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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

11 reports

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54,021 miles · Sep 3, 2013

Service BrakesService Brakes, Hydraulic

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WITHOUT WARNING, THERE WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULTY IN STOPPING THE VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ABLE TO LIMP HOME WHERE, SUSPECTING A CALIPER OR WHEEL CYLINDER LEAK, NONE WAS FOUND. ON CLOSER INSPECTION, AN EXTREME LEAK OF BRAKE FLUID WAS OBSERVED COMING FROM THE METAL BRAKE LINES LEADING TO THE REAR BRAKES. THESE LINES WERE FOUND TO BE EXTREMELY CORRODED. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT IN MY 50 PLUS YEARS OF WORKING ON CARS I HAVE NEVER, EVER SEEN SUCH DAMAGE TO SUCH A KEY COMPONENT FOR A VEHICLE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10538452

Mileage unknown · May 3, 2012

Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

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LAST SUMMER, MY CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE AT STOP SIGNS/LIGHTS. I WOULD BE BRAKING AT A LIGHT AND THE ENGINE WOULD SUDDENLY START SURGING AND I WOULD HAVE TO HEAVILY HOLD MY BRAKES TO KEEP FROM ACCELERATING INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME OR PEOPLE WALKING ACROSS THE STREET. WHEN I WAS DRIVING, MY SPEED WOULD SOMETIMES ACCELERATE AND I WOULD NOT BE PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. THESE PROBLEMS WOULD ONLY HAPPEN EVERY ONCE AND AWHILE SO I DID NOT TAKE MY CAR IN FOR TWO MONTHS. I ALSO NOTICED THAT MY CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT WORK. THE LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHEN I TURNED IT ON, BUT MY CAR WOULD NOT STAY AT THE SPEED I SELECTED. IT WOULD JUST DECELERATE IN CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, THEY INFORMED ME THAT I HAD A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL CABLE THAT WAS NOT FITTING PROPERLY ON MY CAR. IT WOULD CATCH ON THE THROTTLE LEVER CAUSING MY CAR TO SURGE. I HAD TO PAY $293.92 TO HAVE THIS FIXED, WHEN IT SEEMED LIKE A FAULTY SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD HAVE RECALLED/PAID FOR! MY FRIEND RECENTLY SENT ME THIS ARTICLE: HTTP://BOTTOMLINE.MSNBC.MSN.COM/_NEWS/2012/03/12/10657814-FORD-PROBE-WIDENS-COULD-COVER-19-MILLION-CARS IT SEEMS OTHER PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND THIS ITEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED/RECALLED. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY NEARLY $300 FOR A FAULTY PART! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10457370

178,000 miles · Apr 30, 2012

Power TrainService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND TO THE BRAKES BEING ENGAGED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO FINALLY STOP THE VEHICLE AFTER REPEATED PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN SHUT OFF. UPON RESTART, THE CONTACT WAS ABLE DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 178,000. ... UPDATED 08/15/12 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN AFTER THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR VEHICLE. UPDATED 08/16/2012 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10456857

68,000 miles · Mar 13, 2012

Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

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I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 80MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ON WHEN I DECIDED TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY TO GO TO A GAS STATION. AT THE TIME THE LIGHT WAS GREEN SO I MAINTAINED SPEED BUT SLOWED GRADUALLY. THE LIGHT TURNED YELLOW AND I TRIED TO SPEED UP A LITTLE BIT. THE LIGHT QUICKLY TURNED RED. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES HARD AS I POSSIBLY COULD BUT THE VEHICLE DIDN'T SEEM TO SLOW AND THE ENGINE RPM REMAINED STEADY. I MANAGED TO SLOW THE VEHICLE TO AROUND 35MPH BEFORE HAVING TO TAKE AN EVASIVE MANEUVER INTO A BUSY INTERSECTION THROUGH A RED LIGHT. I STRUCK ONE CAR AND IT SPUN ME AROUND HITTING ANOTHER CAR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10451359

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

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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

55,000 miles · Sep 21, 2009

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

I HEARD SOUNDS LIKE MY BRAKES WERE SCRAPING, SO I THOUGHT MAYBE I NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS. UPON TAKING THE WHEEL OFF, I DISCOVERED THE BRAKE HOUSING WAS BROKEN. A PART OF THE CASTING WAS MISSING, APPARENTLY BROKEN OFF. THE LOWER PIN THAT ALLOWS THE PADS TO SLIDE WAS STUCK. THE HOUSING IS SLIGHTLY BENT NOT ALLOWING THE PIN TO S…

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NHTSA ODI #10284765

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

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

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

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