NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
318 reports98,000 miles · Jan 6, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control
BEGINNING A FEW MONTHS AGO (NOVEMBER 2012), MY 2006 FORD TAURUS HAS HAD A COUPLE TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL. THESE FEW INCIDENTS HAVE CORRESPONDED WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPING TO WORK. I NOTICE THEM AT LOWER SPEEDS, BUT I CANNOT RULE OUT THE SAME ISSUE AT HIGHER SPEEDS BECAUSE BRAK…
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BEGINNING A FEW MONTHS AGO (NOVEMBER 2012), MY 2006 FORD TAURUS HAS HAD A COUPLE TIMES WHEN THE VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE WITHOUT PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL. THESE FEW INCIDENTS HAVE CORRESPONDED WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPING TO WORK. I NOTICE THEM AT LOWER SPEEDS, BUT I CANNOT RULE OUT THE SAME ISSUE AT HIGHER SPEEDS BECAUSE BRAKING IS HARDER AT THESE SPEEDS. THE LAST INCIDENT WAS DECEMBER 31, 2012 AT 9:32 PM. THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT 25 MPH. I NOTICED IT WAS HARD TO STOP AND THE RPM'S WERE NOT SLOWING DOWN WHEN I BROKE. I THEN HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK. AT THAT MOMENT THE RPMS INCREASED TO 4,000 AND I TURNED THE CAR OFF. I STARTED THE CAR AGAIN IN PARK AND IT DID THE SAME THING. THE THIRD RESTART, IT BEGAN TO INCREASE, BUT WHEN I PUMPED THE PEDAL THE INCREASE STOPPED AND IT RETURNED TO NORMAL IDLE RPM. UPON SEARCHING GOOGLE FOR THIS ISSUE, I SAW MULTIPLE REPORTS ON THE NHTSA'S INVESTIGATION IN MARCH 2012. AS A RESULT, I AM SUBMITTING THIS CLAIM. THE DESCRIPTIONS RESULTING IN THIS INVESTIGATION SOUNDED EXACTLY LIKE MY ISSUE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10491565
105,000 miles · Jan 3, 2013
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY INTENSE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING ANY FURTHER. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY INTENSE PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM ACCELERATING ANY FURTHER. THE FAILURE RECURRED SPORADICALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
NHTSA ODI #10490901
128,000 miles · Dec 26, 2012
Visibility/wiper
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING PRECIPITATION, WATER WOULD LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONING MOTOR TO SHORTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT DURING PRECIPITATION, WATER WOULD LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING THE HEATER AND AIR CONDITIONING MOTOR TO SHORTEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE WINDSHIELD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.
NHTSA ODI #10490089
205,000 miles · Nov 20, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BREAKING THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE SLOWED BY USING EXCESSIVE BRAKING FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO IN TURN TOOK IT TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE ACCELERATOR HAD FAILED. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE BREAKING THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE SLOWED BY USING EXCESSIVE BRAKING FORCE. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN TO PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO IN TURN TOOK IT TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE ACCELERATOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 210,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10485280
133,000 miles · Oct 17, 2012
Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed ControlCrashFire
TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30 MPH ON A DRIZZLY ROAD MY 06 FORD TAURUS SE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE TAURUS SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE BUT THEN HYDROPLANED/SLID INTO THE REAR OF A GRAND PRIX. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AS THE TAURUS HIT THE GRAND PRIX. TAURUS ENGINE WAS STILL ON AND THE DRIVER MOVED IT TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND SHUT OFF. AFTER LEAVING TA…
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TRAVELING AT ABOUT 30 MPH ON A DRIZZLY ROAD MY 06 FORD TAURUS SE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE TAURUS SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE BUT THEN HYDROPLANED/SLID INTO THE REAR OF A GRAND PRIX. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AS THE TAURUS HIT THE GRAND PRIX. TAURUS ENGINE WAS STILL ON AND THE DRIVER MOVED IT TO THE SIDE OF ROAD AND SHUT OFF. AFTER LEAVING TAURUS FOR A MINUTE TO CHECK FOR CONDITION OF OTHER GRAND PRIX DRIVER, TAURUS DRIVER RETURNED TO TAURUS TO SEE RIGHT REAR SEAT ON FIRE. THE TIRES WERE A YEAR OLD AND THE BRAKES HAD RECENTLY BEEN MAINTAINED BY A LOCAL FORD DEALER. ABOUT 1/4 TANK OF FUEL WAS IN THE TAURUS. THIS MODEL YEAR TAURUS IS A POPULAR USED CAR. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10480793
65,000 miles · Oct 15, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS SON WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN OPEN THROTTLE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY DEPRESSING ON THE BRAKES EXTREMELY HARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANU…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS SON WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 20-30 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN OPEN THROTTLE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY DEPRESSING ON THE BRAKES EXTREMELY HARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 65,000. UPDATED 11/29/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE CABLE BECAME DETACHED FROM THE ACCELERATOR. UPDATED 11/29/12
NHTSA ODI #10480146
145,333 miles · Oct 12, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
I CAME TO A LIGHT AND AS I TRIED TO BRAKE THE ENGINE REVVED TO 4000 RPM. I COULD BARELY STOP AT THE LIGHT. AT FIRST I WAS CONFUSED AND THOUGHT MY BRAKES WERE BAD, BUT WHEN I LET THE BRAKE GO, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND WHEN I CAME AROUND THE CORNER I LET MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND IT TOOK OFF ON ITS OWN, AS I GOT TO 30 MPH…
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I CAME TO A LIGHT AND AS I TRIED TO BRAKE THE ENGINE REVVED TO 4000 RPM. I COULD BARELY STOP AT THE LIGHT. AT FIRST I WAS CONFUSED AND THOUGHT MY BRAKES WERE BAD, BUT WHEN I LET THE BRAKE GO, THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND WHEN I CAME AROUND THE CORNER I LET MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND IT TOOK OFF ON ITS OWN, AS I GOT TO 30 MPH, I STARTED TO BRAKE AND THE ENGINE WENT TO 5000 RPM. I TRIED MY HARDEST TO BRAKE AND THE CAR WOULDN'T COMPLETELY STOP. THE ENGINE REVVED EVEN HIGHER AND I TURNED OFF THE CAR AS I ALMOST HIT A CURB AT A TURN AND ENDED UP BLOCKING A HOSPITAL ENTRANCE. I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10479971
67,000 miles · Oct 9, 2012
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK WHILE IT WAS DEPRESSED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL TO FAIL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK WHILE IT WAS DEPRESSED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AND THE CRUISE CONTROL TO FAIL. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
NHTSA ODI #10479325
120,000 miles · Oct 7, 2012
Electrical SystemPower Train
I OWN A 2006 FORD TAURUS SEL 12V, I WAS DRIVING WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD (LIKE ABS, BRAKE LIGHT,) LIGHTED UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE AND THEN I LOST ALL POWER TO THE ENGINE. I HIT THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE BUT IN ABOUT 5-8 SECONDS LATER, THE CAR STARTED UP BY ITSELF WITH AN ABR…
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I OWN A 2006 FORD TAURUS SEL 12V, I WAS DRIVING WHEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN, ALL OF THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD (LIKE ABS, BRAKE LIGHT,) LIGHTED UP LIKE A CHRISTMAS TREE AND THEN I LOST ALL POWER TO THE ENGINE. I HIT THE GAS PEDAL SEVERAL TIMES WITH NO RESPONSE BUT IN ABOUT 5-8 SECONDS LATER, THE CAR STARTED UP BY ITSELF WITH AN ABRUPT AND VIOLENT JERK FORWARD. IT WAS ALMOST AS IF I TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION TO THE OFF POSITION AND THEN QUICKLY BACK ON .. WHILE I WAS SITTING AT A RED LIGHT, I NOTICED A WHOLE LOT OF WEIRD STUFF GOING ON. THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIMMING IN AND OUT, THE LIGHT ON THE RADIO (THAT GREEN LIGHT THAT LIGHTS UP THE CONTROLS) WAS ALSO DIMMING IN AND OUT, AND THE ODOMETER NEEDLE WAS JUMPING UP AND DOWN BETWEEN 0MPH AND 5MPH, THE RADIO WOULD MAKE A NOISE LIKE IT WAS SHORTING OUT THIS WAS DUE TO CAR ABOUT TO SHUT OFF SUDDENLY, THE CAR SHUT OFF WITH ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS LIGHTING UP AGAIN AND THEN QUICKLY SHUT OFF. I REPLACED THE BATTERY, CLEANED ALL BATTERIES TERMINAL AND ALL GROUNDS IN CAR CHASSIS ANY SUGGESTIONS, THANKS, *TR
NHTSA ODI #10479201
60,960 miles · Oct 6, 2012
Service Brakes
PRESSED ON BRAKE PEDAL AND BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR VERY LITTLE BRAKING EFFECT LEFT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10478836
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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