2002 Ford F-150 Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 86about this part
- Share
- 10%of 821 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 118,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 86 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2002 Ford F-150, 10% of the 821 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 118,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 45 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.
“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11046072, filed 2017-11, 190,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10360739, filed 2010-10, 173,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #11257244, filed 2019-09, 139,400 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #11270184, filed 2019-10, 238,500 miles“Our 2002 F-150, caught on fire underneath the hood saturday 5/10/08 evening after being parked for 45 minutes at out home. We believe it had to do with the Ford recalls out on the speed control switch. It started where the brake fluid is located and burned to the master cylinder.”
NHTSA complaint #10227479, filed 2008-05, 110,000 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 2002 Ford F-150
196 complaintsElectrical system
106 complaintsFuel system
86 complaintsEngine
66 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
53 complaintsSeat belts
50 complaintsBody and structure
45 complaintsBrakes
42 complaintsAir bags
35 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
30 complaintsOther or unknown
29 complaintsSteering
25 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 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