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2018 Ford Explorer Cruise Control Problems

4 owner-reported cruise control complaints from NHTSA data

4
Complaints
Mar 2018Dec 2020
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (4)

mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Aug 2022

Since the car was new I experienced occasional situations where the car would not accelerate. I thought it might be the transmission slipping as it seemed to "bottom out" when hitting the gas. The car would not respond and I would coast onto the side of road for fear of getting hit. After a minute or so, the gas pedal would work and I could keep moving. I reported it to the dealer and at that time it was winter and the roads were icy so they were not able to test it. Nothing showed up on diagnostics. It has been happening more frequently (twice since June 2022). Upon further research it seemed to be the throttle body so this week I took it to the Ford dealer where I purchased the car and told them what was happening. They confirmed that it is a bad throttle body. They are now replacing it at a cost of $781. I have found numerous sites on the internet that this is a well-known problem and in some cases it seems that Ford issued an extended warranty on defective throttle body assemblies and sensors for 10 years or 150,000 miles from the original purchase date. So why does this not apply to me? This is very dangerous and I was lucky to not get hit. When the car stops accelerating in the middle of traffic, it would be easy to get rear ended or worse.

NHTSA #: 11480947
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
Filed: Dec 2020

WHILE TRAVELING WITH ADAPTIVE CRUISE ENGAGED WE WERE IN LEFT LANE FOLLOWING A SEMI APPROXIMATELY 1000' AHEAD OF US AND WHEN HE MOVED OVER TO MAKE AN EXIT OUR VEHICLE PASSED BY AND AUTO BRAKED HARD CAUSING VEHICLES BEHIND US TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION FROM HITTING US ALONG WITH VEHICLES IN THE RIGHT LANE OF TRAFFIC. THIS ALSO HAPPENED AGAIN THE FOLLOWING WEEK EXCEPT PASSING BY A DUMP TRUCK. I WAS AWARE THAT TIME AN MASHED ACCELERATOR IN TIME AS INSTRUCTED AS PER OPERATING MANUAL. I DON'T FEEL SAFE USING MY CRUISE WITH OR WITHOUT ADAPTIVE ON AND NOW SEVERAL WEEKS LATER I'M GETTING AN 'ADAPTIVE CRUISE NOT AVAILABLE' MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON INSTRUMENT PANEL.

NHTSA #: 11385508
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
Filed: Jun 2018

AFTER 4,000 REVOLUTION THE SUV COMES TO STOP THE ENGINE AND RUN QUICKLY AGAIN

NHTSA #: 11100425
mediumVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Mar 2018

MY WIFE AND I LEASED A 2018 FORD EXPLORER PLATINUM LAST SATURDAY. WE WANTED TO UPGRADE TO THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY. I FAILED TO ASK SPECIFICALLY IF THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE WENT TO ZERO MPH FOR STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. THE WINDOW STICKER SAID IT HAD "ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL". I HAVE HAD TWO CARS WITH ADAPTIVE CRUISE AND THEY HAVE BOTH WORKED DOWN TO ZERO MPH. DURING OUR FIRST DRIVE USING THE SO-CALLED "ADAPTIVE CRUISE", WE WERE FOLLOWING A CAR ON THE FREEWAY GOING 70MPH. RATHER SUDDENLY, THAT CAR SLOWED. OUR FORD WAS SLOWING DOWN BEAUTIFULLY; YOU COULD FEEL AND SEE THE EFFECTS OF THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING. THEN, SUDDENLY AND WITHOUT NOTICABLE WARNING TO US, THE BRAKING QUIT AND OUR CAR WAS COASTING TOWARDS THE CAR IN FRONT. WE NARROWLY MISSED A LOW SPEED REAR-END COLLISION. I WOULD CALL THIS CRUISE CONTROL A "PARTIAL" ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL. I REALLY FEEL THIS ASPECT OF THE ADAPTIVE CRUISE SHOULD BE MORE PROMINENT IN ALL OF THE LITERATURE AS WELL AS ON THE WINDOW STICKER.. I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD THE DECELERATION BEEN EXTREMELY FAST FROM 70MPH AND OUR CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGED AND THE BRAKING SUDDENLY QUIT! THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN YOU ARE USED TO A CAR THAT WILL CONTINUE BRAKING ALL THE WAY TO A STOP. I DO CONSIDERABLE RUSH HOUR DRIVING AND AM IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC CONSTANTLY. OTHER CAR MANUFACTURERS ARE ABLE TO BUILD CARS WITH A CRUISE THAT GOES DOWN TO ZERO. WHY NOT FORD? I WOULD EVEN HOPE THAT A SOFTWARE/FIRMWARE UPDATE COULD MAKE MY CAR CRUISE GO DOWN TO ZERO. THAT WOULD BE SUCH A GREAT SAFETY UPDATE TO OFFER CUSTOMERS. I BELIEVE STANDARDS SHOULD REQUIRE ZERO MPH CAPABILITY FROM ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROLS AND WOULD HOPE FORD COULD BE MADE TO FIX THIS RATHER DANGEROUS DEVICE. ANY MANUFACTURER USING SUCH A PARTIAL ADAPTIVE CRUISE SYSTEM SHOULD BE MADE TO NOTE THAT PROMINENTLY ON THE WINDOW STICKER AND IN THE LITERATURE.

NHTSA #: 11081989

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