This article supersedes TSB 20-2028 to update the description of Labor Operation D. Some 2013-2018 F-150/Expedition/Navigator vehicles equipped with 4-wheel drive (4WD) may exhibit an intermittent grinding noise while driving in 2-wheel drive (2WD) mode most commonly on acceleration. This may be due to a loss of vacuum to the integrated wheel end (IWE) actuators and/or wear of the IWE components. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to reprogram the transfer case control module (TCCM) and replace any worn vacuum and/or IWE components.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Ford F-150 cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2015 Ford F-150 have filed 87 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 36,000 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
87
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 F-150 | 98 |
| 2012 F-150 | 94 |
| 2013 F-150 | 116 |
| 2014 F-150 | 41 |
| 2015 F-150 (this page) | 87 |
| 2016 F-150 | 38 |
| 2017 F-150 | 16 |
| 2018 F-150 | 20 |
| 2019 F-150 | 8 |
4crashes
4injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 87 cruise control complaints filed for the 2015 Ford F-150, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Owners have filed 87 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 10 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Certain 2015 Model Year Edge, 2015-2016 Model Year F-150, MKT, and Police Interceptor Sedan, and 2016 Model Year Escape, Explorer, Flex, Fusion, MKX, Mustang, Police Interceptor Utility, Taurus, and Transit Vehicles - Electronic Throttle Body Repair
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗SOME 2015-2016 F-150 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL MAY EXHIBIT A COLLISION WARNING MALFUNCTION AND/OR ADAPTIVE CRUISE MALFUNCTION MESSAGE IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER MESSAGE CENTER WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC) B142E:78 AND/OR U3000:49 IN THE CRUISE CONTROL MODULE (CCM). TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION, UPDATE THE CCM TO THE LATEST CALIBRATION LEVEL USING INTEGRATED DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (IDS) VERSION 101.03 OR HIGHER. REFER TO WORKSHOP MANUAL (WSM) SECTION 419-03B TO PERFORM THE CRUISE CONTROL RADAR ALIGNMENT PROCEDURE. MAKE SURE YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET WHEN ENTERING MODULE PROGRAMMING TO OBTAIN THE LATEST UPDATES. CALIBRATION FILES MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED AT WWW.MOTORCRAF
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The dominant issue across 87 complaints is the electronic throttle body entering limp mode without warning, cutting engine power to idle and freezing the accelerator. It happens at any speed—highway passing zones, parking lots, construction areas—forcing drivers to coast to a shoulder and restart the engine multiple times. Owners report the same throttle body failing twice, three times, or more on the same truck; dealerships know about Ford Technical Service Bulletin 16-0139 but only fix it after it breaks and costs $500-plus out of pocket.
The adaptive cruise control system makes false collision detections when a truck is in an adjacent lane or approaching from behind, slamming on the brakes hard enough to throw passengers forward and nearly cause rear-end collisions. Ford's 2015 recall (15S29) reprogrammed the radar software, but owners who had the work done report the system still brakes for no reason on the next highway trip. Dealerships tell owners it's working as designed and offer no further remedy.
Secondary reports describe unintended full-throttle acceleration on startup, cruise control that won't disengage with brake pedal pressure, and false collision warnings under bridges or on clear roads. Owners also reported a brake module failure that shut down the engine, and one speedometer that stayed pegged at 100 mph and required a full instrument cluster replacement. Across all narratives, owners emphasize the sudden onset with no warning and the danger of losing power or having brakes applied while passing on a busy interstate.
Same Ford F-150 cruise control reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Electronic Throttle Body Malfunction — Sudden Loss of Throttle Control
Engine enters limp mode with sudden loss of acceleration power; vehicle shakes, stutters, and either stalls or idles roughly. Occurs without warning at highway and city speeds. Engine continues running at idle but does not respond to accelerator pedal input. Multiple restart cycles often required to restore normal operation.
When: Occurs at any speed, 35–80 mph; some reports cite 50,000–104,000 miles; often recurs within days or minutes
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of throttle response; vehicle cannot accelerate; Severe shaking and rough idle; Check engine light illuminates; Warning messages: 'Hill Descent Control Fault', 'Service Advancetrac', 'Hill Start Not Available', 'Downhill Assist Not Available', wrench symbol on dash; Vehicle slows dramatically and pulls to roadside; Repeated restarts needed to clear fault and restore power
Codes mentioned: P2112 (Throttle Actuator Control System Stuck Closed), P2111, P2119
Repairs/costs cited: Electronic throttle body replacement; Ford TSB 16-0139 and TSB 16-0193 address the issue. Owners report parts costs around $500 plus labor; one owner had three throttle body replacements on the same vehicle (2020, 2023, and ongoing). Some dealerships attempted throttle cleaning without success. Warranty coverage denied in some cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford issued Technical Service Bulletins 16-0139 and 16-0193; Extended warranty on Electronic Throttle Body (ETB) offered in settlement of North Carolina Consumer Council lawsuit in 2015, but warranty expired. Some owners told vehicle not in recall pool. Ford acknowledged problem exists but offered no recall for vehicles outside manufacture date window.
Adaptive Cruise Control — Unwarranted Hard Braking Near Large Trucks
Adaptive cruise control system falsely detects obstacles when vehicle passes large trucks in adjacent or opposing lanes, causing sudden unannounced hard braking at highway speeds. No actual vehicle in front. Braking occurs at 65–77 mph, creating hazard of rear-end collision from following traffic.
When: Primarily when passing large trucks (18-wheelers, tanker trucks, dump trucks, tractor-trailers); occurs in both day and night; repeated incidents over months or years
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden hard braking without warning or visible obstacle; Vehicle rapidly decelerates 10–20 mph; Collision warning light and audible alert activate; Windshield warning lights and instrument cluster warnings flash; Passengers thrown forward against seatbelts; Nearly causes rear-end collisions from vehicles behind
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships attempted adjustments: setting sensitivity to 'low', reprogramming ACC radar software, control module updates. None have resolved the issue. One owner reported braking persists even after recall repair. No successful fix identified by dealers.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford issued Recall 15S29 (NHTSA Campaign 15V614000) in October 2015 for certain 2015 F-150 models (manufactured March 18, 2014–August 6, 2015) equipped with ACC. Remedy was reprogramming cruise control module with updated ACC radar software, free of charge. However, multiple owners report the recall repair did NOT resolve the problem; braking continues after software update. Ford told owners the system is 'functioning as designed' and acknowledged the problem exists but refused to issue further recalls.
Unintended Acceleration — Engine Races at Full Throttle Without Pedal Input
Vehicle suddenly accelerates at full throttle without driver depressing accelerator pedal. Occurs when putting vehicle in gear or during normal driving. Braking fails to stop the acceleration; driver must shift to Park or kill the engine to regain control.
When: Upon startup when placing vehicle in Reverse or Drive; low-speed parking maneuvers
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates to full throttle without pedal input; Brakes ineffective in stopping the acceleration; Vehicle slides, skids, or loses directional control; Vehicle crashes into objects (poles, trees, embankments); No warning lights or messages
Repairs/costs cited: One owner suspect Accelerator Pedal Position (APP) sensor as cause but not confirmed. No repairs documented in narratives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented in complaints.
Cruise Control Disengagement Failure
Cruise control does not disengage when driver taps or applies brakes. Vehicle maintains set speed despite brake pedal application, creating collision hazard. Requires multiple brake applications or hard braking to disengage.
When: Highway driving at 72 mph with cruise engaged
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control remains active despite brake pedal taps; Vehicle maintains speed even as driver applies brakes; Requires 2–3 brake applications or hard braking to disengage; Near rear-end collision when brakes finally engage
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented. Vehicle still at dealership for diagnosis at time of report.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response documented.
Brake Module Failure — Loss of Braking and Engine Power
Brake module failure causes sudden loss of engine power and accelerator response. Engine stalls and drops RPM to idle. Occurs during normal highway driving.
When: Highway driving at 40–55 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Check engine alerts appear; Engine RPM drops suddenly to very low levels; Engine begins to stall; Accelerator no longer responds; Multiple incidents over short time period
Repairs/costs cited: Brake module replacement performed at dealership
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific manufacturer response documented; owner reports Ford Customer Service ignored concerns and declined lemon law buyback request.
Instrument Cluster Speedometer Malfunction
Dash-mounted speedometer displays incorrect speed and becomes stuck, not reflecting actual vehicle speed. Digital speedometer may remain accurate while mechanical speedometer lags or jumps.
When: Intermittent; one report at approximately 25,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Speedometer reads 80–100 mph while vehicle operating at 70 mph; Speedometer does not update when vehicle slows; Discrepancy between dash speedometer and digital display; Issue resolves after extended time parked or returns to normal operation
Repairs/costs cited: Entire instrument cluster replaced by dealership
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific response documented.
Collision Avoidance/Forward Collision Warning — False Alerts Under Bridges and on Clear Roads
Forward collision avoidance system incorrectly triggers under highway overpasses, with shadows, or on clear roads with no vehicles present. System activates warning lights, alarms, and brake application without any actual obstacle ahead.
When: Highway driving under overpasses; passing vehicles; on clear roads with moderate traffic
Symptoms owners cite: Collision warning light and audible alarm activate; Warning appears to trigger from bridge shadows or when passing large vehicles; Brake pedal may be applied if adaptive cruise engaged; No actual vehicle in front; false detection
Repairs/costs cited: System sensitivity adjustment attempted by dealership; owner deactivated adaptive cruise control to prevent repeated false alerts
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No documented response.
Synthesized from 87 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Ford f-150. While pulling into a handicapped parking spot, the vehicle accelerated and crashed into a concrete pole. The air bags did not deploy. The contact received back and leg injuries. The passenger also received back injuries. Medical attention was not required. A police report was filed. The contact drove the vehicle home and later to the body shop where it was…
Truck fault code flashes and truck shuts down into safe mode. Three times it occurred while driving on freeway at 70 MPH and the fourth time it happened in an a side road doing 35 MPH. Every time the same thing happened, the truck shut down in safe mode showing fault codes. I would stop, it would idle very rough, I was not able to move it as it would not rev or let me increase RPM. I would have…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2015 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 2015 Ford F-150?
It's a meaningful issue. 87 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 75 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 15,180 and 75,000 miles, with the median around 36,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 15,180; a quarter make it past 75,000. 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/2015/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.