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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

19 reports

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58,531 miles · Jul 27, 2012

Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE; HOWEVER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000. T…

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NHTSA ODI #10467947

54,000 miles · May 7, 2012

Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

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PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED AND IMMEDIATELY HAD EPISODES OF THE ACCELERATOR STICKING. HAPPENS ON NEARLY EVERY TRIP WITH THIS VEHICLE AND HAPPENS 4-5 TIME ON A 20 MILE TRIP. WORSE EPISODES OF STUCK ACCELERATOR WITH RAPID ACCELERATION AS IN FREEWAY ENTRANCE RAMPS. THE BRAKES CAN OVERRIDE THE STUCK ACCELERATOR, BUT IT IS FRIGHTENING WHEN IT HAPPENS IN TOWN. AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE AND NOT FINDING A CAUSE, WE HAVE LEARNED TO STOP THE STICKING BY PUNCHING THE ACCELERATOR HARD ONCE OR TWICE AT A POINT IN THE ROAD WHERE MORE FORWARD ACCELERATION WILL NOT BE A SAFETY ISSUE. WE HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE SO MUCH AND ARE SO FAMILIAR WITH IT, I SOMETIMES USE IT AS A CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, BUT IT IS NOT AS RELIABLE AND IS NOT AS STEADY AS THE TRUE SPEED CONTROL DEVICE. THIS ISSUE IS DANGEROUS FOR THE INEXPERIENCE DRIVER AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED QUICKLY. I AM AWARE OF A NATIONAL STUDY OF THIS VERY PROBLEM. PLEASE LET US KNOW THE OUTCOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10457647

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2012

Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

WHEN THE CAR ISN'T BEING DRIVEN BUT IS ON SOMETIMES THE GAS REVS UP BY ITSELF AND ENGINE JUST KEEPS RUNNING AND THE RPM RUNS UP, THE GAS ALSO ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN AND THE PEDAL STICKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10454583

83,584 miles · Apr 9, 2012

Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

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SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEM WITH MY 2006 FORD TAURUS HAS STARTED AGAIN...I FIRST REPORTED THIS TO NHTSA ABOUT A MONTH AGO..THIS TIME AROUND, IT BEGINS INTERMITTENTLY ON START UP, AND SOMETIMES WHILE DRIVING...THIS PROBLEM BEGAN WHEN MY CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION...IT HAPPENED THREE TIMES TO MY WIFE ABOUT 2 HOURS AGO, AND SHE HAD TO PRESS VERY HARD ON THE BRAKES TO GET IT TO STOP AT A STOPLIGHT THE ACCELERATION PROBLEMS BEGAN OVER A YEAR AGO AND HAPPENED ON AND OFF SINCE THEN....WE HAVE GONE THROUGH A PERIOD OF SEVERAL MONTHS WITHOUT A PROBLEM..BUT THIS TIME IT IS MUCH WORSE, THE ACCELERATION IS MORE SEVERE.. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10454531

62,890 miles · Apr 5, 2012

Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

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AFTER TAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE VEHICLE BEGAN ACCELERATING ON ITS OWN. I HAD TO FULLY APPLY THE BRAKE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. IT WAS TERRIFYING. MY WHOLE BODY SHOOK. I THOUGHT I WOULD HIT SOMETHING BECAUSE I DID NOT THINK THAT I COULD STOP THE CAR. EVEN WHILE PUSHING THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY DOWN AND SHIFTING INTO D I COULD NOT KEEP THE CAR UNDER 40 MPH. THE ENGINE KEPT REVVING AND THE CAR KEPT GAINING SPEED. LUCKILY, THE ONLY LIGHT I HAD WAS GREEN. I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND SLOWED THE VEHICLE DOWN TO A STOP BY APPLYING ALL MY FORCE TO THE BRAKE. I SHIFTED INTO PARK HOPING THAT WOULD KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. IT CAUSED A LOUD SOUND THAT SOUNDED LIKE AN EXPLOSION AND STARTLED EVERYONE IN THE PARKING LOT. STILL NOT SURE WHAT TO DO, I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF. A PARKING SPOT OPENED UP SO I TURNED ON THE IGNITION, THAT CAUSED AN EVEN LOUDER EXPLOSIVE SOUND. I WAS STILL TERRIFIED BUT I HAD TO ACT - SO I FORCED THE BRAKE PEDAL DOWN AS HARD AS I COULD AND SHIFTED TO D AND WAS ABLE TO NAVIGATE INTO THE PARKING SPOT. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AGAIN AND AGAIN IT CAUSED A LOUD EXPLOSIVE SOUND. BY NOW I WAS A SPECTACLE IN THE PARKING LOT BUT I WAS JUST THANKFUL THAT I WAS ALIVE AND THAT NO ONE WAS HURT. I LOOKED DOWN AT THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS FULLY DEPRESSED AND LOOSE. I PULLED THE PEDAL UP BUT THERE WAS NO TENSION TO HOLD IT UP AND IT DROPPED BACK ALL THE WAY DOWN. I DROVE THE VEHICLE BACK HOME, IN MUCH THE SAME WAY - TRANSMISSION IN D, APPLYING A LOT OF FORCE TO THE BRAKE AND HOPING THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE TO STOP SUDDENLY OR GET PULLED OVER FOR SPEEDING SINCE I COULD NOT GET THE VEHICLE SLOWER THAN 40 MPH EVEN WHILE PUSHING ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD THE WHOLE TRIP. AND WHEN I PARKED THE CAR AT HOME, IT MADE THE SAME LOUD SOUND AND I ALSO HEARD TICKING NOISES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. I AM STILL SHAKEN UP BY THE INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10455139

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2012

Engine And Engine CoolingSeat BeltsVehicle Speed Control

2006 FORD TAURUS. CONSUMER STATES IDLE, ACCELERATION ISSUES AND PROBLEM WITH SEAT BELT *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER MANY REPAIRS, THE MECHANICS WERE NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE SEAT BELT TENSIONERS LOCKED UP WHICH MADE THE SEAT BELTS INOPERABLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10453050

102,000 miles · Jan 11, 2012

Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

ENGINE KEEP RACING AND CAR TRIES TO GO WHILE BRAKING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10443460

78,000 miles · Oct 3, 2011

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

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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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NHTSA ODI #10422597

78,485 miles · Aug 9, 2011

Engine And Engine Cooling

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD SPORADICALLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED, THE SPEEDOMETER WOULD FLUCTUATE BACK AND FORTH. AT TIMES, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE DEALER MADE TEN ATTEMPTS TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS …

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NHTSA ODI #10418274

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