NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
176 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Sep 7, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
DURING THE LAST YEAR, I HAVE EXPERIENCED MY CAR SPEEDING UP ON IT'S OWN. IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR. MY RPMS WILL GO PAST 3. I HAVE TO BRAKE HARD TO KEEP FROM CRASHING. THESE EVENTS ARE HAPPENING MORE OFTEN, WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF WARNING. IT IS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE POSSIBLE CAUSES…
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DURING THE LAST YEAR, I HAVE EXPERIENCED MY CAR SPEEDING UP ON IT'S OWN. IT FEELS LIKE SOMETHING IS PUSHING ON THE ACCELERATOR. MY RPMS WILL GO PAST 3. I HAVE TO BRAKE HARD TO KEEP FROM CRASHING. THESE EVENTS ARE HAPPENING MORE OFTEN, WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF WARNING. IT IS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE POSSIBLE CAUSES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10474252
72,000 miles · Aug 28, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ONE DAY AND NOTICED THE CAR WASN'T RUNNING RIGHT, I COULD TELL THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG. I NOTICED WHEN I WOULD USE MY BRAKE THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP AND ONCE I LEFT OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF SO I BEGAN TO CHECK THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS TO MAKE SURE…
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I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ONE DAY AND NOTICED THE CAR WASN'T RUNNING RIGHT, I COULD TELL THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG. I NOTICED WHEN I WOULD USE MY BRAKE THE CAR ACTED LIKE IT DIDN'T WANT TO SLOW DOWN OR STOP AND ONCE I LEFT OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR ACCELERATED BY ITSELF SO I BEGAN TO CHECK THE CRUISE CONTROL BUTTONS TO MAKE SURE THEY WERE OFF BUT THEN REALIZED MY HUSBAND TRIED TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL A FEW MONTHS EARLIER AND COULDN'T GET IT TO WORK. SO I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE WENT UP PAST 4000 RPM'S SO I QUICKLY SHIFTED BACK INTO DRIVE. ONCE I FINALLY GOT IT HOME AND PUT IT IN PARK THE ENGINE WENT UP PAST 4000 RPM'S AGAIN SO I QUICKLY SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. MY HUSBAND EXAMINED THE ENGINE AND ASSUMED THE PROBLEM WAS AN IDLING SENSOR SO WE PURCHASED ONE AT A LOCAL AUTO PARTS STORE. HE CHANGED THE PART BUT THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM SO WE HAVE NOW PARKED THE CAR UNTIL WE CAN FIND OUT WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10472719
98,000 miles · Aug 15, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED REPEATEDLY AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF UPON REACHING A STOP SIGN HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THE DEALER WAS N…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED REPEATEDLY AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF UPON REACHING A STOP SIGN HOWEVER THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE MALFUNCTION WHOM STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED ON ANY RECALLS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
NHTSA ODI #10470747
66,000 miles · Aug 14, 2012
EngineVehicle Speed Control
ON MAY 6, 2012, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I COULD FEEL MY 2006 FORD TAURUS SE ACCELERATING DESPITE MY FOOT NOT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, NOR THE CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED. AS I PRESSED THE BRAKES, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, WITH RPM REACHING 3000 TO 4000. AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY AND PLACING THE VEHICLE IN PARK,…
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ON MAY 6, 2012, WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I COULD FEEL MY 2006 FORD TAURUS SE ACCELERATING DESPITE MY FOOT NOT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR, NOR THE CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED. AS I PRESSED THE BRAKES, THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, WITH RPM REACHING 3000 TO 4000. AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY AND PLACING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. IN ORDER TO STOP THIS RAPID ACCELERATION IN RPM, I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. UPON RESTARTING, THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY REVVED TO OVER 3000 RPM. IF I SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE WOULD REV TO 4000 RPM THEN DROP DOWN TO 1000 RPM. THIS SUDDEN, RAPID, ACCELERATION CONTINUED TO RANDOMLY OCCUR AS I DROVE TO MY DESTINATION. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER FOR REPAIRS, AS I WAS NOT NEAR MY PLACE OF RESIDENCE. THEY REPLACED THE IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE. HOWEVER, AS I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK ON AUGUST 12,2012, AT A SPEED BETWEEN 35-40 MPH, MY TAURUS BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AGAIN ON ITS OWN. I IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND THE RPM WENT TO 4000 AND DROPPED DOWN TO 1000. I THEN SHIFTED THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DRIVE POSITION, AND THE ENGINE IDLED FINE THE REST OF MY TRIP HOME. THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THE RAPID ACCELERATION IS SIMILAR TO WHEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS TURNED ON AND YOU DECIDE TO "COAST", THE ENGINE SLOWS DOWN. BUT WHEN YOU PRESS THE "RESUME" BUTTON ON THE CRUISE CONTROL, YOU CAN FEEL THE ENGINE PULL AND THE CAR BEGIN ACCELERATING. THIS IS WHAT IT FELT LIKE WHILE DRIVING. HOWEVER, I HAD NOT BEEN USING THE CRUISE CONTROL IN EITHER OF THE AFOREMENTIONED SITUATIONS. MY MOTHER, MY NEWBORN DAUGHTER, MYSELF OR OTHER MOTORISTS COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED DURING THIS UNCONTROLLED INCREASED ACCELERATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10470589
77,000 miles · Aug 8, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
SET SPEED CONTROL AND WENT TO SHUT IT OFF THE EXIT HIGHWAY AND IT WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN CRUISE BECAME STUCK EVEN THOU THE UNIT WAS SHUT OFF AND THE LIGHT INDICATING CRUISE WAS ACTIVE SHUT OFF THIS TOOK PLACE 4 TIMES THAT DAY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10469618
100,000 miles · Jul 27, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED CONSTANTLY. THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND ACCELERATED CONSTANTLY. THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED AT ALL TIMES PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA ODI #10468018
125,000 miles · Jul 16, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE MERGING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE ENGINE STARTED TO REV, AND SPEED DROPPED. WE HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID ON COMING TRAFFIC TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10465891
81,430 miles · Jul 6, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
MY 2006 FORD TAURUS SE HAS A PROBLEM ACCELERATING UNEXPECTEDLY. I CAN FEEL THE GAS PEDAL DEPRESS AND THE CAR ACCELERATES UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN AND THEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. THE CAR WAS STILL TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND I HAD TO PRESS HARDER ON THE BRAKE…
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MY 2006 FORD TAURUS SE HAS A PROBLEM ACCELERATING UNEXPECTEDLY. I CAN FEEL THE GAS PEDAL DEPRESS AND THE CAR ACCELERATES UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS PULLING AWAY FROM A STOP SIGN AND THEN SLOWING DOWN TO TURN INTO A PARKING LOT. THE CAR WAS STILL TRYING TO ACCELERATE AND I HAD TO PRESS HARDER ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN. I THEN SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND TAPPED THE GAS PEDAL. THE CAR IDLED BACK DOWN FROM ALMOST 3000 RPM TO AROUND 1000, AS IT SHOULD BE. IT THEN ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY 2 MORE TIMES ON MY WAY HOME THAT EVENING. MY CRUISE CONTROL NO LONGER WORKS EITHER. I CAN TURN IT ON AND SET THE CRUISE. THE LIGHT EVEN WORKS ON THE DASH SAYING THE CRUISE IS SET. BUT, THE CAR JUST DECELERATES WHEN I LET OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND THE CRUISE TURNS OFF AFTER IT SLOWS DOWN 5-7 MPH FROM WHERE IT WAS SET. I'M REALLY GLAD THAT IT WASN'T ONE OF MY TEENAGE DRIVERS IN THE DRIVERS SEAT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I WILL NOT LET THEM DRIVE THE CAR AGAIN UNTIL IT'S FIXED. I'M SURE FORD WILL DO THE RIGHT THING AND FIX THE ISSUE. I'M CALLING THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP TONIGHT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10464479
72,000 miles · Jul 4, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
5 MINUTES INTO A TRIP THROUGH TOWN I NOTICED THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO USE MY BRAKES, I HAD TO FORCE THEM DOWN AND HOLD THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I RELEASED THE BRAKES MY CAR SHOT FORWARD WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER ON THE FREEWAY I REALIZED MY CRUISE CONTROL WASN'T WO…
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5 MINUTES INTO A TRIP THROUGH TOWN I NOTICED THAT IT WAS EXTREMELY HARD TO USE MY BRAKES, I HAD TO FORCE THEM DOWN AND HOLD THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND I RELEASED THE BRAKES MY CAR SHOT FORWARD WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. ABOUT 20 MINUTES LATER ON THE FREEWAY I REALIZED MY CRUISE CONTROL WASN'T WORKING. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10464198
100,000 miles · Jul 2, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
THE CRUISE CONTROL ON MY FORD TAURUS STOPPED WORKING APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO (THOUGH IT COULD BE LONGER) AND SINCE THAT TIME MY CAR WILL PERIODICALLY SPEED UP ON ITS OWN! IT OCCURRED AGAIN THIS MORNING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC!!! LUCKILY, I TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR SEVERAL TIMES AND MANAGED TO GET IT UNSTUCK BUT THIS IS DANGEROUS A…
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THE CRUISE CONTROL ON MY FORD TAURUS STOPPED WORKING APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AGO (THOUGH IT COULD BE LONGER) AND SINCE THAT TIME MY CAR WILL PERIODICALLY SPEED UP ON ITS OWN! IT OCCURRED AGAIN THIS MORNING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC!!! LUCKILY, I TAPPED THE ACCELERATOR SEVERAL TIMES AND MANAGED TO GET IT UNSTUCK BUT THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR (HEAVEN FORBID) KILLED. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10463927
NHTSA investigations
1PE12005 · 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
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
Vehicle Speed Control
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
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