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 ↗2018 Ford F-150 cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2018 Ford F-150 have filed 20 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 15,000 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
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 F-150 | 41 |
| 2015 F-150 | 87 |
| 2016 F-150 | 38 |
| 2017 F-150 | 16 |
| 2018 F-150 (this page) | 20 |
| 2019 F-150 | 8 |
| 2020 F-150 | 4 |
| 2021 F-150 | 9 |
3crashes
2injuries
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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2018 F-150s report the truck accelerating on its own, independent of driver input. In several cases, pressing the brake slows the vehicle only temporarily; once braking stops, acceleration resumes. One owner experienced this while passing on the highway and had to turn off the ignition to regain control. Another owner backed up and struck a tree when the truck accelerated unexpectedly. A third reported acceleration to 100 mph while cruise control was engaged, with the brake pedal independently depressing. One owner at a stop light experienced the engine race to high rpm after being rear-ended. In a few cases, owners pulled the truck into neutral or shut off the ignition to stop the runaway acceleration.
Owners also report unintended engine revving—one saw the engine exceed 6,000 rpm on a driveway at low speed, occurring five times within two months of ownership with 3,300 miles. Another noted the engine revving when the vehicle was first started.
Cruise control problems include the system failing to turn on or turning off by itself during use, with some owners unable to re-engage it without restarting the engine. One owner reported cruise control suddenly cutting off the entire vehicle when active at various speeds.
Transmission issues cited include hard jerking and shifting, delayed or no response when pressing the gas (especially problematic entering highway traffic), and transmission slipping. One owner reported the vehicle would not go into reverse reliably.
Dealers and the manufacturer have typically run diagnostics and found no diagnostic trouble codes or identified root causes in many of these cases.
Same Ford F-150 cruise control reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended Acceleration (Electronic/Computer-Controlled)
Vehicle accelerates on its own without driver pressing the accelerator, often while braking or at highway speeds. Pressing the brake slows the truck temporarily, but acceleration resumes once braking is released. In several reports, shutting off the ignition or shifting to neutral was required to stop the runaway acceleration.
When: Occurred at various mileages: 6,000 mi, 11,000 mi, 16,000 mi, 35 mph, 65 mph, 90+ mph, highway and city driving
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates without driver input; Acceleration continues even with brake applied; Acceleration resumes after braking stops; Engine races to very high RPM; Truck continues to accelerate in neutral with foot on brake
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to reproduce or diagnose the issue; no trouble codes found despite diagnostics. One owner had computer updated at dealership but failure recurred.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford Legal retained one vehicle and re-ran diagnostics 3 months later with no codes found. Manufacturer stated no issue with braking system. One dealer advised computer update; manufacturer referred other owners to NHTSA.
Cruise Control Malfunction
Cruise control fails to activate, turns off unexpectedly during use, or cannot be re-engaged without restarting the engine. One report indicates cruise control activating vehicle shutdown. Another states cruise control caused unexpected acceleration to 100 mph. Intermittent failures with no warning lights.
When: Intermittent; one report at 49,000 miles; another starting May 2022 and persisting to June 2023
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control will not turn on; Cruise control turns off unexpectedly while active; Cannot turn cruise control back on without engine restart; Resume button does not function normally after shutdown; Cruise control suddenly powers off entire vehicle; Vehicle accelerates when cruise engaged with stopped vehicle ahead
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to identify cause. Vehicles not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware and referred owners to NHTSA. One owner states Ford dealers 'are no help.'
Engine Over-Revving at Low Speed/Startup
Engine RPM suddenly exceeds normal operating range (up to 6,000+ rpm) during low-speed driving or immediately after engine start, causing rear tires to spin and gravel to kick up on driveway. Pressing brake pedal reduces RPM.
When: Within first 5 months of ownership at 3,300 miles; occurred 5 times (twice in November, three times in December 2018); also reported at startup
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs to 6,000+ RPM at low speed (10 mph); Occurs when vehicle first started; Rear tires spin and kick gravel; Pressing brake pedal lowers RPM and settles engine
Repairs/costs cited: No repair noted in narratives.
Transmission Hard Jerking and Delayed Acceleration
Transmission jerks hard at random times and hesitates to respond when accelerating from a stop, creating a safety hazard when entering highway traffic or changing lanes. One owner reports transmission slipping and refusal to go into reverse. Vehicle may stutter or shutter when pressing gas.
When: Reported on 5-year-old truck; various mileages not specified in most; one at 106,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission jerks hard randomly; Delayed response when pressing gas from stop; Vehicle hesitates and shutters upon acceleration; Transmission slips; Will not engage reverse reliably; Loss of power during lane changes and highway merging; Vehicle stalls and restarts
Repairs/costs cited: Repair shops state they cannot find anything wrong (no check engine light). One owner reports dealer concurred vehicle is 'not drivable if not fixed.' Another had engine replacement recommended but vehicle not repaired.
Brake Pedal Independently Depresses
Brake pedal sinks to the floor or independently applies without driver input. One owner reported brake pedal sinking straight to the floor with no brake pressure after the vehicle struck a tree during an acceleration event.
When: Reported after unintended acceleration event; another incident at 106,000 miles when cruise control engaged
Symptoms owners cite: Brake pedal sinks to floor; No brake pressure; Brake pedal independently depresses without driver input
Repairs/costs cited: Ford stated no issue with braking system after diagnostics.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer investigated but found no codes; stated no issue with brakes.
Accelerator Pedal Stuck/Seized
Accelerator pedal becomes stuck or seized, preventing normal engine speed control. In one case, a floor mat moving out of position caused the accelerator pedal to seize. In another, owner had to pull up on the pedal to stop acceleration.
When: At 15,000 miles (floor mat incident); at 65 mph highway and 45 mph city driving
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal stuck or seized; Cannot disengage accelerator; Floor mat interfering with pedal position; Pedal requires manual pulling to release
Repairs/costs cited: Floor mat hooks insufficient to keep floormats in position.
Transmission Downshift Without Driver Input
Transmission downshifts on its own while vehicle is in cruise control, occurring three times while descending a steep hill at 70 mph on interstate.
When: Three times over the last year while in cruise control at 70 mph on steep downhill section of Interstate 91
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission downshifts to fifth gear without driver input; Occurs while in cruise control on downhill
Repairs/costs cited: Owner has not taken vehicle to dealer due to cost ($135/hour diagnostic fee).
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Transmission, on 5 year F150 truck slips, and sometimes wont go in revers, huge safety issue. This issue almost caused an accident a few time in one week. We took truck to dealership. They did concur it is not drivable IF NOT FIXED This is a huge safety issue for all 2018 f150 trucks. we never received any recall info on truck if there were any. imagine a vehicle you cant go in reverse ,…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2018 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 2018 Ford F-150?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 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 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 7,000 and 19,322 miles, with the median around 15,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 7,000; a quarter make it past 19,322. 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/2018/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.