The boot material surrounding the parking brake bunches up and does not allow the handle to properly seat. When using the cruise control, the parking brake handle will raise up on its own, due to the boot material, causing the cruise control to abruptly disengage. This causes the vehicle to mildly to moderately deaccelerate without warning. This could cause rear end collision.
2021 Ford Ranger: adaptive cruise control problems
6 of the 119 complaints about the 2021 Ford Ranger describe adaptive cruise control problems.
- owner complaints
- 6
- of this car's complaints
- 5%
- recalls
- 2
Adaptive cruise control problems by model year
What owners say
When I accelerate after a stop my truck starts jerking when shifting thru lower gears and the check engine light flashes. To increase my speed I have to slowly press the gas until it shifts thru gears. After it shifts thru the lower gears it appears to be okay. It doesn't do it at each stop but is now happening more frequently. I don't know if it's a transmission problem or fuel pump. Current mileage is around 62000. If I'm on the highway it will sometimes start jerking while the using cruise control and I have hit the brakes and take over acceleration. I've now parked the truck because dealer cannot get to it for 3-4 weeks.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle and shifting into drive(D), the messages “Pre-collision Assist Not Available" and "Cruise Control Not Available" were displayed. Additionally, the passenger’s side air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by a local dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.
Harsh shifting into D, loss of power when accelerating while cold. Sometimes would start across an intersection then buck, loose power and slow down then SLAM back into gear and chirp the rear tires. Technical Service Bulletin 23-2350 was performed on 11/15/2023 which updated the trans tables and cleared some codes. This helped the issue for about a week but then truck was in again on 1/22/2024 for TSB 23-2350 a second time which replaced the CDF drum. A month later, 800 miles, 2/18/2024 truck shifted HARD while in cruise control on the turnpike in traffic and lost power. DTC P0766 check engine light came on and truck would no longer move. Transmission fluid sprayed under truck. Had to be towed to dealership. Clutch Valve D was replaced. Two months have gone by and the hard shifting into D and occasional complete loss of power still occurring. Waiting for the next check engine light to appear to take it in again. I now drive very conservatively because I don't know if it will stop moving half way across an intersection again.
Ford Ranger XLT VIN [XXX] Ford File CAS [XXX] opened 02/08/23 Contact: [XXX], [XXX] Ext [XXX] Acceleration Incidents on trips between Mobile and Dallas. 1. Vehicle purchased March, 2021. Current mileage 6400 +/- 2. In July, 2022, after driving 6 hours at interstate speeds using cruise control, we exited interstate and drove secondary streets to hotel. On entering parking lot we idled toward parking space and I applied brake to slow and throttle went wide open. I braked and shifted to neutral to stop forward motion. No recurrence on remainder of trip to Mobile or in subsequent city driving. 3. On 02/04/23, after driving 6 hours at interstate speeds using cruise control, we exited interstate and drove secondary streets to hotel. On entering parking lot, we paused with engine running to punch in gate number. When gate opened, we idled forwarded toward parking space. I touched brake to slow and throttle went wide open. I applied brakes and shifted into neutral. 4. On 02/05/23, we left hotel and stopped for gas. We drove four hours at interstate speed, intentionally without using cruise control. After exiting interstate, we drove to apartment and stopped at entrance with engine running before idling through parking lot gate. I touched brake to slow and throttle went wide open. Applying brakes did not stop truck and I shifted into neutral and turned off ignition. At least three nearly identical incidents found reported on internet dating from 10/2020, at least one of which Ford opened file on. Dealer Five Star Ford, Dallas, Tx. could not duplicate SUA but did not drive vehicle for 4-6 hours at interstate speeds to duplicate conditions. Ford closed file on warranty claim. Vehicle sold to dealer. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
2021 ford ranger. Consumer writes in regard to safety recall related to cruise control feature. The consumer feels as though the cruise control feature puts him too close even in the 4bar range setting .
Service bulletins that may apply
- Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines...
- Inoperative blind spot monitoring with a "Blind Spot System Fault" message displayed in the instrument...
- Some 2019-2020 Edge/F-150/Fusion/Continental/MKZ/Nautilus, 2019-2021 Mustang/Ranger/Transit Connect,...
- Some 2018-2021 vehicles supported by FDRS may not list a software update for a module under the SW Updates...
Related recalls
Back over prevention: software
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
- Risk
- A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
Recall number 25V442000 · Recall details
Forward collision avoidance: sensing system: radar
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Ranger and Bronco vehicles. The cruise control radar module was misaligned during production.
- Risk
- A misaligned radar module may prevent the vehicle from maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles when adaptive cruise control is active. In addition, the automatic emergency braking (AEB) system may react slowly, or not react at all, during a pre-collision assist braking event. Any of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will adjust the angle of the cruise control radar module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S52.
Recall number 21V982000 · Recall details
Questions about the 2021 Ford Ranger adaptive cruise
Is adaptive cruise control problems a common problem on the 2021 Ford Ranger?
6 of 119 owner complaints about the 2021 Ford Ranger (5%) mention adaptive cruise control problems. The model year with the most reports is 1998.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2021 Ford Ranger?
There are 2 recalls and 4 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 2021 Ford Ranger
Harsh shifting 16Transmission failure 16Jerking 15Hesitation 10Loss of power 9Slipping 8Door locks 7Check engine light 6Shudder 5Stalling 5
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