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Ford Ranger adaptive cruise problems

153 of the 8,202 owner complaints about the Ford Ranger describe adaptive cruise control problems, most of them for the 1998 model year.

owner complaints
153
worst model year
1998
typical repair cost reported
$1,000
typical mileage
72,300
Is there a fix? There are 6 recalls for this area of the car. See below

By model year

What owners say

Filed Dec 18, 2025 · Driver assistance, Electrical · WV

The ACM (Audio Control Module) failed, causing a network failure in the CAN system. This caused a condition of no speedometer reading, no automatic braking, no adaptive cruise control, no fuel gauge reading, no blind spot monitoring, no forward collision, no rear cross traffic warning. Additionally, while the turn signals worked, there was no inside audio or visual confirmation that it was functioning. Also no high beam headlight indicator and no automatic high-low beams. Cost of repair was $739.00 and the dealer had to order the part.

Filed Nov 26, 2025 · Transmission · FL

I’ve been noticing a delay in shit out of 1st, 3rd, 6th, and 9th gear. Sometimes it slams but most of the time not. Anyways, this morning on my way to work I passed a slow driver on 2 lane road. After I merged back into the lane, I resumed cruise control and basically lost all power to the wheels. The vehicle I passed about slammed into the back of me. I canceled cruise control to give gas and the transmission was fighting me to stay in a gear. It finally caught and I drove it the rest of the way to work with the “normal” 1,3,6,and 9 being weird. My safety and the other vehicles safety was definitely at risk. The was no warning lights that came on. I haven’t had it checked out yet because this is same day

Filed Nov 6, 2025 · Driver assistance · TN

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.

Filed Sep 17, 2025 · Driver assistance, Transmission · TX

This truck looses power whenever someone changes lanes in front of your car. This happens even if adaptive cruise control and emergency braking is off. When someone changes lanes in front of you, even if they are going the same speed or faster, your car loses all power for 2-3 seconds, even if you apply additional throttle input. If I am on a road trip with standard cruise control on, it will cut power dozes of times per hour. If I am in the right lane with a major exit comming up, my truck will cut power every time someone changes lanes in front of me. I have had 18 wheelers lay on their horn because they do not understand why I am slowing down when there is no reason to slow down. I cannot properly explain how dangerous this vehicle behavior is. I have brought the truck to the dealer two times and they are unable to resolve it.

Filed Jul 3, 2025 · Engine · AZ

Truck has issue with crank position sensor issue caused due to defective design of on 2.3l ecoboost first incident shut off at 65 mph took the dealer was told it was defective crank position sensor second time a month later same thing happens third time three or four months later happens again take the dealer this time they said that it was oil permeation on the sensor itself said it was due to leak in front timing cover of motor whereas oil had ripped onto the sensor causing it to not be triggered therefore shutting down the truck completely no limp mode just dead no power also lost all systems including adaptive cruise control, anti-lock brakes, traction control, power steering, forward radar everything!! luckily all three times that this has happened have managed to not crash or get hit in the process of malfunction.my complaint is that this is a four-wheel drive truck and if the sensor is that touchy then maybe they should have shielded it now dealers requesting $2,200 to fix problem after already paying $1500 the first time to have it fixed

Filed Jun 10, 2025 · Transmission · CA

On the freeway cruise control at 75 mph, truck started down shifting in to 7th gear, then back up and continued to do this several times until i reached my destination. Took it out of cruise control and still did it. It did it again about 3 days later. I took it to ford dealership, they test drove it and it wouldn't do it for them.

Filed Jun 7, 2025 · Fuel system, Transmission · TX

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.

Filed Apr 17, 2025 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 30 miles · WI

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the alert of a sensor was displayed. The contact stated that the message that the sensor was not working, and the front center sensor was not available, was displayed. The contact stated that the brakes independently activated whenever the sensor alert was displayed, causing the vehicle to stop unexpectedly without a vehicle or object being nearby. The vehicle was taken to the dealer twice, and the contact was informed that the Ford engineers were working on the issue. The code was cleared, and the air and sensors were not working. The contact was informed that there was no fix for the issue. The contact was unable to use adaptive cruise control, and the vehicle was parked. The contact was unable to use the features. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30.

Filed Mar 15, 2025 · Driver assistance, Electrical · AK · 1 injury

I flew down to Anchorage Alaska this brand new 024 FORD RANGER XL on [XXX] sight unseen and no test drive from KENDALL FORD Dealership. After buying the truck I started it, engaged 4 wheel drive and slippery/ icy setting. On the way back to Fairbanks the steering was hard to turn and got progressively harder the faster I drove and the colder it became. About half way home it became exhausting to steer requiring a lot of force to turn the steering wheel that actually resisted with real force being turned. I didn’t know the lane keeping would turn on with the cruise control but it did and resisted me even more. The roads became black ice and it was freezing rain. The phone charge port lost power, the dash blanked out, there was no radio and the rear power port I had switched to lost power and my phone died. I was driving about 30 to 40 mph on the 2 lane undivided snow covered black ice covered highway. In a curve in the road where the highway maintenance snow plows had stopped plowing I believe the truck mistook the snow line for the painted line and unexpectedly and surprisingly actually turned the steering wheel towards the double solid dividing centerline and I turned back into my lane. This slight movement caused the truck to totally slide out of control and cross the double solid dividing centerline and the truck went into opposite highway oncoming lane! Luckily there was no traffic coming the other way or it could have been a horrible accident. I hit the brakes and the truck actually stopped good, and then I got back into my lane and pulled over at the first chance. My phone was dead so I had no flashlight because I flew down I carried nothing but my coat. I tried to inspect the steering but it was all dark and below zero so I continued on towards Fairbanks another hundred miles to the North. The truck also had a bunch of other problems like refusing to start that can leave a person to freeze to death quickly in the Arctic below zero temperatures. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION AC

Filed Feb 14, 2025 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 20,000 miles · AZ

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Ranger. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the "Pre-Collision Assist Not Available Sensor Blocked" message was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that whenever the message was displayed with the Cruise Control activated, the Cruise Control would disengage independently. The dealer was notified of the issue but offered no assistance. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

Related recalls

Back over prevention: display functionReported September 22, 2026 · 11,405 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Ranger vehicles equipped with a 10.1-inch center stack screen. The screen may lose power and fail to display the rearview camera image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk
A rearview camera image that does not display reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
The remedy is currently under development. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed October 7, 2026. Additional letters will be sent when the remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C42. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on September 25, 2026.

Recall number 26V605000 · Recall details

Back over prevention: sensing system: cameraReported September 3, 2025 · 1,456,417 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Lincoln MKC, Mustang, F-350 SD, F-250 SD, F-450 SD, 2015-2017 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, 2015-2018 Edge, Transit Connect, 2016-2019 F-550 SD, Transit, 2017-2019 Econoline, and 2019 Ranger vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, inverted, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk
A rearview camera that displays an inverted, distorted, or blank image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 13, 2026. Ford owners will receive letters in phases, beginning January 2026 and June 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S89. This recall expands previous the federal safety agency recall number 25V270. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on beginning September 8, 2025.

Recall number 25V572000 · Recall details

Back over prevention: softwareReported June 27, 2025 · 200,237 vehicles affected
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

Back over prevention: softwareReported May 9, 2025 · 1,076,138 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco, F-150, 2021-2024 Edge, 2022-2025 Escape, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, 2022-2024 Expedition, 2022-2025 Transit, 2021-2023 Mach-E, 2024 Ranger, Mustang, 2021-2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022-2024 Navigator, and 2023-2024 Corsair vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk
A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on June 26, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Owner notification letters were sent on October 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S49.

Recall number 25V315000 · Recall details

Forward collision avoidance: sensing system: radarReported December 16, 2021 · 839 vehicles affected
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

Back over prevention: sensing system: cameraReported September 23, 2020 · 620,246 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles. Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk
Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Remedy became available on February 1, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C19.

Recall number 20V575000 · Recall details

Questions about the Ford Ranger adaptive cruise

Which Ford Ranger years have adaptive cruise control problems problems?

The model years with the most reports are 1998 (20 complaints), 2000 (18 complaints) and 1999 (13 complaints).

How much does it cost to fix adaptive cruise control problems on the Ford Ranger?

Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,000 (median of 8 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.

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