1999 Ford F-250 SD: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Apr 5, 2011 · Acceleration · 219,838 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford f250 sd. The contact stated that the speed control deactivation switch was leaking brake fluid and as a result, the cruise control failed. The vehicle was to the dealer who refused to do any repairs since the vehicle was previously repaired under the federal safety agency campaign id number: 06v286000 (vehicle speed control). The manufacturer was contacted who stated it was up to the dealer whether they would repair it free of charge. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 219,838 and the current mileage was 241,000.

Filed Feb 20, 2010 · Acceleration · 77,790 miles · IA · fire

On thursday evening february 18, 2010 at approximately 9:45 pm my wife noticed when she took our dog out in our front yard that our 1999 ford f250 lariet 7.3 liter diesel was on fire. I had connected the factory installed block heater to a 120v extension cord at around 9:00 pm that same evening, as usually done in the evenings when it will be driven the next day. Ambient temperature was approximately 25 degrees f. The truck has factory installed cruise control, and was brought in to a ford dealer in around july 2009 as required by a ford recall notice about cruise controls. The service department of the dealership said the cruise control was not defective. Based upon the fire, I believe ford's test procedures to assess the safe operation of the cruise control switch as to corrosion/electrical resistance, and excessive heat generation, is in adequate because it probably does not measure conductivity, and switch assembly temperature. The bettendorf, iowa fire department responded, and extinguished the fire within five minutes once they had the hoses, pry bars, and hydraulic jaws in place. The scott county sheriff department also responded. Our insurance company said the truck is totaled, and awaiting my decision regarding salvage. I will contact an attorney (he was in court) monday february 22, 2010 regarding what I believe that the cause of the fire was the cruise control switch, probably manufactured by texas instruments. The truck has not been moved awaiting directions from the attorney.

Filed Jan 20, 2009 · Electrical · 180,000 miles · FL · fire

I have a 1999 f250 super duty pickup 7.3 diesel. As I was driving it one evening I smelled smoke and saw smoke coming from under the dash and up in the defroster area at the windshield. It then began to flame up from those areas and I slowed the vehicle down and jumped out,fearing I was going to get burned. It was late at night on a country road at 2 am. And the truck burned for almost a half hour before anyone drove by me to call 911. By the time the f.d. Got there the vehicle was totaled destroyed and totaled engulfed in flames. I had a small one gallon gas/oil mixture container( for my chain saw on the floor of the vehicle) which had less than half a gallon in it. I told my insurance co. Of that fact. The insurance co. Now wants me to be deposed under oath. I have nothing to hide and will allow that. However I received information from an anonymous source that the insurance co is trying to deny my claim and even possibly try to charge me with arson and fraud. The engine compartment was melted and the entire truck had burned to bare metal. I had smelled the odor of burning electrical wires on several prior occasions but I never did find the source of the odor. I even had a ford mechanic check it and he didn't find what the smell was from. I believe the culprit was the cruise control switch as I have researched the internet and saw several recalls for such imminent fires from a faulty device. Please advise if my veh. Had that control that is suspect on these latest recalls.

Filed Jun 19, 2008 · Engine · 161,385 miles · WA

Have been driving my vehicle without problems, for over 160,000 miles. Today I drove approx. 10 miles from home and shut off my vehicle. When I returned to my truck, (5 minutes) upon starting it, there was a pop, followed by a loud, rhythmic, compression release type noise! Upon examining the engine, I discovered the problem to be "spark plug blowout". This truck has not been mechanically touched for a long period of time, and had "no known issues, prior to this event. (other than a factory recall for a fire hazard in the cruise control system) its hard for me to understand, why the engine head would suffer this kind of failure, and pose a safety threat? It would appear that this may be a common failure, in their design. Please let me know, if there are any recalls pending. This is a triton v-10 motor.

Filed Jul 22, 2006 · Acceleration · 156,077 miles · CO · fire

(1) cruise control inoperative on 1999 f250 super duty since date of purchase on 5/12/06. (2) notified that brake lights inoperative. (3) found 20 amp fuse blown in fuse space #13 and replaced it in front of auto parts store. Stepped on brake pedal to check brake lights. A hissing sound followed by enormous amount of smoke came from under hood. Checked under hood and found the cruise control deactivation switch wet with brake fluid and burnt switch. Found out about recall info online after the fact.

Filed Jan 28, 2005 · Electrical · 86,000 miles · WI · fire

Vehicle was parked for the night (ignition was off). Vehicle burned due to fire from under the hood caused by electrical failure. Total loss (repairs to exceed value). Vehicle is still in my possession. I was recently made aware of a ford recall for cruise control components causing underhood fires of similar nature and consequence on similar vehicles.

Filed Jun 13, 2003 · Acceleration · 28,000 miles · NM

I was driving my 1999 ford f250 diesel truck at 70 MPH (speed limit) when I touched the brake to release the cruise to stop at the traffic light upon entering plains, tx. The cruise did not release and I braked harder......the engine kept at over 2,000 RPM and did not slow down.....I braked harder to stop at the light and the engine never slowed down......I pushed the off button on the cruise control and pumped the brake and it never slowed......I had to brake pretty hard to come to a stop at the highway intersection.....the engine was still racing at 2,000 RPM......I jerked across the intersection and stopped the truck on the side of the highway by turning off the engine.....when I restarted the truck, it would not go forward. I had the car hauled to the nearest ford dealership, brownfield, tx. They said it sounded like an electrical problem......then they told me it was the transmission......the truck only had 28,000 miles on it......they replaced the transmission for $2,800. After telling my friend, a mechanic, the problem he sent me this message: go to: www.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/hotline/ and file a report on the incident with the truck. After thinking about what you said happened, there may be a problem with the throttle components. It could happen again. If it does , shut off the ignition. Trying to hold that engine with the brakes (not saying it did) could blow the torque converter on the transmission. The reason for filing the report is they will investigate for safety and they will also let you know if a similar report has been filed. Tom.

Filed Apr 10, 2002 · Transmission · CO

5 speed manual transmission; when consumer puts it in 5th gear and sets cruise control, and starts up on a hill, engine will slowdown and the cruise control will call for more fuel. If consumer downshifts engine will over speed, manufacturer contacted, could not find cause of problem. *ak