Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 176 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 32 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

19 crash reports4 fire reports8 injury reports

What owners actually said

318 reports

39,000 miles · Oct 26, 2007

Vehicle Speed Control

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT FULL SPEED. I WAS NOT USING MY CRUISE CONTROL. MY GAS PEDAL WAS STUCK ACCELERATING ON ME. IT WOULD UNSTICK AND COME HIT ME IN THE FOOT, ONLY TO STICK BACK AGAIN WHILE I WAS ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE WAS ACCELERATING WITHOUT MY ASSISTANCE UP LARGE HILLS, AND I WAS REQUIRED TO BRAKE ALMOST CONSTANTLY ON FLAT AREAS. WHEN I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO ALLEVIATE FEARS THAT I WOULD SHOOT OUT INTO THE INTERSECTION, AND THE CAR IMMEDIATELY RACED TO OVER 4000 RPMS! I HAD TO LIGHTLY TAP ON THE PEDAL REPEATEDLY UNTIL IT FINALLY UNSTUCK AND CAME BACK TO HIT ME IN THE FOOT. YIKES. I AM THANKFUL THAT THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK AT A LOWER RPM AND NOT ALL THE WAY DOWN. I COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A HORRIBLE TRAFFIC ACCIDENT. THE NEXT DAY THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT MY CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HAD BROKEN AND BOUND AROUND THE THROTTLE BODY (THE THING THAT DRIVES THE ACCELERATOR) CAUSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO STICK. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE! *TR DUPLICATE TO 10295451

NHTSA ODI #10207016

67,800 miles · Oct 19, 2007

Electrical System

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CAR SUDDENLY WILL NOT START. RELATIVELY NEW BATTERY, HAS NOT BEEN USED TO JUMP OTHER VEHICLES. WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED ON, THE LIGHTS AND RADIO COME ON FULL POWER, BUT THE NEEDLES IN THE GAUGE CLUSTER VIBRATE AND BUZZ AND A CLICKING SOUND CAN BE HEARD FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR. LEFT ON SOMEONE ELSE BATTERY FOR 20 MINUTES, NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN TRYING TO START THE CAR, SO CABLES WERE PULLED OFF OTHER VEHICLE AND CLACKED TOGETHER AT SAME TIME TAURUS WAS STARTED. THE SPARK LED TO IGNITION FOR SOME REASON.

NHTSA ODI #10206291

30,000 miles · Jul 30, 2007

Electrical System

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE GAUGES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAVE FAILED AND DO NOT WORK PROPERLY. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE BATTERY INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE HAS CAUSED THE POWER WINDOWS AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO STOP WORKING. THE CONTACT HAS NOT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE AND THE DEALER HAS NOT RECEIVED ANY PARTS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. UPDATED 02/01/08. *LJ UPDATED 02/01/08 *TR

NHTSA ODI #10197820

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2007

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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I HAD 2 INCIDENTS WERE I NEEDED TO STOP QUICKLY. THE CAR FAILED TO STOP AND JUST SKIDDED AND SLID. THE BACK TIRES LOCKED UP AND FISHTAILED. THE TIRES WERE BURNING RUBBER AND AGAIN THE CAR DID NOT STOP, JUST SLID. ONE TIME I WAS ONLY GOING 40 MPH, THE OTHER TIME 80 MPH. IN THE INCIDENT GOING 80 MPH THERE WAS A GOODYEAR, BEFORE A COMPLETE STOP NEEDED TO HAPPEN. AT THIS POINT THE CAR WAS STILL TRAVELING APPROXIMENTLY 40 MPH ,CAUSING ME TO RUN THROUGH A STOP SIGN. THANK GOODNESS NOBODY WAS COMING OTHERWISE THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A TRERRIBLE ACCIDENT. THE OTHER INCIDENT A CHILD WALKED OUT ON A RED LIGHT AND AGAIN THE CAR JUST STILL JUST SLID AND I COULD NOT STOP...HE JUMPED BACK ON THE SIDEWALK AND AGAIN EVERYONE WAS FINE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME NOTHING WAS WRONG. I REFUSED TO LEAVE WITH THAT CAR, WHICH I ONLY BOUGHT 3 MONTHS AGO. I IN TURN TOOK A $3,000 LOSS BECAUSE I REFUSED TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. I BOUGHT A CHEVY AND DURING THE TEST DRIVE I WENT 80 MPH AND SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, THERE WAS NO SLIDING OR BURNING OF RUBBER, THE CAR JUST CAME TO A STOP THE WAY IT SHOULD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10196405

2,000 miles · Feb 15, 2007

Air BagsCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE CONTACT 'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO AN EMBANKMENT, THE VEHICLE ROLLED OVER SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE WHEN THE CRASH OCCURRED. THE CONTACT HAD PHOTOS AND A POLICE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. …

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NHTSA ODI #10182645

Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2007

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

TRAVELING AT 20-25 MPH, MAKING RIGHT TURN ON WET ROAD, BRAKES LOCKED UP, CAR SLID, LET OFF BRAKE AND PRESSED BRAKE, AND BRAKES REMAINED LOCKED, SLID OUT OF LANE INTO ONCOMING LANES OF TRAFFIC. DEALER STATES NO PROBLEM WITH BRAKE SYSTEM, REAR BRAKES NEED TO BE CLEANED AND ADJUSTED WITH ONLY 26,000 MILES ON THE CAR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10182572

28,000 miles · Jan 24, 2007

Air BagsCrashInjury

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TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS THAT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH, AND THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 65 MPH. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT IT WAS RAINING AND THE VEHICLE SLID INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A SECOND VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT PRIOR TO INCIDENT THERE WEREN'T ANY WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING THAT THE AIRBAGS WERE MALFUNCTIONING. THREE PEOPLE WERE INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE CRASH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10180602

33,000 miles · Jan 3, 2007

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD HE HEARD A RELEASE OF AIR COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY BRAKE PRESSURE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT STATED VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE WET. THERE WERE TWO INJURI…

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NHTSA ODI #10177677

Mileage unknown · Dec 28, 2006

Visibility

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT PASSENGER'S SIDE MIRROR APPEARED TO SHOW OBJECTS FURTHER THAN IT SHOULD. THE CONTACT TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD HIM THAT THE MIRROR WAS THE STANDARD REGULATION MIRROR FOR ALL VEHICLES, AND THAT THEY COULD NOT REMOVE IT AND REPLACE WITH A REGULAR MIRROR. THE CONTACT STATE…

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NHTSA ODI #10177180

5,600 miles · Nov 27, 2006

Engine And Engine Cooling

I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS INSTANCES WHERE THE CAR DOES NOT" ROLL OVER" OR START. THE LATEST PROBLEM OCCURRED ON 11/10/06. I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN AT A BUSY INTERSECTION GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR WHEN THE CAR JUST DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION. LUCKILY, NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED BUT THIS WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITU…

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NHTSA ODI #10174464

Official recalls

06V119000 · Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/panel

Apr 10, 2006

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT FOR ONE SPECIFIC FLEET CUSTOMER WERE MODIFIED FOR OPTIONAL HANDS-FREE CELLULAR PHONE OPERATING CAPABILITY. TO PROVIDE THIS FUNCTIONALITY, A SPECIAL OVERLAY WIRE HARNESS WAS INSTALLED THAT INADVERTENTLY DID NOT INCLUDE THE CIRCUITS FOR PASSENGER AIR BAG DEACTIVATION INDICATOR (PADI) LAMP FUNCTION. AS A RESULT, THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 208, 'OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION.'

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE PADI LAMP WILL FAIL TO ILLUMINATE AND THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP IN THE CLUSTER WILL STAY ILLUMINATED.

Remedy: THE FLEET CUSTOMER WAS NOTIFIED AND ALL VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 28, 2006.

05V520000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor

Nov 9, 2005

ON CERTAIN TRUCKS, PASSENGER CARS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITHOUT GREASE BEING APPLIED TO THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: AFTER A PERIOD OF CONTINUOUS USE ON THE HIGH SPEED SETTING, LACK OF GREASE ON THE OUTPUT SHAFT GEAR MAY CAUSE THE GEAR TO DISTORT OR FRACTURE DURING OPERATION RESULTING IN A LOSS OF WIPER FUNCTION. INOPERATIVE WIPERS UNDER INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS COULD CAUSE A CRASH DUE TO IMPAIRED VISIBILITY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WIPER MOTOR FOR THE PRESENCE OF GREASE AND GREASE THE WIPER MOTOR GEARS IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673 OR LINCOLN/MERCURY AT 1-800-521-4140.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE12005 · 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

Vehicle Speed Control