This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The contact owns 2005 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that upon starting the engine, there was an excessive increase in the engine rpms. The contact shut the engine off to stop the failure. The contact also stated that while driving 55 mph, there was sudden accelaration. The contact depressed the brake pedal and shifted into neutral to slow the vehicle down. The dealer was not notified. The manuafacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 120,000 and the current mileage was 120,683.
While driving approximately 45 mph and slowing down due to traffic, the engine started revving at 3,000 RPM's. I pulled over in the nearest parking lot and while the car was in park, the engine was still revving at 3,000 rpms. I turned the car off, waited about 15 minutes and started it up again but nothing changed. This is the second time this has happened in a period of about a month. It feels like the gas pedal is stuck down but it isn't. I did manage to drive the car back to work but it never fell below 3,000 rpms and felt like it was jerking forward and trying to go faster. When I left work about 3 hours later the car was ok and driving home it was ok also. The first time this happened I took it back to the dealer but it didn't happen so they said nothing was wrong and didn't fix anything. There seems to be alot of complaints on this issue - how many more does there need to reported before Ford will step up and realize there is a problem with this car and issue a recall and have it corrected before someone is seriously injured or even killed!
Absolutely frightening! this afternoon a passenger and I pulled out onto the main thoroughfare when my car (2005 Taurus) independently accelerated and began running/spinning at a high RPM. The experience was not unlike a self propelled vacuum where you let go and it wants to run off by itself - only this is far more dangerous having been in traffic with precious lives at stake. It was not wanting me to brake either. Thankfully, I was able to pull off into a gravel lot. I turned the car off for a few minutes then started it again only that time it was running at rocket speed. Needless to say it was unsafe to drive at that point so I had it towed to the local Ford dealer. They just called to say it was the "speed control cable" that appeared to disengage and do something with the throttle. Clearly this is a problem with the make and model of car based on the cumulative posts I am seeing. Ford needs to step up or the ntsb needs to step in.
Car was accelerating while in park. When moved to the drive gear it would accelerate really fast without me even pressing on the gas. As I attempted to press my brakes my car was up to 45mph without me pressing the gas.
- Louisville, KY, USA
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The contact owns a 2005 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while accelerating between second and third gears, the accelerator pedal would become stuck, causing the vehicle to accelerate abnormally. The contact stated he had to tap the accelerator pedal in order for it to release. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer and manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 77000.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the vehicle unexpectedly surged forward while driving at various speeds. The failure recurred intermittently. The contact was able to successfully stop the vehicle after applying the brakes. The contact also smelled a burning odor during some of the failures. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 96,000.
I was driving my car when the pedal suddenly stuck. I tried to stop the car but it was difficult, so I shifted into neutral. My throttle was stuck open at 4,000 rpms. I managed to get the car to idle normal after slamming on the gas pedal repeatedly. I assumed the throttle body was the cause of my problems, so I had my mechanic clean it out for me, but the problem is still there. It happens randomly, and the only way I have found stops the issue is shifting to neutral and slamming on the gas pedal. I have also noticed it acts up more when it is hot outside.
The contact owns a 2005 Ford Taurus. While driving approximately 25 mph in rainy weather, the vehicle suddenly accelerated abnormally, causing the contact to loose control of the vehicle and crash into a fence. The vehicle was towed to an auto shop for repair to the body. The mechanic disabled the cruise control to minimize any future failures with abnormal acceleration. There was an investigation open under NHTSA action number: PE12005 (vehicle speed control:cables) that could possibly have been related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.
While driving the car begins to accelerate on its own. When I press on the brakes it will slow down, however as soon as I left off the brakes the car rapidly speeds up and continues to go faster. I had to put the car into neutral and apply the brakes. When I placed the car into neutral the RPM's were at the highest level. It is as if the throttle is set to the floor and driving itself. It has done it everyday since the first incident on 5.31.12. It even does it at speeds of 35mph now as well. If I mash the gas pedal to the floor sometimes it will stop otherwise I have to place the car into neutral and shut it off.
I was on I 17 North to flagstaff AZ, when the speed control all the sudden began to climb 65, 70, 75 almost 80 mph I tried braking. I had to take out of gear and coast to a er lane before I could shut off the car. Very scary luckily I was heading North not South heading South is mostly downhill I probably would be writing this. Please look into this problem.
On 5/24/2012, I was driving in my neighborhood at about 45 mph when all of a sudden the rpms spiked to about 4000 and the car would not slow down from 45 mph even with my foot off the accelerator. I was able to turn down a side street and stop. My brakes did work. I had the car towed to my dealer. The dealer replaced the throttle body and speed control cable and said they had worn causing cable to come loose and jam throttle body.
This is the 3rd time this has happened to me- and each experience is as frightening as the last. I was driving approximately 15 miles an hour and the engine revved and the car sped up without my pressing the gas- I did not have my foot on the gas pedal. I reached the light, put the car in park, at which time the engine accelerated higher and higher. I turned the car off and when I turned it back on the engine continued to rev higher and higher. After turning it off again, I decided it would be ok to make it through the intersection, at which point the car sped up to 45 mph without my pressing the gas at all- in fact, I had to press the brake pedal several times to try and slow down and avoid hitting another vehicle in front of me. I finally had to pull over and turn the car off for several minutes before turning it back on- and then it was fine. It is terrifying to feel such loss of control and feel like I could not slow down. Please recall this issue- it is a danger to anyone on the road.
Ford Taurus 2005 has been auto-accelerating, random but frequent enough to be a concern. The worst case involved an approach to a red traffic light and the brakes had to be forced and the auto placed in neutral, where RPM was over 3000 on its own. The car restarted at the traffic light, temporarily at idle RPM, but similar issue at the next traffic light 0.5 miles away. Shut the car down again and restarted. Drove it home without incident. Next day, no abnormal behavior. Prior to this most serious issue, the car has occasionally stayed at speed on the highway or accelerated on its own without the gas pedal pressed and no cruise control engaged. Car taken to the dealer for review but they stated they could not reproduce. Suggested new parts address car idling as a potential solution but could not guarantee resolution.
When I let my foot off the gas pedal the engine continues to accelerate. I thought it was the floor mat catching on the gas pedal. On Saturday May 12 I was coming up my street at about 25 mph and the car wouldn't stop and I came zooming into my driveway. I slammed on the brakes and put the car into neutral and the engine was racing then I turned off the key. When I restarted the engine the problem was gone. I checked the floor mat but I found no problem with the mat. This is the first time I was sure the floor mat was not the problem. Last week May 24 2012 my wife used the car and said she had the same problem and it wasn't the floor mat. Yesterday May 28, 2012 as I approached a busy intersection with a stop sign I let my foot off the gas pedal and the car continued to accelerate into the intersection. By the time I could react I was in the middle of the intersection. I just barely avoided a collision with possible personal injury. This was the last straw with this dangerous problem, so I put the car in my garage and took the cover off the accelerator control leaver. I found the problem quickly. The cause of this unintended acceleration is the cruise control cable has become disconnected from the throttle leaver and is catching on the throttle leaver, so the lever can't return. I tried to reconnect this cable but the plastic retainer on this cheap cable has become defective and will not reconnect. I have now tied the cable back so it can not interfere with the throttle lever. I have contacted Ford about this problem and issued a complaint. There are no recalls regarding this issue. This problem is a serious safety issue and beyond the scope of vehicle maintenance. This issue could cause a fatal accident to an unsuspecting driver. I have documented this issue with photographs. Please contact me for a copy of the photo.
My throttle has begun sticking on a regular basis, and this started at the same time my cruise control stopped working. While driving at any speed, my accelerator will increase on its own until I lightly tap the gas pedal a couple of times. This also happened several months ago (July 2011), but I had a rear-end collision (not due to this problem) that caused extensive damage to the front end. After the garage repaired my car, both throttle and cruise control were working fine for the next nine months, but now the problem has started again. A local garage has said they can find no cause.
Throttle stuck while running @ highway speeds. While slowing, became difficult to stop. Required putting the trans into N then turning off the engine. Seems to reset after restarting. Upon inspection of the throttle, the cruise control cable had become detached. Unsure of next action to take.
After accelerating while driving on the expressway, my vehicle has been stuck in the acceleration status. This has happened multiple times since January and the mechanic has no answer. Thought it might be a loose cruise control cable that he adjusted but this only worked for two months. Today I had the same experience. Took it to Ford they say there are no recalls but just today I had to put two feet on the brakes at the light in order to stop the car and after I kicked the gas pedal abruptly the engine slowed down and so did the rpms.
Driving on interstate and gas pedal got stuck at 70 mph, I tried turning off the cruise control (which I didn't have on), tried braking and slowed to 60 mph when I let off the brake it accelerated on its own back to 70 mph finally had to put car in neutral and turn off ignition and coast to a stop. Also since then sometimes when I start the car in the morn it will rev to 3000 RPM and stay they until U turn off the car. Cruise control quit working the day before the gas pedal stuck on the interstate.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Weeki Wachee, FL, USA