NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
176 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Apr 16, 2014
Air BagsService BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash
MY HUSBAND WAS JUST INVOLVED IN A COLLISION TODAY IN OUR 2006 FORD TAURUS. HE NOTICED A VEHICLE STOPPING IN FRONT OF HIM SO HE BEGAN TO HIT THE BRAKE. AS HE COASTED ON HIS BRAKES TOWARDS THE STOP VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM, THE CAR BEGAN TO AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATE CAUSING HIM TO REAR-END THE OTHER DRIVER. WE'RE PRETTY SURE THE CAR…
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MY HUSBAND WAS JUST INVOLVED IN A COLLISION TODAY IN OUR 2006 FORD TAURUS. HE NOTICED A VEHICLE STOPPING IN FRONT OF HIM SO HE BEGAN TO HIT THE BRAKE. AS HE COASTED ON HIS BRAKES TOWARDS THE STOP VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM, THE CAR BEGAN TO AUTOMATICALLY ACCELERATE CAUSING HIM TO REAR-END THE OTHER DRIVER. WE'RE PRETTY SURE THE CAR IS TOTALED. PLUS, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TT
NHTSA ODI #10583223
98,200 miles · Apr 13, 2014
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
I WAS HEADING HOME IN A 35 MILES AN HR ZONE, WHEN SUDDENLY, MY GAS PEDAL FLATTENED FROM UNDER MY FEET AND MY CAR STARTED GOING FASTER. I TRIED BREAKING, BUT THE CAR KEPT LUNGING FORWARD EVEN THOUGH I WAS ON THE BREAKS, THE RPM ALSO REVVED UP TO ABOUT 3000 EVEN THOUGH I WAS STILL BREAKING. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND PUT IT IN PARK…
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I WAS HEADING HOME IN A 35 MILES AN HR ZONE, WHEN SUDDENLY, MY GAS PEDAL FLATTENED FROM UNDER MY FEET AND MY CAR STARTED GOING FASTER. I TRIED BREAKING, BUT THE CAR KEPT LUNGING FORWARD EVEN THOUGH I WAS ON THE BREAKS, THE RPM ALSO REVVED UP TO ABOUT 3000 EVEN THOUGH I WAS STILL BREAKING. I PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND PUT IT IN PARK AND IT STILL SOUNDED AS IF I WAS GASSING IT, SO I SHUT IT OFF AND WAITED, THEN STARTED IT AGAIN, IT REVVED, THEN THE RPM DROPPED SUDDENLY AND WAS BACK TO NORMAL. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10579477
101,000 miles · Apr 11, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control
INTERMITTENTLY THROTTLE WILL KEEP RISING AND THE CAR WILL NOT STOP UNLESS SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND ACCELERATION PEDAL PUSHED TO DISLODGE STUCK THROTTLE. BRAKES WILL NOT STOP THROTTLE FROM RISING UNLESS STEPS ABOVE FOLLOWED. FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED, I HAD TO FIGHT THE ACCELERATION WITH THE BRAKES CAUSING MY ENGINE TO SMELL LIKE BU…
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INTERMITTENTLY THROTTLE WILL KEEP RISING AND THE CAR WILL NOT STOP UNLESS SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND ACCELERATION PEDAL PUSHED TO DISLODGE STUCK THROTTLE. BRAKES WILL NOT STOP THROTTLE FROM RISING UNLESS STEPS ABOVE FOLLOWED. FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED, I HAD TO FIGHT THE ACCELERATION WITH THE BRAKES CAUSING MY ENGINE TO SMELL LIKE BURNT RUBBER UNTIL I FIGURED OUT THE TRICK OF TAPING THE ACCELERATION PEDAL WHEN IN NEUTRAL. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10579282
115,000 miles · Apr 8, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS REVVING AT THE STOP LIGHT EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE BREAK. WHEN I TOOK OFF, I PUMPED THE GAS PEDAL A FEW TIMES AND IT WENT BACK TO NORMAL. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT. HOWEVER, I PICKED UP MY CARPOOL RIDER AND STARTED MY DRIVE DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH. I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DO…
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I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND NOTICED THAT MY CAR WAS REVVING AT THE STOP LIGHT EVEN THOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE BREAK. WHEN I TOOK OFF, I PUMPED THE GAS PEDAL A FEW TIMES AND IT WENT BACK TO NORMAL. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT. HOWEVER, I PICKED UP MY CARPOOL RIDER AND STARTED MY DRIVE DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 60MPH. I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN AFTER ABOUT TEN MINUTES AND I NOTICED MY CAR WAS SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS REVVING UP HIGHER THAN I WAS PRESSING THE GAS MEDAL. I SLOWED DOWN TO 45MPH AND TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTICED THAT MY CAR SPED BACK UP TO 60MPH ON ITS OWN. I PRESSED ON THE GAS PEDAL TO SEE IF I COULD AGAIN GET IT TO DISLODGE, BUT THAT DID NOT WORK. I PUMPED IT SEVERAL TIMES, LIFTED THE PEDAL TO SEE IF THAT WOULD HELP BUT NOTHING WOULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO SLOW DOWN. AS I WAS ON AN OPEN HIGHWAY, I STAYED IN THE CENTER LANE AND KEPT TRYIN TO SLOW DOWN. I ONLY WORKED TO PUMP MY BRAKES AND THEN SLOWED DOWN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKES. I EXITED THE FREEWAY AND CONTINUED TO BRAKE. I STOPPED A FEW CARLINKS AWAY FROM ANYONE AND THE CAR WAS STILL REVVING VERY HIGH. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNED IT OFF. I STARTED IT AGAIN AND IT REVVED IMMEDIATELY, IT PULLED FORWARD AS SOON AS IT WAS IN DRIVE AND I KEPT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I STAYED IN THE LESS TRAVELED LANE FAR AWAY FROM OTHER CARS, THEN COASTED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. HOWEVER, MY CAR BARELY STOPPED....MY BRAKES WERE SHOT. I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND GAVE TWO MESSAGES TO THE DEALERSHIP THAT IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY REV AND PLEASE MAKE CERTAIN EVERYONE KNOWS THEY SHOULD NOT PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE WITHOUT THEIR FOOT ON THE BRAKE. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE, BRAKES WERE SMOKING AND ARE COMPLETELY GONE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10578281
134,500 miles · Mar 28, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control
I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD GRANDSON WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE TO A HIGHER SPEED. I HAD TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO MAINTAIN THE SPEED. I PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT AND HAD A DIFFICULT TIME STOPPING THE CAR BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS ACCELERATING WHILE STOPPING. I MANAGED TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND MY RPMS WERE U…
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I WAS DRIVING WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD GRANDSON WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE TO A HIGHER SPEED. I HAD TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE TO MAINTAIN THE SPEED. I PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT AND HAD A DIFFICULT TIME STOPPING THE CAR BECAUSE THE ENGINE WAS ACCELERATING WHILE STOPPING. I MANAGED TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND MY RPMS WERE UP TO 4000. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED AGAIN AND THE RPMS JUMPED BACK UP TO 4000. I NOTICED THAT THIS WAS INVESTIGATED WITH THIS CAR BUT NO RECALLS WERE ISSUED YET MANY REPORTS. I HAD MY ONLY GRANDSON WITH ME. I COULD NOT IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF I COULD NOT STOP. THIS MAKES ME WONDER IF SOMEONE HAS TO GET KILLED BEFORE THIS FIXED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10575380
69,800 miles · Mar 17, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS NOT ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,007.
NHTSA ODI #10572789
Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control
I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH MY SUDDEN ACCELERATION, STICKING ACCELERATOR PEDAL SINCE MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED FUNCTIONING. I PULL OVER OR PLACE MY CAR INTO NEUTRAL TO GET THE ACCELERATION TO STOP. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS AND FEEL A RECALL IS ADVISABLE FOR THIS ISSUE BEFORE INJURY OCCURS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10568614
135,000 miles · Feb 27, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control
THE GAS PEDAL PERIODICALLY STICKS BETWEEN 35-40 MPH IN MY 2006 FORD TAURUS. THIS CAUSES THE ENGINE RPM'S TO INCREASE. I AM ABLE TO SLOW THE CAR BY PRESSING THE BRAKES. I CAN ALSO STOP THE ENGINES RACING BY TAPPING THE PEDAL AGAIN ABRUPTLY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10566320
Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control
I PURCHASE THIS CAR ON 11/2013; I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS. SINCE THEN, ON 2/7/14; AS I WAS DRIVING ALONG A MAJOR HIGHWAY I NOTICED MY CAR ENGINE WAS RACING A LITTLE HIGHER THAN NORMAL. I THOUGHT THE GAS PEDAL WAS STICKING BECAUSE TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THIS I FELT THE GAS PEDAL KICKED BACK SEVERAL TIMES. I REMOVED MY F…
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I PURCHASE THIS CAR ON 11/2013; I HAVE ONLY DRIVEN THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS. SINCE THEN, ON 2/7/14; AS I WAS DRIVING ALONG A MAJOR HIGHWAY I NOTICED MY CAR ENGINE WAS RACING A LITTLE HIGHER THAN NORMAL. I THOUGHT THE GAS PEDAL WAS STICKING BECAUSE TWO DAYS PRIOR TO THIS I FELT THE GAS PEDAL KICKED BACK SEVERAL TIMES. I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE PEDAL AND NOTICE THE CAR WAS DRIVING AND THE RPM WAS GOING HIGHER. I PRESS THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN AND GET INTO MY RIGHT LANE, WHERE I PARKED THE CAR ON AN AUTOZONE LOT. I CALLED TRIPLE AAA FOR A TOW AND WHEN THEY ARRIVED I WAS INFORMED TO ACCELERATE THE GAS WHICH MADE THE CAR ENGINE SETTLED AT A NORMAL RPM; THEREFORE, I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE ON MY JOURNEY. ON MY WAY BACK HOME, I TOOK THE PARKWAY AND THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING AGAIN. THIS TIME, I COARSE THE CAR TO AN ACCELERATING LANE, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE; TURNED THE ENGINE BACK ON AND HIT THE GAS TILL THE ENGINE SETTLED. SINCE THEN I AM AFRAID TO TAKE ANY HIGHWAYS; I ONLY DRIVE LOCAL. SHOULD I TAKE THE CAR IN FOR A RE-CALL? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10564246
79,800 miles · Jan 10, 2014
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control
CAR AUTO ACCELERATING WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT GAS PEDAL PRESS. HAD TO BRAKE VERY HARD TO STOP THE CAR. IN PARK POSITION, ENGINE DIRECTLY RAN TO 3000RPM. IN DRIVE POSITION, THE ENGINE SPEED 400RPM HIGHER THAN USUAL. SENT MY CAR TO 2 DIFF WORKSHOPS. NO VACUUM LEAK, NO DTC. CHANGED IAC VALVE. YET STILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE. PROBLE…
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CAR AUTO ACCELERATING WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT GAS PEDAL PRESS. HAD TO BRAKE VERY HARD TO STOP THE CAR. IN PARK POSITION, ENGINE DIRECTLY RAN TO 3000RPM. IN DRIVE POSITION, THE ENGINE SPEED 400RPM HIGHER THAN USUAL. SENT MY CAR TO 2 DIFF WORKSHOPS. NO VACUUM LEAK, NO DTC. CHANGED IAC VALVE. YET STILL NOT FIX THE ISSUE. PROBLEM HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES RECENTLY. FAULT CAN BE RECOVERED IF DRIVE LONG TIME IN LOW DRIVE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10559425
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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