1996 Ford Explorer Speed Control & Cruise Problems

SAFETY RECALL 09S09 - SCDS (SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH) ON FORD MODELS MADE AFTER 95 WITH A TEXAS MADE DEACTIVATION SWITCH THAT WAS MADE POORLY. I PURCHASED A 1996 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION 4X4 TRUCK IN DECEMBER OF 2016, FROM A PRIVATE PARTY IN NEVADA.THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED MAINLY SO I COULD DELIVER AS PART OF MY JOB DESCRIPTION AND NEEDED SOMETHING WITH 4X4 SINCE I LIVE IN SNOW. DID A TEST DRIVE, EVERYTHING SEEMED TO WORK PROPERLY AND DRIVE NICELY, DROVE IT FROM RENO, NV TO PORTOLA, CA ABOUT 62 MILES, EVERYTHING STILL FINE. THE NEXT DAY I GOT INTO THE VEHICLE, WAS HEADING TO THE GAS STATION WHEN I REALIZED THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, THE ARM WENT TO 20MPH AND DROPPED TO 0 AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN SHIFTED BAD FROM LOW TO HIGH GEARS ON THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. AS I CONTINUED TO DRIVE, THE RPM WENT HIGH, LITTLE OVER 3RPH AND FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WAS STICKING OVER DRIVE LIGHT FLASHES, THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. DID A CODE READER AND SAID MY SEED SENSOR WAS NO GOOD. REPLACED THE VSS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF FOR ABOUT 15 MILES, THEN SAME ISSUE.I DID A FULL TIME UP, NO CHANGE,DID ANOTHER READING, SAME CODE FOR SPEED SENSOR REPLACED AGAIN, SAME ISSUE. SEEN ONLINE I HAVE A RECALL ON THE SPEED SENSOR AND CRUISE CONTROL, MADE APPOINTMENT WITH FORD AFTER FLEXPLATE SHREDDED, FORD SENT ME TO A "FRIENDS" MECHANIC WHO REFUSED TO TOUCH MY TRUCK WHO THEN SENT ME TO ANOTHER MECHANIC UNTIL I CALLED FORD AGAIN WHO RESCHEDULED ME TO COME BACK A WEEK LATER. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR ESPECIALLY IN AND OUT OF STATE DUE TO THIS RECALL AND THE SAFETY CONCERNS THAT GO WITH IT. I'D LIKE HELP ON WHAT I CAN DO IN THIS SITUATION AND BE REIMBURSED FOR THE TIME I HAVEN'T DRIVEN MY VEHICLE OR BEEN ABLE TO PERFORM MY DUTIES AT WORK, AND THE MONEY I'VE SPENT FIXING THE ISSUE THAT SHOULDN'T EVEN EXIST.

SEARCHING BY VIN: [XXX] NUMBER OF OPEN RECALLS: 0 BUT SEARCHING BY MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR I FOUND THIS RECALL: HTTP://WWW-ODI.NHTSA.DOT.GOV/OWNERS/SEARCHRESULTS;JSESSIONID=SJ1QWW1GVDDYCS6XGGCHZTLTY2TN4KJKBPXV1GCS9VG9XL8B1ZT5!857755995?PRODTYPE=V&SEARCHTYPE=PROD&TARGETCATEGORY=A&SEARCHCRITERIA.MODEL=EXPLORER&STATS=215181%2C11%2C3%2C1611%2C236%2CEXPLORER&MAKESTATS=&JSONBASEURL=%2FDOWNLOADS%2FFOLDERS%2F&SEARCHCRITERIA.MODEL_YR=1996&SEARCHCRITERIA.MAKE=FORD&SEARCHCRITERIA.PROD_IDS=215181 REPORT RECEIPT DATE: OCT 13, 2009 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 09V399000 COMPONENT(S): VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL THE DEALERSHIP SHOP AND WITH YOUR CHAT REPRESENTATIVE TRIED TO CONVINCE ME THAT THE RECALLS ARE ONLY BY VIN EVEN TOUGH IN YOUR WEB-SITE IT SAYS: "BESIDES THE VIN SEARCH TOOL YOU JUST USED, NHTSA OFFERS ADDITIONAL SAFETY INFORMATION BASED ON A VEHICLE'S MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR AND NOT TIED TO ANY PARTICULAR VIN. A SEARCH BY VEHICLE MAKE, MODEL, AND MODEL YEAR GIVES YOU ACCESS TO INFORMATION ABOUT TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS, NHTSA INVESTIGATIONS, AND OWNER COMPLAINTS, AS WELL AS SAFETY RECALLS ON AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT THAT IS OFTEN NOT LINKED TO A PARTICULAR VIN OR EVEN TO YOUR VEHICLE'S MANUFACTURER. " WHERE IS THE TRUTH? DO I HAVE A RECALL 09V399000 FOR MY VEHICLE? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 80 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMALLY LOUD SNAPPING SOUND AS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ASSEMBLY FRACTURED FROM THE FIREWALL AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND SHE TRIED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL AND TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 179,321.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. SHE STATED THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE HOUR. WHEN THE CONTACT RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE, SHE NOTICED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH HAD OVERHEATED AND MELTED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THERE WAS NOT A RECALL FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 91,309.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT RECEIVED REPAIRS FOR RECALL 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) IN APRIL 2010. HOWEVER, THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS HAD MELTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS SEPARATE FROM THE RECALL PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL PRIOR TO THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 12,700. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 127,155.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTROLS FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL BECAME DISLODGED AND HE COULD NOT PUT THEM BACK. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT HE DID NOT RECEIVE ANY ASSISTANCE. HE RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE # 09V399000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE PART DESCRIBED UNDER THE RECALL THAT WOULD CAUSE THE FIRE BUT NOT REPAIR THE CONTROLS. THE CONTROLS SHOULD ALSO BE REPAIRED BECAUSE WITHOUT THERE FUNCTIONING, THE CRUISE CONTROL COULD NOT BE ACTIVATED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 157,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000.

SAFETY RECALL 97V-074000. EVERYTHING MY VEHICLE DID IS DESCRIBED IN THIS RECALL. THE THROTTLE STUCK AT 65 MPH ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS SO FAR. BOTH TIMES OCCURRED ON DAYS WITH TEMPS AT -13 TO -15 DEGREES. THE VEHICLE SPEEDS UP TO THE "STUCK" SPEED WITH NO GAS PEDAL USE, AND WON'T STOP WITHOUT STANDING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. UPON SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL OR PARK, THE RPM REVS UP TO ABOUT 5000. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. THE AGREE THAT IS SOUNDS LIKE THE PROBLEM LISTED IN THE RECALL. HOWEVER, SINCE I LIVE IN COLORADO, THEY WILL NOT FIX IT UNDER THE RECALL. I LIVE LESS THAN 30 MILES FROM WYOMING, WHICH IS INCLUDED, AND FURTHER NORTH THAN PARTS OF NEBRASKA - ALSO INCLUDED. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM WHEN I CAN'T STOP, YET THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO HELP. THE FIRST OCCURRENCE WAS ON JANUARY 2, 2008 - SAME SITUATION. *TR

SPEED CONTROL SWITCH, ALSO KNOWN AS BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH ON THE 1996 FORD EXPLORER WAS DEFECTIVE. THE THIN MEMBRANE OF THE SWITCH WAS IN CONTACT WITH THE BRAKE FLUID. AS THE SWITCH WAS POWERED ALL THE TIME , HOT, EVEN WHEN THE IGNITION WAS OFF. THIS WAS A FIRE/SAFETY HAZARD. FORD HAS ALREADY RECALLED MILLIONS OF VEHICLES FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE STATED THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE, AND I MUST PAY TO HAVE THE RETRO FITTED SWITCH INSTALLED. *AK

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. ON MAY 14, 2007, THE VEHICLE'S ACCELERATOR PEDAL DETACHED WITHOUT WARNING AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED OFF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HOOD RELEASE ALSO FAILED AND THE TOW DRIVER COULD NOT OPEN THE HOOD. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, AND ENGINE SIZE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 163,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. HE NOTICED THE ON/OFF CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH BECAME TACKY AND HIS THUMB PRINT WAS LEFT ON THE SWITCH. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN #97V074000), HOWEVER HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 191,000.

MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER UNEXPECTEDLY WENT UP IN FLAMES BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 3 AM - 4 AM ON 12/27/2006. I WAS LATER INFORMED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY THAT A DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH MIGHT HAVE CAUSED THIS TO OCCUR. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 82 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE CONTINUOUSLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE ROSE PAST 97 MPH. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTON WAS DISENGAGED, WHICH DID NOT CHANGE THE SPEED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WITH EXCESSIVE FORCE WHICH SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE FOLLOWING THE INCIDENT.

I WAS DRIVING MY 96 FORD EXPLORER SPORT, TRAVELING 65 MPH ON A FREEWAY, WHEN THE CAR RPMS SUDDENLY WENT UP TO 5500 WITHOUT ME DOING ANYTHING. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ON. AS THE CAR ACCELERATED I DEPRESSED THE BRAKES AND WAS ONLY ABLE TO SLOW DOWN SLIGHTLY, I THEN REACHED DOWN TO CHECK IF SOMETHING WAS CONTACTING THE ACCELERATOR AND I ALSO PULLED THE FLOOR MAT BACK. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE PAST 80 MPH. PUMPING THE ACCELERATOR DID NOT CHANGE ANYTHING. I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION SO I PUSHED DOWN THE CLUTCH AND THE CAR SLOWED, HOWEVER, THE RPM STAYED AT 5500. I MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND TURNED OFF THE CAR. I RESTARTED IT AFTER THE ENGINE STOPPED AND THE RPM WENT BACK UP TO 5500. I THEN STOPPED THE ENGINE AGAIN AND WAITED 5 MINUTES AND THEN RESTARTED AND THE CAR WAS THEN RUNNING NORMALLY. I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER AND THEY COULD NOT FIND A REASON FOR THE PROBLEM AS THERE WERE NO ENGINE MALFUNCTION CODES THAT WOULD CAUSE THE INCIDENT AND THE ACCELERATOR AND CRUISE CONTROL CABLES WERE IN GOOD CONDITION. THEY SUGGESTED THAT THE FLOOR MAT COULD HAVE BEEN THE CAUSE BUT I'M SURE THAT WAS NOT THE CAUSE AS I PULLED THE FLOOR MAT AWAY AND THERE WAS NO CHANGE IN THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE TECH AND THE DEALERSHIP WERE HONEST AND TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE AND NOTHING WAS DONE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. IT CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED, DESTROYING THE VEHICLE, THE HOUSE, AND ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 05V388000, REGARDING THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY TO 80 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT WARNING WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT CONTROLLABLE BY THE APPLIED BRAKES. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED. THE CONTACT PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND REAPPLIED THE BRAKES, WHICH ASSISTED IN STOPPING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE SPEED CONTROL COULD HAVE CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ON 4 OTHER OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN ON 07/22/06.

I WAS DRIVING FROM LOUISVILLE TO REHOBOTH BEACH, DE. I LEFT AROUND 4:00 AM WITH NO TROUBLE WITH MY CAR. APPROXIMATELY 9:45 AM EST MY CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT ON MY CAR AND MY CAR KEPT ACCELERATING AND WOULD NOT STOP. I PUSHED EVERY BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND KEPT PUSHING THE BRAKES AND THAT WOULD ONLY SLOW DOWN THE CAR. MY CAR WAS TRAVELING IN EXCESS OF 80+ MPH, I ONLY HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL SET ON 74. MY CAR WAS DRIVING OUT OF CONTROL ON THE CURVY AND MOUNTAINOUS ROADS OF HWY 79 N AND THIS WENT ON FOR AROUND 5 MILES BEFORE I CAME TO A STRAIGHT-AWAY AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MOUNTAIN AND WAS ABLE TO PUT MY CAR IN NEUTRAL (SLAMMING ON THE BREAKS) MY CAR STILL DID NOT STOP, I FINALLY PUT IT IN PARK (I'M IN THE EMERGENCY LANE NOW, ) STILL DID NOT STOP AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. MY BREAKS WERE SMOKING AND I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO STOP. THIS WAS BETWEEN MILE MARKER 71 & 72. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED AAA (MY CELL PHONE WAS OUT OF RANGE SO I HAD TO PUT IT ON ROAM) AND THE HIGHWAY PATROL SHOWED UP WITHIN MINUTES AND WAITED WITH ME UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK CAME. HE THEN TOWED ME TO GASSAWAY FORD WHERE THE SERVICE MANAGER (JOHN SMALLWOOD) CHECKED OUT MY CAR AND TOLD ME THE CRUISE CONTROL PIECE WAS DEFECTIVE. HE REMOVED IT FROM MY CAR AND CHECKED MY BREAKS AND SAID THEY WERE O.K. (I DROVE THE REST OF MY TRIP TO REHOBOTH AND BACK TO LOUISVILLE, THE BREAKS APPEAR TO BE LOOSE NOW AND NOT AS TIGHT AS THEY ONCE WERE). HE GAVE ME THE DEFECTIVE PIECE AND THEY WERE OUT OF THAT PART SO IT WAS NOT REPLACED ON MY CAR. HE ADVISED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH FORD AND WITH THE NHTSA BECAUSE THE PIECE WAS DEFECTIVE AND I'M LUCKY I WASN'T KILLED. *JB

I OWN A 96 FORD EXPLORER AND WAS TOLD BY CO-WORKERS THAT A DEFECTIVE PART HAD BEEN RECALLED IN THE 2000 MODEL F-150 THAT PART WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH THAT WAS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE BRAKE FLUID HOUSING, IT WAS A LIVE WIRE EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS OFF AND THE KEY WAS NOT IN THE IGNITION, IF FOR ANY REASON THERE WAS A SPARK OR SHORT THAT WIRE WOULD CAUSE THE CAR TO EXPLODE. I NOTICED THAT I HAD A LEAK AROUND A PART IN MY FORD EXPLORER THAT WAS IN FRONT OF MY BRAKE FLUID HOUSING AND WHEN I WENT TO THE FORD DEALER TO FIND OUT WHAT THE LEAK WAS FROM THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT I HAD THAT SAME PART THAT WAS BEING RECALLED IN THE F-150. THE PART ONLY COST 18.00 DOLLARS TO REPLACE BUT THE POINT THAT I'M MAKING IS HOW WOULD I HAVE EXPLAINED TO MY FAMILY WHY MY CAR EXPLODED WHEN I WOULD OF HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS WRONG. I WOULD LIKE TO PUT A WORD OUT TO ALL THE EXPLORER OWNERS AROUND THE WORLD TO HAVE THERE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHES CHECK OR REPLACE SO THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A UNPLEASANT VISIT TO THE FORD REPAIR PLACE TO FIND OUT THAT THEY COULD OF NOT COME BACK THE NEXT MORNING. *JB

DT: CONTACT'S SON OWNS A 1996 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WERE NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. HER SON DROVE THE VEHICLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 1-2 HOURS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES SOMEONE KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND SAID THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER YET, BUT WAS GOING TO DO SO.*AK

DRIVING ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY WITH HUSBAND, MYSELF AND 21 MONTH BABY IN CAR, PASSING VEHICLE, WHEN PUT FOOT ON BRAKE SLOWED DOWN THEN WHEN LET OFF BRAKE, CAR ACCELERATED TO A HIGH SPEED, APPLIED BRAKE 2 MORE TIMES, BOTH TIMES, SLOWED DOWN BUT WHEN TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO HIGH SPEEDS WITHOUT EVER TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL, RESULTED IN A SPIN-OUT ON THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY STOPPING SHORT OF CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICHLE. THANK GOD NO ONE WAS HURT. CALLED FORD CONSUMER RELATIONS, WAS TOLD TO TAKE TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TEST. TOOK CAR THE NEXT DAY TO A FORD DEALER IN CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE NEW JERSEY, SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH CAR.