2002 Ford Explorer Speed Control & Cruise Problems

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer Sport Trac. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, the following day it was discovered that the cruise control switch located on the steering wheel had overheated and melted. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V399000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 120,000.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while entering the highway at approximately 45 MPH and accelerating to overtake the next vehicle, the accelerator pedal went to the floorboard however, the vehicle did not respond. The contact was able to pull over safely off the highway. There were no warning lights on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 00V422000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but did not assist. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.

VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO MAXIMUM RPM'S ON A CITY STREET AND WOULD NOT STOP, EVEN AFTER BRAKE APPLIED. TRIED DOWNSHIFTING, WOULD NOT WORK. RAN THROUGH A RED LIGHT, FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF US OR GOING THE OTHER DIRECTION. HAD TO PUT IT INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN THE KEY OFF TO GET IT TO STOP. MERGED OVER AND PARKED. WHEN RESTARTED, RPM'S STILL AT MAXIMUM UNTIL HOOD WAS OPENED AND THROTTLE CABLE WAS MOVED AROUND. SCARY SITUATION AS WON'T DRIVE IT UNTIL IT IS FIXED. APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED WITH MECHANIC. SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS WITH AS MANY COMPLAINTS AS I HAVE READ ABOUT WITH THIS VERY SITUATION. WE COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE OR BEEN KILLED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING, THE 4WD AUTO HIGH OR LOW FAILED TO OPERATE. WHILE ACCELERATING, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL AND, ALTHOUGH THE GREEN CRUISE CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ENGAGE. A DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,742.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE'S SPEED INCREASED UP TO 90 MPH AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE HEAD AND NECK, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 139,514.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT DISENGAGE FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE SPONTANEOUSLY ACCELERATED TO 70 MPH, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT WORK, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS STILL ACTIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK AND PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT THERE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A VERY LOW RATE OF SPEED, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND SURGED FORWARD BEFORE CRASHING INTO A BUILDING. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT ARM, HIP, HEAD, AND NECK. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

DISPATCHED FOR CAR FIRE INSIDE GARAGE. 1213 ARRIVED AND REPORTED THE CAR WAS OUTSIDE, NEXT TO THE HOUSE, AND THE SIDING ON THE HOUSE WAS MELTING. 1281 ARRIVED AND ASSUMED COMMAND AT [XXX]. FIRE WAS NOW EXTENDING UP THE EXTERIOR OF THE NORTH SIDE OF THE STRUCTURE. A 2ND ALARM WAS REQUESTED AND CONSUMERS ELECTRIC WAS REQUESTED TO THE SCENE. THE HYDRANT WAS DIRECTLY BEHIND 1213. 1213 CREW STRETCHED A 1.75" HAND LINE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE ON THE EXTERIOR OF THE HOUSE AND THEN THE FIRE INSIDE THE VEHICLE. 1211 CREW ASSISTED 1213 AND ALSO MADE CONTACT WITH ALL OCCUPANTS AND VERIFIED THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED OR MISSING. 1212 CREW WAS ASSIGNED INTERIOR. VENTILATION WAS REQUESTED FOR THE INTERIOR. FM HENSON ARRIVED ON SCENE AND WAS ASSIGNED INVESTIGATION. COMSTOCK 911 CREW WAS ASSIGNED TO ASSIST 1213 WITH EXTERIOR OVERHAUL. 1212 CONDUCTED INTERIOR OVERHAUL AND REPORTED MINOR CHARRING AT PEAK OF ROOF ON THE INTERIOR BUT NO FURTHER EXTENSION. EXTERIOR OVERHAUL WAS COMPLETED. FM HENSON DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT NEAR THE FIREWALL AND MORE TOWARDS THE DRIVER SIDE. THIS VEHICLE HAS AN OPEN RECALL FOR A SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH FIRE HAZARD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

DROVE CAR TO TIRE DEALER FOR WHEEL ALIGNMENT. PARKED AND LEFT FOR THEM TO WORK ON. THE NEXT DAY,DEC 10,2014, THE SERVICE TECH DROVE THE CAR FOR A TEST RIDE TO CHECK THE ALIGNMENT BEFORE HE ADJUSTED. HE THEN DROVE INTO THE BAY AND APPLIED FOOT PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDDLE TO GET ONTO THE ALIGNMENT RAMP. THE PEDDLE STUCK AT HIGH RPMS , 4000+, . AS SUCH THE CAR RAN OFF OF THE RAMP , HE APPLIED BRAKES, TO NO AVAIL, SHUT CAR OFF AT SAME TIME. WHICH STOPPED THE CAR, BUT NOT BEFORE IT CRASHED INTO THE ALIGNMENT MACHINE AND TIRES. CAR WAS HUNG UP ON PART OF THE RAMP HAD TO BE JACKED OFF OF RAMP. FRONT BUMPER DAMAGED, CROSS MEMBER UNDER TRANS PAN BENT, LEFT RARE LOWER CONTROL ARM BENT..TIRE DEALER HAS SENT THE CAR TO FORD DEALER, ON DEC 11,2014 I SPOKE WITH FORD DEALER AND THE HAVE NEVER HAD A PROBLEM LIKE THIS BEFORE. TOLD HIM OF YOUR REPORT PE 05037 AND YOUR LETTER TO FORD. . SINCE YOUR LETTER TO FORD THE INTERNET HAS AT LEAST 25 REPORTS OF THIS SAME PROBLEM MOST WITH ACCIDENTS. THERE MAY ONLY BE 240,000 OF THIS CARS ,AS YOUR REPORT NOTES, BUT THIS PROBLEM CAN CAUSE A DEATH .THIS CAR WAS MADE WITH IN THE TIME PERIOD STATED IN YOU REPORT. THE FIX IS TO REPLACE THE CABLE. I TOLD FORD THAT I WOULD NOT ACCEPT THE CAR UNLESS THE CABLE WAS REPLACED. ON THE OTHER HAND I WOULD EXPECT YOU TO FOLLOW UP ON THIS DEADLY PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS BUT DID NOT INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR TO DETERMINE IF THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE REMEDIED FOR THE RECALL. THE CONTACT REPORTED THE SAFETY CONCERN TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY WOULD NOT COMPLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FULLY REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE SAFETY CONCERN AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

WHEN BRAKING VEHICLE ACCELERATES. COULD NOT STOP HAD TO PUT IN N AND IT STALLED BEFORE HITTING A STORE FRONT AND A SECOND TIME ON THE WAY HOME AT A RED LIGHT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD FORCEFULLY AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO A COLLISION FACILITY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

WHILE MERGING ONTO THE INTERSTATE THE ACCELERATOR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN AFTER I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL. THE RPM'S WERE IN THE RED AND NOTHING I DID WOULD CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I HAD TO APPLY BOTH FEET TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND PRESS AS HARD AS POSSIBLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER AND JAMMED THE TRUCK IN PARK AND THE ENGINE STOPPED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR WHILE SITTING AT A TRAFFIC STOP, AND THEN NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING FROM THE ENGINE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WITHOUT INJURY. A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC BUT THERE WAS NO DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL ). THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000. *TR

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN SHIMKUS ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE WIRING HARNESS FIRE ON HER RECALLED FORD VEHICLE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE CALLED THE DEALER TO INQUIRE ABOUT A RECALL, SHE WAS INFORMED THERE WAS A RECALL. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED IN ANOTHER STATE IN DECEMBER 2010. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN NO FURTHER THAN WEST THAN MISSOURI. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL # 09V399000.

WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK, ATTEMPTED TO PASS A SLOWER MOVING CAR. AS I DID SO THE GAS PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. CAUSING ME TO BRAKE TO SLOW VEHICLE..FINALLY ABLE TO FREE GAS PEDAL BY LIFTING IT UP WITH MY FOOT...MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE..FORD SAID NO RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME JAMMED. THE CONTACT TRIED DEPRESSING THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED TO PARK AND SHUT THE IGNITION OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 210,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

CRUISE CONTROL ELECTRICAL DISENGAGE SWITCH FAILED. CRUISE CONTROL COULD ONLY BE DISENGAGED BY STEPPING ON THE BRAKE VERY HARD OR BY MANUALLY TURNING OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL ON/OFF SWITCH. *TR