NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
176 reportsClear category filter187,000 miles · Jul 9, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control
SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION INCREASE AND RPM'S INCREASE CAUSING CAR TO INCREASE SPEED. WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, I HAD COME TO A STOP AND NOTICED MY RPM'S WAS STAYING AT THE 2000 (#2) RANGE AND WHEN I RELEASED THE BRAKE THE CAR TOOK OFF ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT. I THEN NOTICED THE CAR INCREASED ACCELERATION ON ITS OWN. ON A…
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SPONTANEOUS ACCELERATION INCREASE AND RPM'S INCREASE CAUSING CAR TO INCREASE SPEED. WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, I HAD COME TO A STOP AND NOTICED MY RPM'S WAS STAYING AT THE 2000 (#2) RANGE AND WHEN I RELEASED THE BRAKE THE CAR TOOK OFF ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT. I THEN NOTICED THE CAR INCREASED ACCELERATION ON ITS OWN. ON A BACK ROAD I DROVE FOR MILES WITHOUT TOUCHING THE GAS. VERY, VERY DANGEROUS!!!!!!
NHTSA ODI #10732854
135,000 miles · Mar 22, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control
I WAS DRIVING AT 20-25 MPH AND WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PREPARING TO STOP THE CAR BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN TO NEAR 40 MPH. IN AN EFFORT TO STOP I HAD TO PRESS VERY FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE WHICH THEN CAUSED THE RPM TO GO TO 4000. I HAD TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL TO TURN THE CAR OFF. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10700957
101,000 miles · Mar 3, 2015
Vehicle Speed Control
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. THE ACCELERATOR KEPT STICKING. I RODE THE BRAKE THE LAST 4 MILES HOME DRIVING IN TOWN. I WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A LIGHT AND ALL I HAD TO DO GO ACCELERATE WAS TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THIS DID NOT STOP UNTIL I GOT HOME AND STOPPED THE CAR. RPM'S GOT UP TO 3000. I SEE THAT THIS ISSUE …
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I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK. THE ACCELERATOR KEPT STICKING. I RODE THE BRAKE THE LAST 4 MILES HOME DRIVING IN TOWN. I WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A LIGHT AND ALL I HAD TO DO GO ACCELERATE WAS TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE. THIS DID NOT STOP UNTIL I GOT HOME AND STOPPED THE CAR. RPM'S GOT UP TO 3000. I SEE THAT THIS ISSUE IS UNDER INVESTIGATION BUT SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT IT NOW. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10691945
114,500 miles · Feb 10, 2015
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control
CAR WAS ACCELERATING SPONTANEOUSLY, APPEARS THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS STICKING AT THE THROTTLE BODY DUE TO DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE THAT DISLODGED AND GOT STUCK INTO ACCELERATOR MECHANISM. CAR WAS ACCELERATING ON FREEWAY AT 70 MPH AND CLIMBING, PULLING ON GAS PEDAL WITH FOOT OF NO BENEFIT. ULTIMATELY HAD TO TURN OFF KEYS AF…
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CAR WAS ACCELERATING SPONTANEOUSLY, APPEARS THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS STICKING AT THE THROTTLE BODY DUE TO DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE THAT DISLODGED AND GOT STUCK INTO ACCELERATOR MECHANISM. CAR WAS ACCELERATING ON FREEWAY AT 70 MPH AND CLIMBING, PULLING ON GAS PEDAL WITH FOOT OF NO BENEFIT. ULTIMATELY HAD TO TURN OFF KEYS AFTER HEADING TO OFF RAMP. NICKNAMED CAR "[XXX]" AFTER THIS FRIGHTENING INCIDENT. NOTICED MULTIPLE REPORTS OF SAME PROBLEM ON WEB WITH BRIEF SEARCH. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SPOKE WITH THREE REPRESENTATIVES. WONDERING IF THERE IS A RECALL. THEY WERE CLEAR TO INDICATE " NOT OUR PROBLEM" AS CAR IS "OUT OF WARRANTY". INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10682558
78,800 miles · Dec 11, 2014
Air BagsVehicle Speed ControlCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DI…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,800.
NHTSA ODI #10663659
62,000 miles · Dec 1, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. ONCE THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SUBSTANCE WAS SPRAYED ON THE THROTTLE, WHICH STOPPED THE ACCELERATION FOR TWO YEARS. WHEN THE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. ONCE THE ENGINE WAS RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SUBSTANCE WAS SPRAYED ON THE THROTTLE, WHICH STOPPED THE ACCELERATION FOR TWO YEARS. WHEN THE FAILURE RECURRED, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY AS IT ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000.
NHTSA ODI #10661405
76,000 miles · Sep 4, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND DRIVE ONTO THE SIDEWALK. AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD O…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND DRIVE ONTO THE SIDEWALK. AFTER TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE HAD OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000.
NHTSA ODI #10630636
73,000 miles · Aug 25, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE RESULTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. WHILE IDLING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE RESULTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
NHTSA ODI #10627976
71,900 miles · Jul 30, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO RACE, AND I HAD TO DRIVE TWENTY MILES TO THE MECHANIC'S GARAGE, BARELY BEING ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND NEARLY MISSING BEING IN 3 ACCIDENTS. HAD TO DRIVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP IT AT THE END. WHEN I PUT IT IN PARK, IT SOUNDED LIKE T…
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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED TO RACE, AND I HAD TO DRIVE TWENTY MILES TO THE MECHANIC'S GARAGE, BARELY BEING ABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND NEARLY MISSING BEING IN 3 ACCIDENTS. HAD TO DRIVE WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND HAD TO USE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP IT AT THE END. WHEN I PUT IT IN PARK, IT SOUNDED LIKE THE ENGINE WOULD EXPLODE, IT WAS RACING SO FAST. MECHANIC SAW A CRUISE CONTROL CABLE DETACHED, AND RECONNECTED IT, AND "PLAYED" WITH THE THROTTLE AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO BRING IT DOWN TO NORMAL LEVEL. I CHECKED AT THIS SITE TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT DID NOT SEE ONE, BUT MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10617718
Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control
2006 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ACCELERATION ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED THREE TERRIFYING INCIDENTS, IN WHICH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. HE CAME VERY CLOSE TO RUNNING OVER PEDESTRIANS, EACH TIME THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. AFTER, PAYING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS, TO REPLACE THE AIR C…
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2006 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE ACCELERATION ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED THREE TERRIFYING INCIDENTS, IN WHICH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. HE CAME VERY CLOSE TO RUNNING OVER PEDESTRIANS, EACH TIME THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. AFTER, PAYING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS, TO REPLACE THE AIR CONTROL VALVE, WHICH WASN'T THE PROBLEM, IT WAS FINALLY DETERMINED THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10616491
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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