1996 Ford F-250: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Sep 9, 2023 · Acceleration · WA · fire

Cruise control switch began smoking, disconnected it and took it to Awesome Ford of Chehalis, WA for recall service sometime in June or July. Service tech found that brake fluid had wicked its way up electrical harness into cruise control servo, necessitating replacement in order to complete recall service. FoMoCo has been unable/unwilling to replace cruise control servo and is instead requiring that I pull one from a wrecking yard in order to complete recall service.

Filed Oct 26, 2011 · Acceleration · 183,628 miles · AR · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 1996 ford f-250 diesel. The contact stated that while driving, an odor of burning plastic burning was emitted into the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who diagnosed that the cruise control burned a hole in the brake fluid reservoir. As a result, the cruise control lines and the brake fluid needed to be replaced. In addition, the brakes were not responding properly. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the brake booster needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 183,628 and the current mileage was 186,000.

Filed Nov 15, 2010 · Acceleration · 158,000 miles · MN · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 1996 ford f-250. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked next to the garage the vehicle ignited into flames. The vehicle burned down the entire garage and did partial fire damage to the house. The contact has not called the manufacturer regarding the fire. The contact notice numerous complaints regarding fires for this year make and model. The contact had the vehicle repaired under a manufacturers recall years prior to the failure for the cruise control where the dealer replaced a wiring harness that could cause a fire. The contact stated someone could have lost their life due to the fire. The failure mileage was 158,000.

Filed Apr 18, 2006 · Electrical · 200,050 miles · IA · fire

I had raised my hood to check the oil, and there was smoke from the cruise control shut off switch located at the end of the master cylinder. It continued to smoke and burn until I unplugged it. It was nearly on fire. The body of the switch is melted and burned. When I went to ford dealer on 4/17/06 for a replacement part, the parts manager thought that this might be part of the recall that is in force for the f-150. The service manager checked, and it does not apply to the f-250. This is disturbing to me, because the switch is that same for either vehicle.

Filed Apr 18, 2006 · Acceleration · 200,050 miles · IA · fire

I had raised my hood to check the oil, and there was smoke from the cruise control shut off switch located at the end of the master cylinder. It continued to smoke and burn until I unplugged it. It was nearly on fire. The body of the switch is melted and burned. When I went to ford dealer on 4/17/06 for a replacement part, the parts manager thought that this might be part of the recall that is in force for the f-150. The service manager checked, and it does not apply to the f-250. This is disturbing to me, because the switch is that same for either vehicle.

Filed Feb 23, 2006 · Fuel system · 104,692 miles · FL

The air/fuel separator (similar to a throttle body) on my 1996 ford f250 diesel developed a hole away from any moving part. It sprayed fuel at about a gallon a minute onto the hot engine as my wife pulled into our driveway. It could have caused a fire going down the road with gallons of fuel all over the engine compartment and fuel all down the bottom of my truck and 30 foot trailer. The local ford dealer said this is very common on my year pickup and they replace them regularly when they leak. I took digital photos and kept the part. I contacted ford and their attitude was who cares. Someone needs to do something before people die. My previous 1996 ford f250 burned to the ground in my driveway after sitting with no people around for 3 hours. That fire was the cruise control that was recalled a few months after the insurance company replaced that first truck. This could be far worse with fuel soaking everything before the fire while traveling at speed. Fortunately, my wife smelled fuel as she pulled into the driveway, inspected and found fuel running out onto the ground off the top of the engine and hosed everything down.

Filed Feb 3, 2006 · Acceleration · 208,000 miles · MO

Dt*: the contact stated one year ago the cruise control stopped working. There was a burning smell when this happened, but the vehicle was not seen by a mechanic. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop for regular maintenance. The contact was alerted that there is a recall for the vehicle speed control, #05v388000. The vehicle did not have the failure associated with the recall and is not included due to the VIN. Updated 2/27/2006 -

Filed Nov 22, 2005 · Acceleration · 102,000 miles · MO · fire

Dt: the contact states there is a the federal safety agency recall campaign 05v388000 concerning the vehicle speed control:cruise control. This vehicle manifests the same problems as indicated in the recall, but it is not included in the recall due to VIN. The contact repaired the vehicle at his own expense.

Filed Jul 1, 2005 · Acceleration · 180,000 miles · OR · fire

Dt: consumer reported ford f250 super duty 1996 caught on fire. The fire took place outside the house with the key out of the ignition. Fire originated from the cruise control switch under the hood. The fire department did investigated and determined that cruise control switch caused the fire.

Filed Apr 20, 2005 · Acceleration · 110,000 miles · TX · fire

After driving the vehicle consumer went home, parked the vehicle for a couple of hours. After returning to the vehicle,he smelled smoke, lifted the hood, and discovered that cruise control was smoking. He disconnected the battery, and the smoking ceased. The cruise control was later replaced.

Filed Apr 7, 2005 · Lights · 108,000 miles · AK

The cruise control will be cancelled by turning on the left turn signal only, not the right turn signal. Causing a loss of vehicle speed. The cruise control otherwise functions normally. Also, if I am at a steady speed in high gear [overdrive] , the truck will downshift, and the RPM's will increase 300-500 if I utilize the left turn signal. This phenomenon does not occur when stopped in gear or in park. I recently replaced the tachometer which had been sticking. The while observing the new tach, I noticed the RPM changes. Cancelling the overdrive causes a similar, but more dramatic increase in RPM and the associated downshifting.

Filed Apr 6, 2005 · Acceleration · TN

While driving with the cruise control engaged vehicle will completely shut down. There is no warning. Contacted the dealer. Was told that they could not find anything wrong with the vehicle.