NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
42 reportsClear category filter263,984 miles · Jan 24, 2013
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED VIOLENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A POLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST AND HEAD INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 1 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED VIOLENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A POLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED CHEST AND HEAD INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. UPDATED 3/13/13 *CN UPDATED 03/19/13 UPDATED 03/20/13*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES DIDN'T WORK, AND SHE HIT SEVERAL CURBS AND TWO TIRES BURST ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. SHE HIT A LAMP POST AND SOME SHRUBS, AS WELL AS AN ATM MACHINE. UPDATED 04/10/13
NHTSA ODI #10494584
100,362 miles · Feb 24, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
(1)THROTTLE WENT COMPLETELY TO FLOOR AND AUTO COULD NOT BE STOPPED (2)AUTO ACCIDENT SALEM POLICE REPORT #03-19963 NEAR FATAL INJURIES (3)NO REPAIR DONE. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10112115
127,000 miles · Jan 9, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
WHILE STOPPED IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC, MY 96 FORD TAURUS BEGAN TO ACCELERATE TO APPR. 40-50 M.P.H I LEFT RUBBER, THANKFULLY I DID HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHICH HELPED TO SOME DEGREE. ABOUT THREE WEEKS EARLIER SOMETHING SIMILAR HAD HAPPENED BUT AT FAR LESS A SPEED APPR. 5 MPH. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10106012
90,000 miles · Dec 8, 2004
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED AND TOOK OFF. VEHICLE WAS FORCED ONTO A CURB, AND FLATTENED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE BEFORE THE ENGINE CUT OFF . NO INJURY WAS REPORTED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE SUFFERED BACK PROBLEMS DUE TO THE ACCIDENT. *TC
NHTSA ODI #10083861
92,000 miles · Aug 2, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING OUT OF A TOW BOOTH VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND LURCHED AT HIGH SPEED. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL, AND PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10084040
98,000 miles · Apr 28, 2003
Power TrainSuspensionVehicle Speed Control
PURCHASED MY 1996 FORD TAURUS WAGON IN NOV. 2001. IT ACCELERATES AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH CRUISE GOING DOWN HILL. THE GAS PEDAL OFTEN GETS HUNG UP WHICH LEAVES ME TAPPING IT MY FOOT TO GET IT TO GO, SO THAT I DO NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THE WHOLE CAR RIDES VERY ROUGHLY. IT ALSO HANGS UP IN PASSING GEAR ALMOST EVERY TIME. AND ALSO HOW DO…
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PURCHASED MY 1996 FORD TAURUS WAGON IN NOV. 2001. IT ACCELERATES AT HIGH SPEEDS WITH CRUISE GOING DOWN HILL. THE GAS PEDAL OFTEN GETS HUNG UP WHICH LEAVES ME TAPPING IT MY FOOT TO GET IT TO GO, SO THAT I DO NOT HAVE AN ACCIDENT. THE WHOLE CAR RIDES VERY ROUGHLY. IT ALSO HANGS UP IN PASSING GEAR ALMOST EVERY TIME. AND ALSO HOW DO I FIND OUT WHERE TO CHECK TO SEE IF ALL THE RECALLS WERE TAKEN CARE OF. BE CAREFUL FOR WHAT U BUY. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10016661
Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainVehicle Speed Control
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. I BOUGHT A FORD TAURUS 1996 FROM VENUNS FORD IN MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR SEVEN MONTHS AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS STICKING AND TAKING OFF VERY FAST AND SHIFTING ITS GEARS. THE MOTOR WAS RUMBLING AND SHAKING. I HAD TO REPAIR THE AXLES OF THE CAR. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK EVERY MONTH BECAUS…
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TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN. I BOUGHT A FORD TAURUS 1996 FROM VENUNS FORD IN MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN. I HAVE ONLY HAD THIS CAR FOR SEVEN MONTHS AND THE GAS PEDAL WAS STICKING AND TAKING OFF VERY FAST AND SHIFTING ITS GEARS. THE MOTOR WAS RUMBLING AND SHAKING. I HAD TO REPAIR THE AXLES OF THE CAR. I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK EVERY MONTH BECAUSE OF THE ENGINE. THE WATER PUMP OVER HEATED AND THE GAS PEDAL IS STILL STICKING AND TAKING OFF VERY FAST TODAY. ALSO THE DEALER IS TRYING TO TAKE AWAY THE WARRANTY SO THEY WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. I ASKED THE DEALER TO TAKE A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION BUT THEY REFUSED. I ASKED FOR AN EVEN EXCHANGE FOR A DIFFERENT CAR BUT THEY WANTED ME TO PAY FOR THIS CAR AND THE OTHER IF I GOT ONE. URGENTLY RESPOND TO MY COMPLAINT. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10016262
Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 2002
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
CAR ROLLED BACKWARD INTO GARAGE DOOR WHILE PARKED WITH TRANSMISSION IN PARK POSITION ON LEVEL GROUND. *AK
NHTSA ODI #766182
Mileage unknown · Feb 6, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control
MY CAR BROKE DOWN 10/21/2000. I LOST ALL POWER ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD SON. I TOOK MY CAR TO 3 FORD DEALERSHIPS AND NONE OF THE MECHANICS COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. FINALLY I FOUND AN INDEPENDENT MACHINE SHOP WHO WAS COMPETENT ENOUGH TO NOT ONLY DIAGNOSE AND FIX MY CAR PROPERLY, BUT THEY HAD TO PIECE MY E…
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MY CAR BROKE DOWN 10/21/2000. I LOST ALL POWER ON THE FREEWAY DRIVING WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD SON. I TOOK MY CAR TO 3 FORD DEALERSHIPS AND NONE OF THE MECHANICS COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG. FINALLY I FOUND AN INDEPENDENT MACHINE SHOP WHO WAS COMPETENT ENOUGH TO NOT ONLY DIAGNOSE AND FIX MY CAR PROPERLY, BUT THEY HAD TO PIECE MY ENGINE (INCLUDING THE AXLES) TOGETHER AFTER A FORD DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PUT MY CAR BACK TOGETHER. I HAD NO VEHICLE FOR 7 MONTHS AND HAD TO PAY $3171 FOR THE REPAIRS NOT TO MENTION 4 TOW TRUCKS. SHORTLY AFTER HAVING MY CAR FIXED I NOTICED IT WOULD IDLE HIGH WHEN SITTING AT STOP SIGNS OR LIGHTS. EVENTUALLY MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AND RECENTLY DISCOVERED IT IS EITHER THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR OR THROTTLE BODY. REGARDING THE CAM SPROCKET FAILURE, I KNOW OF AT LEAST 69 PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TAURUS SHO MODELS. FORD REFUSES TO HELP FIX ITS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT AND HOPEFULLY NO ONE WILL HAVE TO DIE FROM THIS SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE BEFORE ACTION IS TAKEN. THANK YOU. *AK
NHTSA ODI #757890
Mileage unknown · Sep 6, 2001
Vehicle Speed Control
VEHICLE ACCELERATES FASTER THAN THE DESIRED SPEED. RPMS REV UP TO 2 1/2 -3 IN PARK. SENSORS WERE REPLACED, AND SET A FEW WEEKS AGO, AND IDLED DOWN VEHICLE. PROBLEM HAS COME BACK.
NHTSA ODI #895866
Official recalls
6Mar 25, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES PREVIOUSLY SERVICED UNDER FORD SERVICE BULLETIN 97-17-9 FROM AUGUST 1997 THROUGH DECEMBER 1997. THESE VEHICLES WERE INADVERTENLY EQUIPPED WITH AN 18-GALLON FUEL TANK RATHER THAN THE 16-GALLON AS SPECIFIED. THE 18-GALLON TANK HAS A SECOND VALVE LOCATION WHERE A SHIPPING PLUG SHOULD BE INSTALLED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS SHIPPING PLUG IS DISPLACED, FUEL LEAKAGE CAN RESULT. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CORRECT FUEL TANK.
Sep 18, 1996
THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PARK PAWL SHAFT MAY NOT BE FREE TO ROTATE AS INTENDED. IF THE PARK PAWL SHAFT DOES NOT ROTATE, IT WOULD PREVENT THE PARK PAWL FROM ENGAGING THE PARK GEAR WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS IN THE PARK POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL WITH THE SHIFT LEVER IN THE PARK POSITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PARK PAWL SHAFT ROTATION AND THOSE SHAFTS WITH RESTRICTED ROTATION WILL BE REPLACED WITH A SHORTER SHAFT THAT WILL NOT RESTRICT ROTATION.
Sep 5, 1996
THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET HAS A SHARP EDGE WHICH CAN CAUSE THE PARKING PAWL TO HANG UP AND NOT ENGAGE THE PARK GEAR. THIS WOULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO MOVE EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR SHOWS THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENT CAN RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY AND PROPERTY DAMAGE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARK PAWL ABUTMENT BRACKET.
Aug 12, 1996
THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR LOCATED ON THE FUEL RAIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HAS A VACUUM DIAPHRAGM THAT WAS DAMAGED DURING MANUFACTURE OF THE REGULATOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE DIAPHRAGM TEARS OR RUPTURES, LIQUID FUEL COULD ENTER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD PLENUM THROUGH THE VACUUM LINE RESULTING IN EITHER RELEASE OF FUEL FROM THE AIR CLEANER ASSEMBLY OR THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. FUEL RELEASE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. THOSE REGULATORS PRODUCED DURING THE SUSPECT TIME PERIOD WILL BE REPLACED.
May 14, 1996
THE PARK PAWL SHAFT WAS IMPROPERLY POSITIONED WHEN THE ROLL PIN THAT RETAINS IT WAS INSTALLED DURING TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY. IF THE SHAFT WAS NOT PROPERLY POSITIONED, THE ROLL PIN MAY NOT HAVE LINED UP WITH THE GROOVE IN THE SHAFT AND HAVE BEEN CRUSHED AT ASSEMBLY. ALSO, A BURR COULD HAVE BEEN RAISED ON THE SHAFT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN THE PARK PAWL OCCASIONALLY NOT ENGAGING WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR LEVER IS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE VEHICLE ROLLING AS IF IN NEUTRAL IF THE VEHICLE OPERATOR DOES NOT APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PARK PAWL SHAFT ROLL PIN. IF THE ROLL PIN IS DAMAGED, BOTH THE ROLL PIN AND THE PARK PAWL SHAFT WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, OWNERS WILL BE REMINDED TO FULLY APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE, IN ADDITION TO PLACING THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK.
Jan 25, 1996
THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCH CAN MALFUNCTION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC BRAKE SYSTEMS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF THE SWITCH MALFUNTIONS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LAMP WILL EITHER REMAIN ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY OR FAIL TO LIGHT AS INTENDED WHEN THE FLUID LEVEL FALLS TO A CERTAIN LEVEL. IN EITHER CASE, THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WOULD NOT BE WARNED OF A LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVEL CONDITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE SYSTEM FLUID LEVEL INDICATOR LAMP SWITCHES.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
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