NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
25 reportsClear category filter64,553 miles · Mar 13, 2012
Electrical System
THE CHECK BATTERY LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHILE JUST TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS OCCURS JUST A RANDOM TIME AND IN ANY KIND OF WEATHER. I HAD A LOCAL INSPECTION STATION LOOK AT AND FOUND THAT THE BATTERY WAS BAD. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. AFTER A SHORT WHILE THE LIGHT WILL GO OFF. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PR…
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THE CHECK BATTERY LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHILE JUST TRAVELING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS OCCURS JUST A RANDOM TIME AND IN ANY KIND OF WEATHER. I HAD A LOCAL INSPECTION STATION LOOK AT AND FOUND THAT THE BATTERY WAS BAD. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. AFTER A SHORT WHILE THE LIGHT WILL GO OFF. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEM STARTING THE VEHICLE. I JUST CONTINUES TO HAPPEN AND WONDER IF SOMETHING THAT NEEDS LOOKED INTO FURTHER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10451364
33,785 miles · Oct 31, 2011
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS CONTROL MODULE WAS IDENTIFIED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP SHOP AS BAD AND NEEDING REPLACEMENT. $1,284 COST FOR REPLACEMENT WITH 33,785 ORIGINAL MILES. WITHOUT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE ABS BRAKES ARE NOT AVAILABLE IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10433663
86,000 miles · Oct 4, 2011
Electrical SystemService Brakes, Hydraulic
STARTED WITH JUST ABS AND "CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM" LIGHT COMING ON. ESCALATED TO SHUTTING THE CAR TOTALLY OFF WHILE DRIVING FREEWAY SPEEDS. PART OF THE DRIVING WAS AT NIGHT AND THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF ALSO MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO PULL OVER AND THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME WHEN IT HAPPENED. TOOK IT TO FORD DEALER IN YAKIMA AND THEY …
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STARTED WITH JUST ABS AND "CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM" LIGHT COMING ON. ESCALATED TO SHUTTING THE CAR TOTALLY OFF WHILE DRIVING FREEWAY SPEEDS. PART OF THE DRIVING WAS AT NIGHT AND THE LIGHTS TURNED OFF ALSO MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO PULL OVER AND THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME WHEN IT HAPPENED. TOOK IT TO FORD DEALER IN YAKIMA AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT GET IT TO DO THAT, EVEN THOUGH IT DID IT 3 TIMES ENROUTE AND ALSO WHEN I LEFT. TELL ME WHAT THIS IS SO I CAN GET IT FIXED! MAKES THE CAR BASICALLY UNDRIVABLEAND DANGEROUS TO PASSENGERS AND OTHER CARS ON THE ROAD. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10428698
78,000 miles · Oct 3, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR LOSES POWER AND YOU HAVE TO COAST TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP. AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT STARTS BACK UP AND RUNS FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES. 2 DEALERSHIPS, 2 REPLACED FUEL PUMPS AND MODULES, 1 REPLACED PROCESSOR AND BATTERY LATER ITS STILL DOING THE SAME THING! NOW THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY CAN'T GO AN…
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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR LOSES POWER AND YOU HAVE TO COAST TO A SAFE PLACE TO STOP. AFTER A FEW MINUTES IT STARTS BACK UP AND RUNS FINE. THIS HAS HAPPENED 6 TIMES. 2 DEALERSHIPS, 2 REPLACED FUEL PUMPS AND MODULES, 1 REPLACED PROCESSOR AND BATTERY LATER ITS STILL DOING THE SAME THING! NOW THE FORD DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY CAN'T GO ANYFURTHER WITH THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I AM GUESSING THE HUNDREDS OF OTHER 2006 TAURUS DRIVERS WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM WASN'T ENOUGH FOR FORD TO DO A RECALL. BUT I AM TELLING YOU IF MY HUSBAND WHO DRIVES THE VEHICLE DIES BECAUSE OF THIS FORD WILL HAVE BIGGER PROBLEMS BECAUSE I WILL SUE! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10428352
90,000 miles · Aug 30, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD NOISE WHEN STARTING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD CONTINUOUSLY DEACTIVATE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT A LOUD NOISE WHEN STARTING. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO STALL SPORADICALLY AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD CONTINUOUSLY DEACTIVATE. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 117,340.
NHTSA ODI #10422597
66,125 miles · Aug 1, 2011
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train
I HAVE A 2006 FORD TAURUS AND WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS IT WILL DIE WHILE SITTING AT A REDLIGHT. I HAVE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE CAR AND THAT USUALLY SOLVES THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 6 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. TODAY, HOWEVER, IT STALLED AT A REDLIGHT AND I RESTARTED BUT AS I CONTINUED DRIVIN…
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I HAVE A 2006 FORD TAURUS AND WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS IT WILL DIE WHILE SITTING AT A REDLIGHT. I HAVE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE CAR AND THAT USUALLY SOLVES THE PROBLEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 6 TIMES IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS. TODAY, HOWEVER, IT STALLED AT A REDLIGHT AND I RESTARTED BUT AS I CONTINUED DRIVING, THE RPM WOULD DROP RAPIDLY WHEN I HIT THE BREAKS AND IT ACTED LIKE IT WOULD DIE. I CONTINUED DRIVING AND WAS GOING ABOUT 45 MILES AN HOUR AND ALL OF THE SUDDEN ALL THE ODOMETERS DROPPED TO ZERO AND EVERYTHING ON THE DASHBOARD WENT OUT. I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL AND THEN EVERYTHING CAME BACK ON. VERY STRANGE AND NOW I'M WORRIED THE CAR MIGHT DIE WHEN I'M ACTUALLY DRIVING AND NOT SITTING AT A REDLIGHT. *KB
NHTSA ODI #10416544
52,000 miles · Jul 29, 2011
Electrical SystemFire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SMOKE WHEN IT WAS TURNED ON. THE OIL, BATTERY, ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT ASSIST THE CONTACT WITH THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SMOKE WHEN IT WAS TURNED ON. THE OIL, BATTERY, ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A LOUD NOISE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT ASSIST THE CONTACT WITH THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REMEDIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.
NHTSA ODI #10416259
14,000 miles · Jun 24, 2011
Electrical System
TL*HE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE COMPUTER UPGRADED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. NO ADDIT…
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TL*HE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE COMPUTER UPGRADED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. NO ADDITIONAL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
NHTSA ODI #10408846
135,000 miles · May 25, 2011
Electrical System
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS MY CAR HAS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL SHUTS OFF AND THE CAR ITSELF TURNS OFF. BASICALLY THE CAR IS ELECTRICALLY DEAD. I HAVE LITERALLY HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, SO IT WILL CONTINUE TO COAST TO LESSEN THE CHANCE OF BEING REAR ENDED, SWITCH THE IGNITION TO OFF AND PRAY THAT THE CAR TU…
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ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS MY CAR HAS SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. EVERYTHING ELECTRICAL SHUTS OFF AND THE CAR ITSELF TURNS OFF. BASICALLY THE CAR IS ELECTRICALLY DEAD. I HAVE LITERALLY HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, SO IT WILL CONTINUE TO COAST TO LESSEN THE CHANCE OF BEING REAR ENDED, SWITCH THE IGNITION TO OFF AND PRAY THAT THE CAR TURNS BACK ON WHEN I SWITCH THE IGNITION BACK ON. IN MOST INSTANCES THIS HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL BUT ON ONE OCCASION I WAS FORCED TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY AND COAST TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE INTERMITTENT NATURE OF THIS PROBLEM MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE. I HAVE CHECKED THE BATTERY CONNECTIONS AND THE GROUND WIRE AND ALL SEEM TO BE SECURE AND TIGHT WITH NO "PLAY" THAT I CAN DETERMINE. I DON'T BELIEVE IT IS THE BATTERY OR THE CAR WOULDN'T START TO BEGIN WITH. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10402641
Mileage unknown · May 18, 2011
Electrical System
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PAD LAMP HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V119000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL) WAS RELATED; HOWEVER, THE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PAD LAMP HAD FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 06V119000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT PANEL) WAS RELATED; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN, BUT THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 107,000.
NHTSA ODI #10401438
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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