NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
318 reports140,000 miles · Aug 6, 2015
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK OF TRANSMISSION FLUID FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF THE FLUID LEAKED INTO THE MOTOR. THE MECHANIC DIA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK OF TRANSMISSION FLUID FROM UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK AND WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF THE FLUID LEAKED INTO THE MOTOR. THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANS-AXLE VENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH A 90 DEGREE VENT STEM SMALL HOSE WITH CLAMPS. THE 90 DEGREE VENT STEM PREMATURELY FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA ODI #10746672
109,000 miles · Jul 10, 2015
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control
WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO ALMOST 50 MPH WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL IN AT ALL. WHEN I TRIED TO BREAK, MY BREAKS DID WORK BUT NOT COMPLETELY. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHEN MY VEHICLE HAS LOST ALL POWER AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, EVERY TIME BEING AT AN EXTREMELY BUSY INTERSECTION. MY CRUISE CONTRO…
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WHILE I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO ALMOST 50 MPH WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL IN AT ALL. WHEN I TRIED TO BREAK, MY BREAKS DID WORK BUT NOT COMPLETELY. THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHEN MY VEHICLE HAS LOST ALL POWER AND COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, EVERY TIME BEING AT AN EXTREMELY BUSY INTERSECTION. MY CRUISE CONTROL HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED AND THE ISSUE STILL OCCURS. WHEN I TURN MY CAR ON NOW, IT GOES UP TO 4,000 RPMS BY ITSELF IN PARK. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE.
NHTSA ODI #10733222
187,000 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
113,000 miles · Jul 7, 2015
Engine
DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AT 70MPH WHEN I LET OFF THE THROTTLE BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. CAME TO A STOP LIGHT AFTER EXITING FREEWAY AND HAD TO SLAM ON BREAKS TO COME TO A FULL STOP BECAUSE THE VEHICLE THROTTLE WOULD NOT STOP ACCELERATING. CHECKED FOR A RUG OR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE STUCK UNDER THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING WAS…
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DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AT 70MPH WHEN I LET OFF THE THROTTLE BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. CAME TO A STOP LIGHT AFTER EXITING FREEWAY AND HAD TO SLAM ON BREAKS TO COME TO A FULL STOP BECAUSE THE VEHICLE THROTTLE WOULD NOT STOP ACCELERATING. CHECKED FOR A RUG OR ANYTHING THAT MIGHT BE STUCK UNDER THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING WAS THERE. ONCE I ARRIVED AT THE DESTINATION I PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND THE ENGINE REVED UP TO 4000 RPM. OPENED HOOD AND THROTTLE WAS NOT STUCK BUT AFTER I MOVED THE THROTTLEBODY TO REV THE ENGINE IT RETURNED BACK TO A NORMAL IDLE SPEED. THIS IS FREAKING DANGEROUS. DONT BUY THIS PIECE OF CRAP CAR.
NHTSA ODI #10732361
125,000 miles · May 26, 2015
Electrical SystemExterior LightingSteering
WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL, AT TIMES AN OBJECT CAN BE HEARD ROLLING AROUND IN STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, MILEAGE LIGHT IS NOT LIGHTED. IT CAN ONLY BE SEEN AT NIGHT WHEN DARK OUT. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 2 TO 3 YEARS. I TOOK VEHICLE TO A ST. CLOUD, MN FORD DEALER ON MAY 22, 2015, TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM MAY BE PART OF TH…
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WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL, AT TIMES AN OBJECT CAN BE HEARD ROLLING AROUND IN STEERING WHEEL. ALSO, MILEAGE LIGHT IS NOT LIGHTED. IT CAN ONLY BE SEEN AT NIGHT WHEN DARK OUT. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 2 TO 3 YEARS. I TOOK VEHICLE TO A ST. CLOUD, MN FORD DEALER ON MAY 22, 2015, TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM MAY BE PART OF THE RECENT AIRBAG RECALL. DEALER ADVISED THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON VEHICLE AND THE PROBLEM MAY BE UNRELATED TO RECALL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10721520
87,000 miles · Apr 30, 2015
SteeringStructure
APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MONTHS AGO, I BEGIN HEARING A WHINNING SOUND COMING FROM MY 2006 TAURUS AFTER I STARTED THE CAR AND BEGIN TO DRIVE. THE SOUND INTENSIFIED WHENEVER I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL EITHER TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. I BELIEVE THERE IN A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING AND I FEEL THE STEERING SYSTEM IS SOON TO GO OUT BECAUSE THIS…
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APPROXIMATELY 2-3 MONTHS AGO, I BEGIN HEARING A WHINNING SOUND COMING FROM MY 2006 TAURUS AFTER I STARTED THE CAR AND BEGIN TO DRIVE. THE SOUND INTENSIFIED WHENEVER I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL EITHER TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. I BELIEVE THERE IN A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING AND I FEEL THE STEERING SYSTEM IS SOON TO GO OUT BECAUSE THIS NOISE IS GETTING LOUDER. ALSO, DURING COLD WEATHER THIS PAST WINTER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT CLOSE. ON ONE OCCASION, I HAD TO HOLD THE DOOR AND DRIVE. THIS PROBLEM IS VERY UNSAFE FOR ANY DRIVER. I CONTACTED A MECHANIC REGARDING THE LOUD NOISE WHEN TURNING AND HE SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS GOING OUT AND POSSIBLY VERY SOON. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10713834
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
97,000 miles · Mar 10, 2015
Air BagsFuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other
AIR BAG LIGHT ON DRIVERS SIDE HAS BEEN ACTIVATED FOR ABOUT A YEAR HAS BEEN CHECKED BY A ASE GARAGE. THEY COULDN'T FIND A FAULT CODE. CARS IS SURGING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS DURING NORMAL OPERATION. I HAVE HAD TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL TO KICK IT DOWN TO NORMAL SPEED THEN BACK IN TO DRIVE MODE WHILE MOVING IN TRAFFIC.SOME TIMES IT SLAMS …
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AIR BAG LIGHT ON DRIVERS SIDE HAS BEEN ACTIVATED FOR ABOUT A YEAR HAS BEEN CHECKED BY A ASE GARAGE. THEY COULDN'T FIND A FAULT CODE. CARS IS SURGING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS DURING NORMAL OPERATION. I HAVE HAD TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL TO KICK IT DOWN TO NORMAL SPEED THEN BACK IN TO DRIVE MODE WHILE MOVING IN TRAFFIC.SOME TIMES IT SLAMS THE TRANSMISSION. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS NOT WORKED FOR OVER A YEAR. ASE TECH SAYS THE CONNECTION IS WORN AND FAULTY. ASE TECH SAYS HE COULD NOT GET ANY FAULT CODES FOR THE SURGING IN SPEED AFTER LETTING IT RUN FOR OVER 45 MIN.AND TEST DRIVING THE CAR. ASE TECH BELIEVES THE PROBLEM IS IN THE PCM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10693372
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
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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