burnt and melted. If I had not been outside and found this even 5 minutes later. I would now have a burned truck. …”
NHTSA complaint #10124032, filed 2005-06, 138,000 miles“A fire occurred under the hood of our 1996 Ford F-150, destroying the whole front end and into the cab. Truck is a total loss. No one was hurt, and it was parked on my job parking lot, away from any close vehicles. I had just driven to work. I arrived to work as a security officer at 11:20p.m. And at 12:50a.m. The truck was in flames. We bought it used in march 2008 and had never heard of any recalls or any defects. It was a very clean, well kept truck. We received one recall notice in late november early december 2008(during holidays) about a speed control switch. …”
NHTSA complaint #10254679, filed 2009-01, 115,000 miles“Denton, texas. Recently purchased used 1996 Ford f 150 truck, sat in work parking lot under a shade tree from 7:30 am-3:15 pm...and engine compartment burst into flames, destroying the truck. I was notified at 3:20 that my truck was on fire which was not able to be put out with hand extinguishers. Fire dept was called, broke windows to put out fire inside the cab. Truck was totally burned out from cab forward. Police were called, but refused to come. Fire marshall in did not respond to call. Message was left on answering machine. …”
NHTSA complaint #10166013, filed 2006-08, 190,472 milesRelated recalls
- 05V388000Sep 7, 2005On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn.Covers: Ford F-150 1994–2002, F-250 1994–1999, Expedition 1997–2002 +3 more
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 8% |
| 2025 | 11 | 10% |
| 2024 | 8 | 4% |
| 2023 | 18 | 4% |
| 2022 | 16 | 3% |
| 2021 | 21 | 2% |
| 2020 | 17 | 2% |
| 2019 | 44 | 3% |
| 2018 | 73 | 3% |
| 2017 | 66 | 5% |
| 2016 | 102 | 5% |
| 2015 | 146 | 8% |
| 2014 | 102 | 7% |
| 2013 | 304 | 10% |
| 2012 | 194 | 11% |
| 2011 | 213 | 10% |
| 2010 | 39 | 5% |
| 2009 | 54 | 17% |
| 2008 | 41 | 11% |
| 2007 | 54 | 11% |
| 2006 | 31 | 5% |
| 2005 | 57 | 5% |
| 2004 | 70 | 3% |
| 2003 | 32 | 8% |
| 2002 | 86 | 10% |
| 2001 | 180 | 15% |
| 2000 | 188 | 17% |
| 1999 | 79 | 8% |
| 1998 | 116 | 8% |
| 1997 | 223 | 8% |
| 1996 | 36 | 11% |
| 1995 | 76 | 12% |
| 1994 | 76 | 11% |
| 1993 | 40 | 7% |
| 1992 | 13 | 3% |
| 1991 | 10 | 3% |
| 1990 | 5 | 2% |
| 1989 | 13 | 6% |
| 1988 | 4 | 3% |
| 1987 | 4 | 4% |
| 1986 | 1 | 2% |
| 1985 | 1 | 4% |
| 1984 | 2 | 13% |
| 1983 | 1 | 10% |
Other parts of the 1996 Ford F-150
56 complaintsFuel system
53 complaintsBrakes
34 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
26 complaintsAir bags
23 complaintsEngine cooling
23 complaintsSuspension
21 complaintsTires
21 complaintsSteering
20 complaintsSeats
9 complaintsOther or unknown
7 complaintsBody and structure
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Ford F-150
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology