The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN 1997-1999 RHD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MAY 29, 1996 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEERS EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L OHV/SOHC OR 5.0L ENGINES OR 1998-1999 RANGERS EQUIPPED WITH 2.5L, 3.0L FFV/EFI OR 4.0L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM JANUARY 5, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1998-1999 MUSTANGS EQUIPPED WITH 3.8L, 4.6L 2-VALVE OR 4-VALVE ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; 1999 F250/F350/F450/F550 (OVER 8,500 LBS.) TRUCKS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999; AND 1999 F-53 STRIPPED CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH 5.4L OR 6.8L ENGINES AND CRUISE CONTROL BUILT FROM MARCH 2, 1998 THROUGH MARCH 4, 1999. A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE CAN INTERFERE WITH THE SPEED CONTROL SERVO PULLEY AND NOT ALLOW THE THROTTLE TO RETURN TO IDLE WHEN DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL.
The risk
IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS USED AND THIS CONDITION IS PRESENT, A STUCK THROTTLE COULD RESULT, WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLES. AT THE PRESENT TIME, THE REPLACEMENT CABLES ARE NOT AVAILABLE. CUSTOMERS ARE BEING ADVISED NOT TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM UNTIL A REPLACEMENT CAN BE MADE.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford Explorer | 1997, 1998, 1999 |
| Ford F-250 | 1999 |
| Ford F-350 | 1999 |
| Ford F-450 SD | 1999 |
| Ford F-550 SD | 1999 |
| Ford F53 | 1999 |
| Ford Mustang | 1998, 1999 |
| Ford Ranger | 1998, 1999 |
| Mercury Mountaineer | 1998, 1999 |
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Explorer | 1997 | 1,731 | 7 |
| Ford Explorer | 1998 | 1,959 | 9 |
| Ford Explorer | 1999 | 1,348 | 9 |
| Ford F-250 | 1999 | 581 | 14 |
| Ford F-350 | 1999 | 413 | 12 |
| Ford F-450 SD | 1999 | 66 | 9 |
| Ford F-550 SD | 1999 | 61 | 8 |
| Ford F53 | 1999 | 15 | 2 |
| Ford Mustang | 1998 | 236 | 4 |
| Ford Mustang | 1999 | 213 | 3 |
| Ford Ranger | 1998 | 576 | 5 |
| Ford Ranger | 1999 | 755 | 4 |
| Mercury Mountaineer | 1998 | 236 | 5 |
| Mercury Mountaineer | 1999 | 151 | 7 |
Other vehicle speed control recalls in 1999
11 of the 392 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1999 concerned the vehicle speed control; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 99V346000 3 Dec 1999 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 99V291000 28 Oct 1999 | HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY |
| 99V265000 20 Sept 1999 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 99V255000 20 Sept 1999 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 99V206000 2 Aug 1999 | POLARIS INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 99V194000 20 Jul 1999 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 99V176000 2 Jul 1999 | THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. |
| 99V157000 24 Jun 1999 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1999