Acceleration complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
While trying to use the cruise control it will sometimes work and other times will not work. When it doesn't work the green indicator light just flashes when pushing the set button. Also the area around the buttons gets very warm. It seems that it works less in warm weather then in cool. Updated 11/07/07
While moving in traffic on highway about 45 MPH. Gas accelerator padal went all the way down to floor on 2003 Ford Explorer Sport and never returned to the up position. Throttle cable for cable end broke off at throttle body for gas accelerator padal.
Dispatched for car fire inside garage. 1213 arrived and reported the car was outside, next to the house, and the siding on the house was melting. 1281 arrived and assumed command at [redacted]. Fire was now extending up the exterior of the north side of the structure. A 2nd alarm was requested and consumers electric was requested to the scene. The hydrant was directly behind 1213. 1213 crew stretched a 1.75" hand line and extinguished the fire on the exterior of the house and then the fire inside the vehicle. 1211 crew assisted 1213 and also made contact with all occupants and verified that no one was injured or missing. 1212 crew was assigned interior. Ventilation was requested for the interior. Fm henson arrived on scene and was assigned investigation. Comstock 911 crew was assigned to assist 1213 with exterior overhaul. …
Dt: contact states she previously owned a 2002 Ford Explorer Sport that was in an accident due to the sudden acceleration of the vehicle. When the consumer placed the vehicle in reverse there was sudden acceleration, causing vehicle to hit a telephone pole. The consumer then placed the vehicle into drive, and it stayed in full throttle, causing the contact's vehicle to hit another vehicle. The day that the accident occurred it was slightly raining. The consumer no longer has the vehicle, so she does not have any information about the vehicle available.
Dt: owns 2001 Ford Explorer, both driver and passenger are pregnant. Had just entered interstate and was driving about 70 MPH and tried to slow down to about 65mph. Tried to tap brake but heard engine rev up and it immediately sped back up. Tapped brake again and knew something was wrong. Engaged hazard lights and tried to pull off road. Down shifted to 2nd gear,then to 1st, and slowed to about 50 MPH. Tried to engage emergency brake with no luck. Was using both brakes while traveling in the grass uphill. When it slowed to about 15-20 MPH passenger jumped from vehicle. Vehicle continued to rev up, driver let off brake while trying to escape and was slung from vehicle. The Explorer went back and crossed 4 lanes of traffic, entered onto service road where it struck a tree. From there the vehicle accelerated up the tree up-rooting it. …
2001 Ford Explorer Sport spontaneously caught fire in engine compartment while parked in garage attached to my home. Vehicle was moved to driveway and fire extinguished. Ford dealer admitted to recall of defective cruise control switch which was the origination point of fire. Was advised to file claim with my auto insurance company to speed up repairs and ensure that claim was subrogation to Ford for reimbursement. Vehicle repaired, now Ford will not take claim without proof of cause of fire. This would require my insurance company to hire an engineer. Not cost effective for insurance company, not to mention the fact that the vehicle was repaired over 3 months ago. I am out my deductible and my insurance company is out the remainder of the repairs, even though Ford knows this was a faulty part.
El pasado domingo 10 de junio del 2007, siendo las 4 p.m. Estacion y apagu un vehculo Ford Explorer 2000 elite, placas lah-530, serial de carrocera: [redacted], de mi propiedad sin ninguna seal que indicara que algo no estaba funcionando bien. A las 6 p.m. Me dan el aviso que la camioneta se estaba incendiando. Efectivamente cuando fui observ gran cantidad de fuego bajo el cap que consumi todas las partes adyacentes al motor. Funcionaros del cuerpo de bomberos se hicieron presentes en el sitio y lograron apagar el fuego antes que se extendiera an mas. Un problema similar se ha presentado en vehculos Ford y que han sido llamados a revisin por fallas en un switch de control de velocidad automtico. …
My car break lights were not working. I just so happenned to tell my uncle and he got worried since I have a 1 year old. We went to a car shop to go fix it. They told me it was simply the break fuse. When they went to replace the fuse, the car started smoking to the point where I could not even see. I thought the car was going to explode so I took my son and started running. Everyone in the parking lot started running also. They lifted the hood, and noticed that the brake cut off switch for cruise control was burning and he put it out. This has been a huge recall for many other years for Ford, but not for mine. Now Ford wants to charge me because my vehicles year is not included in the recall. This is a manufacturer error and it is wrong for me to have to pay for this myself. If my son and I would have died, Ford would be looking at a major lawsuit. …
Related recalls (2)
Vehicle speed control
On certain pickup trucks, passenger vehicles, sport utility vehicles, and motor homes chassis, the speed control deactivation switch May, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.
Remedy: Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. Owners of the passenger cars included in this campaign will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected…
Vehicle speed control › Cables
On certain sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control and 4.0l sohc engines, if the strand cover on the speed control cable becomes flared at the end, the speed control cable May bind when the speed control is activated.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the speed control cable and, if necessary, replace it. Owner notification began August 29, 2003. Owners should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
NHTSA investigations
Stuck engine throttle
On July 7, 2005, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation to investigate alleged stuck throttle complaints in certain model year (my) 2002 Ford explorer and Mercury mountaineer vehicles equipped with the standard available 4.0l sohc v6 engine.at that time, odi was aware of 15 complaints that alleged stuck engine throttle causing unwanted vehicle acceleration and 1 alleged crash as a…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Explorer Sport years have acceleration problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2001 (14), 1998 (12), 1999 (11), 2000 (9) and 2002 (7) model years. Acceleration complaints make up 7% of all complaints for the 2001.
Is there a recall for Ford Explorer Sport acceleration problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 07V-336 (vehicle speed control, Aug 3, 2007); 03V-280 (cables, Aug 5, 2003). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford Explorer Sport acceleration problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 101,000 miles; 13% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the cruise control (16 mentions), followed by the accelerator pedal (6).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.