Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 176 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports4 fire reports8 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

25 reports

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Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2023

Electrical SystemPower Train

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Vehicle is now on 2nd transmission the original transmission failed around 60000 miles Ford originally put a brand new transmission in it for previous owner documentation was provided when we purchased the vehicle since move unknown where it's at now but this transmission has only 67000 miles on it experiencing same problems sometimes it will slip between 2nd and 3rd year other times it will slip between 1st and 2nd year sometimes they won't let it go over drive other times he gets stuck In overdrive no rhyme no reason for why it does what it does it just seems to do what it wants when it was but it really sucks when you're on the highway driving 75 mile an hour and decided to come out of overdrive and get stuck in 2nd gear so you have to slow down in front of everybody and it kind of forces you to do so that could easily get someone killed Going from 75 mile an hour to stuck in 2nd year limited speed very quickly with no brake lights Original transmission apparently has something to do with the torque converter or non hearted metals I'm not exactly sure because we were not in possession of owning the vehicle when it was replaced

NHTSA ODI #11501186

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2020

Electrical System

PROBLEM WITH WINDOWS GOING BACK UP I REPLACED THE MAIN SWITCH FOR ALL WINDOWS BUT STILL DID NOT WORK TOOK AGAIN TO ELECTRICIAN AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE MAIN FUSE BOX UNDER DRIVERS SEAT THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED .

NHTSA ODI #11373572

139,000 miles · Oct 15, 2017

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

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2/15/17- WHILE COASTING UP-HILL WITH FOOT NOT ON THE GAS, CAR ACCELERATED TO OVER 4,000 RPM ALL BY ITSELF, BRAKING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. I PARKED, TURNED CAR OFF, TURNED IT BACK ON AND EVEN WHILE PARKED IT REVVED BACK UP TO OVER 4,000 RPM. TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE ON 2/16/17- THEY REPLACED THE IAC (IDLE AIR CONTROL) VALVE. 3/3/17- WHILE IDLING AT RED LIGHT WITH FOOT NOT ON THE GAS, CAR ACCELERATED/ REVVED UP TO OVER 4,000 RPM ALL BY ITSELF. HAD TO PRESS ON BRAKE VERY HARD AND TURN CAR OFF. TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WAS NO LONGER ACCELERATING. 3/4/14 TOOK IT TO A DIFFERENT FIRESTONE. THEY ADJUSTED CRUISE CONTROL CABLE. 9/3/17- WHILE IDLING ON A BRIDGE WITH FOOT NOT ON THE GAS, CAR ACCELERATED/ REVVED UP TO OVER 3,000 RPM ALL BY ITSELF. BRAKING WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT AND HAD TO TURN CAR OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. TURNED IT BACK ON AND IT WAS NO LONGER ACCELERATING BY ITSELF. 9/4/17 TOOK IT TO FIRESTONE. THEY ORDERED A NEW IAC VALVE AND REPLACED IT ON 9/7/17. 10/14/17- WHILE IDLING IN TRAFFIC WITH FOOT VERY LIGHT ON BRAKE, CAR ACCELERATED/ REVVED UP TO OVER 4,000 RPM ALL BY ITSELF. HAD TO QUICKLY TURN CAR OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC TO STOP IT. TURNED CAR BACK ON AND IT WAS NO LONGER ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. THE CONSUMER STATED ANOTHER FAILURE OCCURRED ON 10/28/2017*JS

NHTSA ODI #11033476

119,000 miles · Feb 22, 2017

Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLICKERED, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED, AND THE DOOR LOCKS STARTED TO CLICK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT FIND A FAILURE. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT TU…

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NHTSA ODI #10956264

95,000 miles · Oct 26, 2015

Air BagsElectrical System

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT CIRCUIT WITHIN THE RADIO, WHICH CAUSED THE SPEEDOMETER AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE FOR THE AIR BAG HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND RADIO. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ODI #10786095

109,000 miles · Jul 10, 2015

Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO ALMOST 50 MPH WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL IN AT ALL. WHEN I TRIED TO BREAK, MY BREAKS DID WORK BUT NOT COMPLETELY. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHEN MY VEHICLE HAS LOST ALL POWER AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, EVERY TIME BEING AT AN EXTREMELY BUSY INTERSECTION. MY CRUISE CONTRO…

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NHTSA ODI #10733222

125,000 miles · May 26, 2015

Electrical SystemExterior LightingSteering

WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL, AT TIMES AN OBJECT CAN BE HEARD ROLLING AROUND IN STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, MILEAGE LIGHT IS NOT LIGHTED. IT CAN ONLY BE SEEN AT NIGHT WHEN DARK OUT. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 2 TO 3 YEARS. I TOOK VEHICLE TO A ST. CLOUD, MN FORD DEALER ON MAY 22, 2015, TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM MAY BE PART OF TH…

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NHTSA ODI #10721520

130,000 miles · Mar 22, 2013

Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR EVEN AT SPEEDS OF 45 MILES PER HOUR IT DIES. NO LIGHTS FOR FLASHERS NO POWER STEERING NO POWER BRAKES. IT DOES START BACK UP BUT IN THE MEAN TIME I AM IN MOVING TRAFFIC. I HAVE HAD IT IN THE SHOP ALL WEEK THEY HAVE EXECUTED MANY TESTS AND CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED I HAD MY 3 YR …

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NHTSA ODI #10504101

120,000 miles · Oct 7, 2012

Electrical SystemPower Train

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I OWN A 2006 FORD TAURUS SEL 12V, I WAS DRIVING WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD (LIKE ABS, BRAKE LIGHT,) LIGHTED UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE AND THEN I LOST ALL POWER TO THE ENGINE. I HIT THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE BUT IN ABOUT 5-8 SECONDS LATER, THE CAR STARTED UP BY ITSELF WITH AN ABRUPT AND VIOLENT JERK FORWARD. IT WAS ALMOST AS IF I TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO THE OFF POSITION AND THEN QUICKLY BACK ON .. WHILE I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, I NOTICED A WHOLE LOT OF WEIRD STUFF GOING ON. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIMMING IN AND OUT, THE LIGHT ON THE RADIO (THAT GREEN LIGHT THAT LIGHTS UP THE CONTROLS) WAS ALSO DIMMING IN AND OUT, AND THE ODOMETER NEEDLE WAS JUMPING UP AND DOWN BETWEEN 0MPH AND 5MPH, THE RADIO WOULD MAKE A NOISE LIKE IT WAS SHORTING OUT THIS WAS DUE TO CAR ABOUT TO SHUT OFF SUDDENLY, THE CAR SHUT OFF WITH ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS LIGHTING UP AGAIN AND THEN QUICKLY SHUT OFF. I REPLACED THE BATTERY, CLEANED ALL BATTERIES TERMINAL AND ALL GROUNDS IN CAR CHASSIS ANY SUGGESTIONS, THANKS, *TR

NHTSA ODI #10479201

77,300 miles · Aug 8, 2012

Air BagsElectrical System

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THEIR IS A PRESSURE PAD IN THE PASSENGER SEAT TO EITHER ALLOW OR NOT ALLOW THE AIRBAG TO BE ACTIVE AND THIS IS NOT WORKING THE AIR BAG IS ACTIVE ALL THE TIME THE SEAT CAN BE EMPTY AND THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL ONLY BRIEFLY LIGHT UP WHEN STARTING CAR BUT GO OFF RIGHT AWAY INDICATING THE AIRBAG IS ACTIVE I HAD MY NIECE IN THAT SEAT AND IT DID NOT DEACTIVATE AND SHE IS 45 POUNDS IF YOU DO NOT PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO THIS YOU WILL NOT KNOW YOU HAVE A ISSUE WHEN YOUR SEAT IS EMPTY THE AIRBAG OFF LIGHT IN THE RADIO CLUSTER SHOULD LIGHT UP AND WHEN A PERSON HEAVY ENUF TO ACTIVATE THE AIR BAG SITS DOWN THE LIGHT SHOULD GO OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469619

Official recalls

06V119000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel

Apr 10, 2006

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT FOR ONE SPECIFIC FLEET CUSTOMER WERE MODIFIED FOR OPTIONAL HANDS-FREE CELLULAR PHONE OPERATING CAPABILITY. TO PROVIDE THIS FUNCTIONALITY, A SPECIAL OVERLAY WIRE HARNESS WAS INSTALLED THAT INADVERTENTLY DID NOT INCLUDE THE CIRCUITS FOR PASSENGER AIR BAG DEACTIVATION INDICATOR (PADI) LAMP FUNCTION. AS A RESULT, THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.'

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE PADI LAMP WILL FAIL TO ILLUMINATE AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP IN THE CLUSTER WILL STAY ILLUMINATED.

Remedy: THE FLEET CUSTOMER WAS NOTIFIED AND ALL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 28, 2006.

05V520000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

Nov 9, 2005

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, PASSENGER CARS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE BEING APPLIED TO THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AFTER A PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS USE ON THE HIGH SPEED SETTING, LACK OF GREASE ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR MAY CAUSE THE GEAR TO DISTORT OR FRACTURE DURING OPERATION RESULTING IN A LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION. INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIPER MOTOR FOR THE PRESENCE OF GREASE AND GREASE THE WIPER MOTOR GEARS IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673 OR LINCOLN/MERCURY AT 1-800-521-4140.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE12005 · Stuck Throttle

Opened Mar 7, 2012 · Closed Oct 22, 2012

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control; Vehicle Speed Control:cables

Preliminary Evaluation (PE)12-005 was opened to investigate allegations of speed control cables detaching from the throttle body and subsequently interfering with the throttle closing fully to the idle position in model year (MY) 2005 and 2006 Ford Taurus vehicles.The speed control cable, throttle body attachment arm (?nail head?) for the speed control cable, cable mounting bracket and cable routing for the MY 2005 and 2006 Ford Taurus are common to all MY 2004 through 2006 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable vehicles equipped with either the 155 HP 3.0L 2-valve Vulcan engine or the 200 HP 3.0L 4-valve Duratec engine (the ?subject vehicles?). Figures 1 and 2 show the throttle body cam and speed control cable installed and a cable interference condition caused by contact between a detached cable and the ?nail head.?Ford?s assessment of the condition in incident vehicles noted that the interference conditions produced tended to be short in duration as the cable end tended to dislodge itself from the throttle body due to vibration, road loads or engine roll in addition to tapping the acceleration pedal.Ford inspected three incident vehicles and measured maximum throttle openings of 5.8% to 14.9%, resulting in engine speeds ranging from 1600 to 2200 rpm with the transmission selector in Drive.A Ford stack-up analysis of the speed control cable length from the attachment bracket to the throttle body indicated a maximum theoretical throttle opening of 16.4% that could result from the alleged defect. Engineers at the NHTSA Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) inspected an incident vehicle to evaluate throttle positions and engine speeds that could result from the alleged defect and performed brake testing of a vehicle with the throttle stuck at the worst case throttle opening that could result from the condition.The VRTC vehicle inspection noted that, depending on the orientation of the detached cable end, the amount of throttle opening that could result from interference by a detached speed control cable end varied from 4.8% to 11.3%.VRTC brake testing of a MY 2006 Taurus with a Vulcan engine and the throttle held open at 16% found that, even with multiple brake applications, sufficient vacuum was available for the brake booster assist and the brake pedal efforts required to stop the vehicle did not increase significantly from normal operating conditions. ODI?s analysis of 100 complaints related to the alleged defect found that drivers were generally able to free the interference condition or safely brake to a stop without incident.Approximately one-third (32) reported that the stuck throttle condition was corrected with no action or by tapping the accelerator pedal while the vehicle was still moving, another third (34) reported braking to a stop with the vehicle in Drive prior to correcting the condition, and the remaining third (34) reported that the driver responded to the incident by shifting to Neutral before stopping the vehicle.One complaint alleged that stuck-throttle type symptoms caused the vehicle to pass partially through a traffic light and into an intersection before stopping, however,ODI was unable to contact the owner to verify the cause or relationship to the alleged defect condition.ODI has not identified any crashes related to the alleged defect. Tables 1 and 2 provide a breakdown of complaints and warranty claims related to the alleged defect by engine and model year.A safety-related defect has not been identified at this time and further use of agency resources does not appear to be warranted.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation do

Additional source detail variants (2)

Vehicle Speed Control:cables

Vehicle Speed Control