NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
176 reportsClear category filter50,000 miles · Apr 22, 2016
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED UPON TURNING OFF THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE W…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE STOPPED UPON TURNING OFF THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 06/14/16*LJ
NHTSA ODI #10861009
75,000 miles · Apr 14, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control
CAR IN MOTION AT HIGHWAY SPEED. ACCELERATOR STICKS AFTER TAKING FOOT OFF. ON HIGHWAY AND STREET. CRUISE CONTROL IS OFF. MUST PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL, PULL OFF ROAD, RESTART CAR.
NHTSA ODI #10855601
173,000 miles · Apr 11, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE RPMS REVVED. THE FAILURE HAD RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS REPAIR…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT MERGED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE RPMS REVVED. THE FAILURE HAD RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED, HOWEVER THE DETAILS OF THE REPAIR COULD NOT BE PROVIDED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 173,000.
NHTSA ODI #10854751
120,000 miles · Mar 31, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE RPMS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PEAKED TO 400. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BEING DEPRESSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE RPMS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL PEAKED TO 400. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000.
NHTSA ODI #10852755
125,000 miles · Mar 23, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STOPPED AND A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE F…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE STOPPED AND A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.
NHTSA ODI #10851292
90,000 miles · Mar 9, 2016
Vehicle Speed Control
CAR ACCELERATED WITH BRAKES APPLIED,THIS CORRECTED ITSELF THEN REPEATED 3 MORE TIMES. TOOK CAR TO MY MECHANIC DISCOVERED CRUISE CONTROL ARM DETACHED AND WAS GETTING CAUGHT IN THROTTLE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER. THEY WILL EXAMINE ON 3/10/16.CALLED FORD SPOKE WITH JEFFREY IN CUSTOMER SERVICE NO RECALL GAVE VIN# AND REPORTED ISSUE. DISC…
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CAR ACCELERATED WITH BRAKES APPLIED,THIS CORRECTED ITSELF THEN REPEATED 3 MORE TIMES. TOOK CAR TO MY MECHANIC DISCOVERED CRUISE CONTROL ARM DETACHED AND WAS GETTING CAUGHT IN THROTTLE. TOOK CAR TO DEALER. THEY WILL EXAMINE ON 3/10/16.CALLED FORD SPOKE WITH JEFFREY IN CUSTOMER SERVICE NO RECALL GAVE VIN# AND REPORTED ISSUE. DISCOVERED THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHERS WITH TAURUS VEHICLES. VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY ISSUE. THE PART IS PLASTIC AND EITHER WEARS OR BAD DESIGN BECAUSE IT COMES FREE FROM THE MOUNT AND GETS CAUGHT IN THE THROTTLE WHEN DRIVING. YOU DON'T KNOW UNTIL YOU TRY TO STOP. CAR WANTS TO KEEP GOING AND RPM GAUGE SHOWS THROTTLE BEING APPLIED WITH FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR AND ON BRAKE.PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL RAPIDLY DISLODGE'S CRUISE CONTROL ARM BUT IT GETS STUCK AGAIN RANDOMLY. MECHANIC SNAPPED PIECE BACK IN PLACE BUT IT DISLODGED AGAIN ONCE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED.
NHTSA ODI #10845729
Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2016
EngineExterior LightingVehicle Speed Control
SO NOW WHEN I TRY TO REVERSE MY CAR DOESN'T MOVE AND IF I HIT THE GAS THE ENGINE JUST RAMS UP AND MAKES A LOUD NOISE.I HAVE GOT STUCK SO MANY TIMES TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN'T MOVE...ALSO MY HEADLIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS LOOK THE SAME THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE AND YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS ARE ON THE LIGHT IN THE CAR DOESN…
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SO NOW WHEN I TRY TO REVERSE MY CAR DOESN'T MOVE AND IF I HIT THE GAS THE ENGINE JUST RAMS UP AND MAKES A LOUD NOISE.I HAVE GOT STUCK SO MANY TIMES TO THE POINT WHERE I CAN'T MOVE...ALSO MY HEADLIGHTS AND HIGH BEAMS LOOK THE SAME THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE AND YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW WHEN THE HIGH BEAMS ARE ON THE LIGHT IN THE CAR DOESN'T COME ON..MY A/C A AND HEATER ONLY WORKS ON HIGH.I CAN'T GET ON THE FREEWAY THE GAGES GO UP TO 4 AND GO DOWN WHEN I'M GOING 65.WHEN IM ON THE REGULAR STREET THEY STILL GO UP HIGHT AND I CAN BE GOING LESS THAN 45.
NHTSA ODI #10817758
140,000 miles · Dec 28, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control
RECENTLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CRUISE CONTROL COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. TWO DAYS AFTER THAT I WAS SLOWING FOR A RED LIGHT AND I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS REVVING UP IN GEARS AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET MY CAR TO STOP AND I SHUT IT DOWN TO PREVENT ACCIDENT. AFTER THE RED LIGHT WAS OVER I STARTED UP MY CAR AND…
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RECENTLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY CRUISE CONTROL COMPLETELY STOPPED WORKING. TWO DAYS AFTER THAT I WAS SLOWING FOR A RED LIGHT AND I NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS REVVING UP IN GEARS AS I WAS SLOWING DOWN. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO GET MY CAR TO STOP AND I SHUT IT DOWN TO PREVENT ACCIDENT. AFTER THE RED LIGHT WAS OVER I STARTED UP MY CAR AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE. THAT IS WHEN I NOTICED MY CAR ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. WITHOUT PRESSING MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL MY CAR WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE UP TO ABOUT 45 MILES PER HOUR. THIS CAR IS UNSAFE AND AFTER SOME RESEARCH I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THERE WERE 14 ISSUES LIKE THIS REPORTED AND OTHERS THAT WERE NOT REPORTED (FOR INSTANCE THIS HAPPENED TO MY SISTER'S 2005 FORD TAURUS AND SHE HAD TO REPAIR IT OUT OF HER OWN POCKET). I WANTED TO PROVIDE THIS REPORT BECAUSE FORD IS REFUSING TO HELP WITH THIS ISSUE DESPITE THIS BEING A CLEAR SAFETY ISSUE. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS WHILE THE CAR IS STATIONARY AND WHILE MOVING.
NHTSA ODI #10816472
25 miles · Sep 24, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control
WHEN GETTING IN CAR VEHICLE ACCELERATES BY ITSELF, CAN GO TO 50 MPH WITHOUT TOUCHING GAS PETAL. EVEN WHEN BRAKING RMP IS OVER 2,000. VERY SCARY, AT DEALERSHIP NOW TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT'S GOING ON. AFTER REVIEWING OTHERS COMPLAINTS THIS SEEMS LIKE A RECALL IS NEEDED FOR FORD BEFORE IT KILLS SOMEONE.
NHTSA ODI #10776363
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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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 CONTROL HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED AND THE ISSUE STILL OCCURS. WHEN I TURN MY CAR ON NOW, IT GOES UP TO 4,000 RPMS BY ITSELF IN PARK. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10733222
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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