NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
19 reportsClear category filter66,125 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
70,000 miles · Apr 28, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHED AND ALL POWER IN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF SUDDENLY. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AT LEAST FOUR TIMES. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AND OTHER TIMES IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE A FUEL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FLASHED AND ALL POWER IN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF SUDDENLY. THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AT LEAST FOUR TIMES. SOMETIMES THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART AND OTHER TIMES IT HAD TO BE TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE A FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE CONTINUED; THE DEALERS WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM OR TO PROVIDE A REMEDY; THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000.
NHTSA ODI #10398163
100,000 miles · Nov 21, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
2006 FORD TAURUS SHUTS OFF AT STOP LIGHTS AND HAS ROUGH IDLE. IT ALSO LURCHES FORWARD REPEATEDLY WHILE THE BRAKE PEDDLE IS APPLIED AT INTERSECTION. AS IF IT IS REVVING TRYING NOT TO DIE. IT IS WORSE WHEN IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A WHILE OR UNDER ADDED LOAD OF A/C. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS MY WIFE AND KIDS ARE IN A CAR THAT CREEPS INTO…
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2006 FORD TAURUS SHUTS OFF AT STOP LIGHTS AND HAS ROUGH IDLE. IT ALSO LURCHES FORWARD REPEATEDLY WHILE THE BRAKE PEDDLE IS APPLIED AT INTERSECTION. AS IF IT IS REVVING TRYING NOT TO DIE. IT IS WORSE WHEN IT HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A WHILE OR UNDER ADDED LOAD OF A/C. THIS IS DANGEROUS AS MY WIFE AND KIDS ARE IN A CAR THAT CREEPS INTO INTERSECTION OR DIES ALL TOGETHER CAUSING THEM TO BE STUCK AT AN INTERSECTION WITH CARS APPROACHING BEHIND THEM BECAUSE THEY NOW HAVE A GREEN LIGHT. IT STARTS BACK UP AND THEY ARE ABLE TO DRIVE OFF BUT THIS KEEPS HAPPENING. THE CAR HAS NO CODES OF INDICATION OF A PROBLEMS AFTERWARDS OTHER THAN ROUGH IDLING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10367007
122,000 miles · Aug 6, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
FORD MOTOR COMPANY 2006 FORD TAURUS SE 3.0 LITRE ENGINE. THE LOCATION OF THE OIL FILTER IS DIRECTLY ABOVE THE STARTER AND STARTER SOLENOID ASSEMBLY. THIS VERY POOR DESIGN CAN LEAD TO THE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE FIRE IN THIS VEHICLE. I ASKED FORD'S OWN AUTHORIZED SERVICERS IN THE DENVER MARKET AND THEY AGREED TO THIS AS A FACT. YET,…
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FORD MOTOR COMPANY 2006 FORD TAURUS SE 3.0 LITRE ENGINE. THE LOCATION OF THE OIL FILTER IS DIRECTLY ABOVE THE STARTER AND STARTER SOLENOID ASSEMBLY. THIS VERY POOR DESIGN CAN LEAD TO THE FAILURE AND POSSIBLE FIRE IN THIS VEHICLE. I ASKED FORD'S OWN AUTHORIZED SERVICERS IN THE DENVER MARKET AND THEY AGREED TO THIS AS A FACT. YET, AS AN OWNER OF SAID MODEL-THEY HAVE DONE NOTHING TO INFORM THE PUBLIC OR RECALL OR REMEDY THIS. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS AS I BELIEVE IT IS A VERY COMMON DESIGN FAILURE AND POTENTIALLY VERY PROBLEMATIC. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10347595
69,000 miles · Jun 23, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE USED VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS RESET. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ONCE MORE AND THE DEALER DISENGAGED THE CHECK ENGINE FUSE. THE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING THE USED VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS RESET. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ONCE MORE AND THE DEALER DISENGAGED THE CHECK ENGINE FUSE. THE DEALER ALSO RECOMMENDED REPLACING TWO SPARK PLUGS THAT WERE CONTAMINATED BY WATER. THE CONTACT DECLINED, SHE WANTED TO HAVE A PROPER DIAGNOSTIC TEST PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE BUT THE DEALER WOULD NOT ALLOW IT. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT IF THERE WAS AN ENGINE FAILURE IN THE FUTURE, SHE WOULD NOT RECEIVE ANY WARNING DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT FUSE BEING DEACTIVATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,000 AND THE CURRENT WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA ODI #10339719
125,000 miles · Jan 11, 2010
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. HE STATED THAT IN EXTREMELY COLD TEMPERATURES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE THEFT LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 125,000.
NHTSA ODI #10299004
50,000 miles · Jul 16, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED TO 40 MPH. THE CONTACT AUTOMATICALLY SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES AND AVOIDED CRASHING INTO ANY OTHER VEHICLES. SHE MERGED ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERAT…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. WHILE STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED TO 40 MPH. THE CONTACT AUTOMATICALLY SLAMMED ON HER BRAKES AND AVOIDED CRASHING INTO ANY OTHER VEHICLES. SHE MERGED ONTO THE HIGHWAY AND REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH MAXIMUM FORCE IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. AS A RESULT, THE ENGINE REVVED AND THE VEHICLE FINALLY BEGAN TO DECELERATE. SHE MANAGED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND PLACED THE GEAR INTO PARK. THE ENGINE REVVED FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES BEFORE GRADUALLY STOPPING. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED. THE CONTACT CALLED NUMEROUS DEALERS AND SHE FEELS THAT SHE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A DIAGNOSTIC. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.
NHTSA ODI #10234502
Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2008
Engine And Engine Cooling
THIS IS A GOVERNMENT OWNED FLEET VEHICLE (THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT). THIS VEHICLE HAS STALLED FIVE (5) TIMES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD OF POMPANO BEACH DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10218038
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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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 SITUATION AND COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY OR EVEN WORSE. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10174464
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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