2021 Ford F-150: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Oct 22, 2026 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · VA

When using the cruise control and passing a 65MPH speed limit sign, the vehicle accelerates to 85MPH. The posted speed in the area 65MPH. The max speed for the state of NC is 70. Yet, the vehicle acts as if the speed limit is 85MPH. This event is repeated routinely approximately 95% of the time as I pass this particular location on I-885 South, just north of the Ellis Road exit, in Durham NC.

Filed Oct 17, 2026 · TX

In July of 2024 I took my truck into Cleburne Ford in Cleburne, Texas for transmission issues. The vehicle registered 39, 581 miles at that time. My complaint was mainly clunky issue regarding shifting when down and upshifting. The dealer test drove and advised completing transmission rebuild IAW with TSB 24-2176. The truck stayed at the dealership for approximately one month closing out the work order on 8/6/2024. I drove the truck for approximately two years until experiencing a serious issue that was extremely dangerous. On a road trip to to El Paso from Glen Rose with the cruise control set travel at approximately 80 miles per hour, which is the legal limit on that stretch of road. The vehicle started lunging, lurching, and hunting! it was extremely unnerving and could have caused a lesser driver to lose control of the truck, because at that speed it only takes one small issue to happen and a grave accident could have occurred. The service engine soon indicator light then came on the dash. The cruise control was deactivated and we were near a rest stop where we stopped. When I turned the truck back on the service engine soon indicator light was off. For some reason I thought maybe it has something to do with the cruise control, so I did not turn it on again for the remainder of the trip there and back. The truck seemed to be ok, but I wanted to take it in again to have it checked. I took it to Triple Crown in Stephenville Texas, because I felt upset to think I might have experienced another transmission issue just two years ago. They system identified code P 07F7 and determined TSB 26-2226 was required. They commenced to do another rebuild replaced everything again. They did not find evidence of the CDF or trash can being bad. They said its also important to replace the pump and valve body to mitigate the possibility or reoccurrence. Ford paid approximately $1,800, because of a request from the dealership and I paid approximately $2,200 out of my pocket.

Filed Sep 2, 2026 · Acceleration · OK

On [XXX], I was driving westbound from Missouri into Oklahoma in my 2021 Ford F-150 XL. While traveling approximately 75 mph on the highway, I moved into the passing lane to overtake another vehicle. As I accelerated and applied additional throttle to pass, the transmission downshifted into passing gear. After completing the pass, the vehicle continued to accelerate on its own even after I released the accelerator pedal. The engine remained at a high throttle setting, and the truck increased speed to approximately 85 mph. At that time, I was not using cruise control, nor had I pressed the cruise control switch, which was involved in a previous acceleration-related incident I experienced with this vehicle. To regain control, I carefully created distance from surrounding traffic, applied the brakes, and maneuvered the vehicle onto the shoulder. After coming to a stop well off the roadway, I shifted the vehicle into Park and turned off the engine. I then restarted the truck, and the unintended acceleration condition was no longer present. Because of the incident, I did not attempt to use the cruise control system again during the trip, and I avoided using heavy throttle or passing gear out of concern that the condition could reoccur. The vehicle has since been inspected by a Ford dealership. As of this report, their evaluation has not identified the cause of the problem, and no fault has been found despite the incident occurring on the highway. This incident created a significant safety concern because the vehicle continued to accelerate after the accelerator pedal was released, resulting in an unexpected increase in speed and requiring me to pull off the highway and shut off the vehicle to regain normal operation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 25, 2026 · Driver assistance · OK

Vehicle Information 2021 Ford F-150 XL Supercrew approximately 35,000 miles. While traveling southbound on [XXX] near [XXX], Ok, I was operating my 2021 Ford F-150 XL at approximately 75 mph with the cruise control engaged. As I approached slower traffic ahead, I attempted to disengage the cruise control by pressing the cruise control cancel/off button on the steering wheel. Despite pressing the button multiple times, the cruise control would not disengage. Same thing while tapping the brakes it would not disengage. The vehicle continued to maintain speed, and the cruise control system remained unresponsive to my commands. In response, I applied the brakes to safely reduce speed, I did not perform a panic stop or abrupt braking maneuver. Once I had the vehicle slowed, I moved safely onto the shoulder of the highway, well away from traffic. I then shifted the vehicle into park, shut off the engine, and restarted the truck. After restarting the vehicle, I elected not to use the cruise control system for the remainder of my trip, which lasted approximately eight additional hours to Houston, Texas, I have not used the cruise control since the incident because I am concerned that the condition could recur and create a safety hazard. No collision, property damage, or injuries occurred. However, the apparent failure of the cruise control system to disengage when commanded raises significant safety concerns and warrants investigation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Aug 22, 2026 · Driver assistance · TX

Adaptive cruise control, truck keeps trying to change from lane swerves left and right outnof control sometimes. Automatic Braking Rear camera did a reset after changing the battery and the 360 cameras alignment misaligned and truck send a message When placed on reverse , cameras are misaligned on the screen.

Filed Jan 1, 2026 · Acceleration · TX

This report is being made within 1 1/2 hours after the incident. It has not been inspected by a dealer, service center, nor any other agency. I was stopped at a local fast food restaurant waiting to pay for my purchase. The 2021 Ford F-150 was in drive with my foot on the brake. No warning lights or other indication were present. Without warning, the engine revved to a high rpm and the truck shot forward about 15-20 feet before I could react by putting my full weight on the brake pedal. The engine quickly slowed. I then put the vehicle in reverse and backed up to the window and placed the transmission in park. The truck is equipped with adaptive cruise control but it was not active at the time of the incident. Had there been another vehicle in front of me, I would have rear-ended them. I work from home and use the truck a couple of times per week and it is available for inspection most days.

Filed Jul 7, 2025 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · TX

Numerous times my vehicle has suddenly came to a stop pit itself in park and turned off the engine while I was driving at a speed of 25 mph. Several times while cruise control was active my vehicle increased in speed and pressing the break didn't deactivate my cruise control I had to manually turn it off. My crash detection has gone off several times when there was nothing around my vehicle.

Filed Oct 3, 2024 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · FL

Front Camera Fault causing Adaptive Cruise Control not to work therefore forfeiting any added measure of safety at highway speeds. The issue was investigated and was fixed at the local Ford dealer by installing a new camera, camera control module, and wiring. Warning message came on every time the truck was started and warning light came on saying that adaptive cruise control could. not be engaged

Filed Jun 30, 2024 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · CO

After starting the vehicle at a motel in the morning, and backing out of the parking spot, I put the vehicle in drive and gave it a little bit of gas (wheel cranked to the left to finish turning out of the spot), and the vehicle rapidly accelerated across the parking lot. I hit the brakes and the vehicle stopped accelerating. I looked down to see the cruise control set to 15 Mph and crossed out (disengaged due to brake engagement). I never set the cruise control at that speed. To the best of my knowledge I never bumped any cruise control buttons that morning. To the best of my knowledge a software glitch caused cruise control to set and engage, from a stop, to an unsafe speed considering the circumstances.

Filed Feb 2, 2024 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · TX

With cruise control engaged, the set speed would randomly change up or down changing vehicle speed rapidly. Most dangerous part was some times the speed would set itself from around the speed limit where I set to as much as 20-30 mph above the posted speed limit up to 90 mph. The speed would instantly increase by 5,10,15,20 mph all of a sudden which is not possible to set with the cruise control buttons as they only increase or decrease in one mph increment. If it is some sort of speed limit sign reading system it failed and caused a dangerous situation for me and my family. I have video of multiple instances. This is dangerous and life threatening for the occupants of my vehicle and others on or near the road and could easily lead to loss of control, injury or death.

Filed Jul 5, 2023 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · FL

With the cruise control set to a speed of around 60mph and with no other vehicles around, the truck accelerates (uncommanded) to some value over 71mph. This occurs randomly but is repeatable and has only started occurring within the past week. A definite safety concern.

Filed Apr 21, 2023 · Transmission · GA

My latest transmission problem is most noticeable in Tow/Haul mode. It is also the most concerning and dangerous. At higher speeds, such as on the interstate, when braking for some reason, such as traffic congestion, the transmission downshifts and the r.p.m. slows as it should. However around 2nd or 3rd gear and 1,900 r.p.m. the engine speed abruptly increases to around 3,500 r.p.m. and then begins to decrease again. This has happened with or without a utility trailer attached. Luckily I have not had my 24 foot car hauler and 5,000 pound limousine behind me on the way to a car show. With or without a trailer, God only knows what would happen if I relied on adaptive cruise control. I don't use it.