Accelerator stuck to floorboard. Applied maximum braking until brakes faded and were no longer effective in deceleration. Turned off ignition and coasted to the curb. After 3-5 minutes, restarted the engine and vehicle functioned normally. Purchased this truck used and this was the first time the accelerator was applied fully. It will be the last. *tr
2010 Ford F-150 cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2010 Ford F-150 have filed 23 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 49,000 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2006 F-150 | 19 |
| 2007 F-150 | 42 |
| 2008 F-150 | 32 |
| 2009 F-150 | 47 |
| 2010 F-150 (this page) | 23 |
| 2011 F-150 | 98 |
| 2012 F-150 | 94 |
| 2013 F-150 | 116 |
| 2014 F-150 | 41 |
2crashes
2fires
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 23 cruise control complaints filed for the 2010 Ford F-150, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 11 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2010 F-150s in this cluster report accelerator pedal sticking to the floor or floor mat—sometimes with the pedal pinned down despite foot released—causing uncontrolled acceleration to 4,000–7,000 RPM. Several owners describe floor mats entrapping the pedal; one noted the retainer clip was missing from the floorboard. At highway speeds (60–75 mph), vehicles continue accelerating even with full brake pressure applied, and brakes fade or overheat so badly that smoke and fire erupt from wheel wells. One owner's brake components burned beyond repair.
Cruise control failure appears in at least one case where the system won't deactivate despite brake, neutral shift, and button presses—requiring multiple engine restarts to reset.
Unintended acceleration without pedal input also shows up, with one incident resulting in a crash at 2 mph that deployed airbags and injured the driver. Another owner reports violent downshifting from overdrive to first gear at 75 mph, locking rear brakes and fishtailing.
Throttle body position sensor codes and stuck accelerator pedals sent several trucks to dealers, but many shops could not replicate the fault or generate diagnostic codes. One dealer refused repair citing liability. A vehicle spontaneously caught fire in a parking lot while parked with the engine off. An engine limp-home mode limited speed to 20 mph with battery drain occurring repeatedly, leaving owners stranded.
Same Ford F-150 cruise control reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Accelerator pedal stuck at floor mat
Accelerator pedal becomes mechanically pinned or stuck to the floor mat, preventing release and causing sustained high RPM acceleration. Some owners report the hole for floor mat retention clip was missing or the clip was not present.
When: 1,700 to 49,000 miles; some recurring within weeks to months
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator stuck to floor despite foot lifted off pedal; Vehicle continues accelerating even with brake applied; Engine revs to high RPM (4,000–7,000); Kicking floor area or foot force sometimes releases pedal; Incident can recur multiple times
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported dealer refused repair due to liability concerns. Floor mat could be removed or replaced; retainer clip missing in some cases.
Cruise control will not deactivate
Cruise control remains active and vehicle continues accelerating at cruising speed. Brake pedal pressure, shifting to neutral, and cruise control button press do not disable cruise control. Vehicle only stops when shifted to park with extreme brake force, then requires multiple restarts to reset cruise control.
When: 9,717 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control stays engaged despite brake application; Brake pedal pressure has no effect on cruise control; Cruise control button press does not deactivate cruise; Shifting to neutral does not stop cruise control; Vehicle continues accelerating at cruising speed; Cruise control eventually deactivates after multiple engine restarts
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to diagnose failure; vehicle not repaired.
Unintended acceleration without cruise control engagement
Vehicle rapidly accelerates on its own without driver input or cruise control activation. Occurs at highway speeds and during low-speed maneuvers. Brakes fail to slow vehicle or are overpowered by engine acceleration.
When: 20,000 to 160,000 miles; as early as 5 miles; one instance at 2 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates rapidly without accelerator pedal input; Occurs while driving at constant speed or during acceleration; Brakes fail to slow vehicle or overpowered by engine; Engine continues running at high RPM even in park; Smoke and fire from front wheel wells due to brake overheating; Brake components sustain irreparable damage from overheating; No warning lights or symptoms prior to event; One incident resulted in crash and airbag deployment
Repairs/costs cited: One owner's brakes caught fire and were destroyed from friction. Vehicle towed; repairs vary or not completed.
Transmission downshift and loss of control
While decelerating at highway speed, transmission downshifts abruptly from overdrive to first gear, locking rear brakes and causing vehicle to fishtail. Vehicle stalls.
When: Unknown mileage; one incident on I-95 at 75 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Violent downshift from 6th to 1st gear; Rear brakes lock up; Vehicle fishtails into shoulder; Engine stalls after incident; Loss of control at highway speed
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to dealer; no repair details provided.
Throttle body and pedal sensor faults
Accelerator pedal fails and becomes stuck; throttle body diagnosis reveals throttle body position sensor failure. Cleaning throttle body does not resolve issue.
When: 75,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal stuck to floorboard; Vehicle accelerates forcefully then immediately decelerates; Mechanic indicator light and check engine light illuminate; Abnormal rattling noise when accelerator applied
Codes mentioned: Throttle body position sensor fault
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer cleaned throttle body without success. Accelerator assembly (7L1V-3C247 B), valve assembly (7L1Z9H465 B), and wheel hub assembly (9L3Z1104) replaced at another dealership. Cost not stated.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but did not offer assistance in one case.
Engine dies and battery drain with limp-home mode
After start-up, battery warning light and wrench symbol appear on dash. Throttle drops and vehicle limited to 20 mph maximum speed. Battery drains and vehicle strands repeatedly.
When: Unknown mileage; repeated events
Symptoms owners cite: Battery light and wrench symbol on dashboard; Throttle drops to limp mode; Maximum speed limited to 20 mph; Battery dies while driving; Engine light, battery light, and wrench symbol illuminate; Vehicle cannot achieve normal speed on busy highway
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic unable to perform diagnostic; vehicle computer erased. Vehicle jumped multiple times without resolution; stranded multiple times.
Vehicle catches fire while parked
Vehicle spontaneously catches fire in hospital parking lot while engine is off and parked.
When: 10,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Fire breaks out in parked vehicle with engine off; Fire report filed
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer denied assistance; manufacturer not notified.
Pedal hesitation and shuttering during acceleration
Vehicle does not respond when accelerator pedal depressed and begins to shutter. Intake valve failure diagnosed but replacement does not resolve issue.
When: 90,400 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal pressed but vehicle does not respond; Vehicle shutters during acceleration attempt; Failure recurs after repair
Repairs/costs cited: Intake valve replaced; failure recurred and vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified.
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2010 Ford F-150?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2010 Ford F-150?
It's a meaningful issue. 23 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 19 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 11,000 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 49,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 11,000; a quarter make it past 100,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2010/Ford/F-150.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.