NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
318 reports130,000 miles · Jul 20, 2014
EngineVehicle Speed Control
ABOUT A YEAR AGO OUR TAURUS STARTED TO EXPERIENCE SUDDEN ACCELERATIONS. IT WOULD GO FROM 40 TO 70 WITH YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS. HAD TO PULL OVER, PUT IN NEUTRAL, AND STOMP ON GAS PEDDLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE LAST OCCURRENCE JULY 15, 2014. MECHANICS CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT. CAR IS TOO DANGEROUS TO OPERATE. THI…
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ABOUT A YEAR AGO OUR TAURUS STARTED TO EXPERIENCE SUDDEN ACCELERATIONS. IT WOULD GO FROM 40 TO 70 WITH YOUR FOOT OFF THE GAS. HAD TO PULL OVER, PUT IN NEUTRAL, AND STOMP ON GAS PEDDLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE LAST OCCURRENCE JULY 15, 2014. MECHANICS CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT. CAR IS TOO DANGEROUS TO OPERATE. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10614803
119,200 miles · Jul 19, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control
WHEN DRIVING, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES TO HIGH SPEED, CAUSING ME TO CONSTANTLY PUT THE BRAKES ON. THE CAR ACCELERATES WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE GAS. THIS HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. THE CAR WAS LOOKED AT BY A DEALER ON 10/2013 AND THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THIS HAPPENS PERIODICALLY ONE TO SEVERAL TIMES PE…
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WHEN DRIVING, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATES TO HIGH SPEED, CAUSING ME TO CONSTANTLY PUT THE BRAKES ON. THE CAR ACCELERATES WITHOUT STEPPING ON THE GAS. THIS HAS CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. THE CAR WAS LOOKED AT BY A DEALER ON 10/2013 AND THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. THIS HAPPENS PERIODICALLY ONE TO SEVERAL TIMES PER MONTH. WHEN THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAPPENS, I AM FORCED TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THEN TURN THE CAR OFF. THIS HAS BEEN AN EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING SITUATION BECAUSE IT OCCURS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AREAS AND ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10614697
135,000 miles · Jun 24, 2014
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control
MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR, STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN THEN WHEN HE PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO GO ON THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. IT SEEMED THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL BUT IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION SIMPLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, NOISE, LEAKS, ANYTHING. HE WAS LEFT STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD/TRAFFIC WITH A CAR THAT WOULDN'T M…
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MY SON WAS DRIVING THE CAR, STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN THEN WHEN HE PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL TO GO ON THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. IT SEEMED THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL BUT IT WAS STILL IN DRIVE. THE TRANSMISSION SIMPLY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING, NOISE, LEAKS, ANYTHING. HE WAS LEFT STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD/TRAFFIC WITH A CAR THAT WOULDN'T MOVE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10605573
136,000 miles · Jun 24, 2014
Fuel System, Gasoline
THE VEHICLE AT AROUND 40 MPH WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN REACHING SPEED OF 60-70 MPH NEEDING CONSTANT BRAKING TO MAINTAIN THE SPEED LIMIT OF 45 MPH. UPON START UP IT HAS A HIGH IDLE TAKING 3-4 MINUTES TO COME DOWN BELOW 2 RPMS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10605540
69,874 miles · Jun 12, 2014
EngineService BrakesVehicle Speed Control
THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AFTER I GOT TO A PLACE WHERE I COULD PARK. THE ENGINE ACCELERATED TO 3000 RPM AND I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND ENGINE AGAIN ROSE TO 3000 RPM. I CHECKED TO SEE THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT STUCK TO THE FLOORBOA…
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THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND WAS DIFFICULT TO STOP. I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AFTER I GOT TO A PLACE WHERE I COULD PARK. THE ENGINE ACCELERATED TO 3000 RPM AND I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION. I ATTEMPTED TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND ENGINE AGAIN ROSE TO 3000 RPM. I CHECKED TO SEE THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS NOT STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD. THEN STARTED THE ENGINE AGAIN. AGAIN IT REVVED TO OVER 3000 RPM SO I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN THE IDLE RETURNED TO NORMAL. ONCE I GOT ON THE FREEWAY TO RETURN HOME THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I CALLED THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY RECALLS ON 2006 FORD TAURUS FOR ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10597985
127,000 miles · Jun 10, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control
SUDDEN ACCELERATION MANY TIMES AT RANDOM (I COULD NOT REMEMBER THE FIRST DATE OF THE INCIDENT SO I PUT THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT DATE, WHICH IS TODAY 6/9/14): FORD TAURUS 2006 ACCELERATES ON IT'S OWN AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING. RPM WILL GO OVER 3,000 AND CONTINUES. I HAVE PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS I DRIVE BUT THE CAR STI…
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SUDDEN ACCELERATION MANY TIMES AT RANDOM (I COULD NOT REMEMBER THE FIRST DATE OF THE INCIDENT SO I PUT THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT DATE, WHICH IS TODAY 6/9/14): FORD TAURUS 2006 ACCELERATES ON IT'S OWN AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING. RPM WILL GO OVER 3,000 AND CONTINUES. I HAVE PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS I DRIVE BUT THE CAR STILL PUSHES AS I DO AND ACCELERATES. ONCE I PUT IT IN PARK, IT ACCELERATES OVER 3,000 RPM GOING UP TO 5,000 RPM AND NOT STOPPING UNTIL I TURN OFF THE CAR. THEN WHEN I TURN ON THE CAR AGAIN IT WILL GO UP TO 4,000 RPM. IT ONLY WOULD TAKE ONCE OR TWICE FOR IT TO TURN ON NORMALLY WITHOUT ANY SUDDEN ACCELERATION. BUT TODAY, AFTER ANOTHER INCIDENT OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION AS I WAS GOING ABOUT 27 MPH, EVEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE CAR REVVED ON IT'S OWN AND IT BEGAN ACCELERATING. I PUT IT IN PARK FAST AND TURNED OFF THE CAR; BUT, EVERY TIME I TURNED IT ON, THE CAR STILL WOULDN'T STOP ACCELERATING. I HAD TO TOW THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND IT'S STILL BOGGLING US WHAT COULD BE WRONG WITH THE CAR, WE MIGHT END UP REPLACING THE WHOLE COMPUTER SYSTEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES ALREADY. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC MANY TIMES FOR THIS INCIDENT AND THEY HAVE DONE WHAT THEY COULD BUT THE PROBLEM NEVER SEEMS TO GET FIXED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10597479
148,000 miles · Jun 10, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES IN AN ATTEMPT TO RELEASE THE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT STATED TH…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES IN AN ATTEMPT TO RELEASE THE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO BE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE PROBLEM RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 148,000.
NHTSA ODI #10597293
112,541 miles · Jun 2, 2014
Power Train
INSTANT ACCELERATION WHILE DRIVING APPROX.; 40 MPH HAD TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL AFTER STEPPING ON ACCELERATOR SEVERAL TIMES ENGINE RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10595526
160,000 miles · May 22, 2014
Air BagsCrashInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, HE BECAME UNCONSCIOUS AND CRASHED INTO A CHAIN LINKED FENCE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A COMPRESSION FRACTURE AND SPINE INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, HE BECAME UNCONSCIOUS AND CRASHED INTO A CHAIN LINKED FENCE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A COMPRESSION FRACTURE AND SPINE INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
NHTSA ODI #10593396
Mileage unknown · May 19, 2014
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control
I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25MPH WITH MY LITTLE BROTHER AND SISTER IN THE CAR AND I FELT IT START TO GO FASTER. IT KEPT ON ACCELERATING AND WOULDN'T STOP. WHEN I GOT TO A STOP SIGN AND WAS PRESSING ON THE BREAK THE RPM SHOT UP. EVEN WHEN I PUT IT IN PARK IT KEPT ON ACCELERATING. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRON…
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I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 25MPH WITH MY LITTLE BROTHER AND SISTER IN THE CAR AND I FELT IT START TO GO FASTER. IT KEPT ON ACCELERATING AND WOULDN'T STOP. WHEN I GOT TO A STOP SIGN AND WAS PRESSING ON THE BREAK THE RPM SHOT UP. EVEN WHEN I PUT IT IN PARK IT KEPT ON ACCELERATING. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC, BUT HE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. IT HAS DONE THIS MANY OF TIMES, ONCE WHERE I ALMOST HIT SOMEONE BECAUSE OF IT. I'M AFRAID IT WILL KEEP DOING IT. *JS
NHTSA ODI #10592586
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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