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.
While driving, driver removed feet from gas pedal, engine started running at a full throttle, causing sudden acceleration at a high speed, vehicle turned at a 360 degree angle. Vehicle stopped when it hit a wall.
The cruse dosent hold when going down hill if sat a 60, it will increase to 75 or more.also there is a grinding noise that is coming from the front of car the faster and in incline it gets very very loud. And the steering wheel vibrates a lot.also Ford has grinded down the hubs three times since I bought the car and the brakes are going bad again.
Unintended acceleration, revving with high idle while parked. Owner has rear ended another vehicle due to the unwanted acceleration kicking in when braking. Owner has had a total of 3 occurrences; August 13th/ 15th and 22nd of 2002.
While pressing the cruise-control "on" button, the vehicle immediately lost forward drive power and went into neutral. The speedometer also registered "zero mph" eventhough I was proceeding with forward motion. After I safely guided the vehicle out of traffic flow I tried to re-engage the transmission but could not. I pressed the cruise control "off" button and then tried to reengage the transmission into drive at which time it did engage. The transmission at that point engaged but did not perform in a normal or safe pattern! if this situation occured in a more dynamic traffic area I am afraid of what the possibility for an accident could have been. I took the vehicle to a dealer and was told that the problem was a (vss) vehicle speed sensor. Due to the low mileage on the vehicle I am concerned about this condition. When it occurs, driveability is seriously impaired! thank you for your attention to this matter.
While in motion, consumer applied brakes to stop at an intersection, at the same time vehicle accelerated to full throttle causing a near collision. Manufacturer notified.
- Edison, NJ, USA
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Vehicle can be in drive and moving, or in park and sitting still, the engine will begin to hesitate after running for 10-15 minutes. The dashboard instruments get extremely hot, the lighting will dim on its own. All electronics (I.e. radio, air conditioning etc...) will fail. The car will then cut off without warning. Vehicle also lunges forward if in park or stopped while in drive, if it has been running for 10-15 minutes or more.
This vehicle was purchased with good brakes, with approximately 30000 miles we have replaced pads 4 times, and also have replaced the calipers & rotors, and now the speed sensor. Is this an ongoing problem with this vehicle? the unit is smoking when driven.
This is to register the engine R.P.M. surging that occurs when the Ford Taurus is placed in park following road use. This has been reported by other Taurus owners and their comments are consistent with my experiences of the engine racing to 3,000 R.P.M. or higher. If the transmission is shifted to reverse or drive without the brake firmly applied, certainly what would be unattended acceleration will occur with life threatening consequences. I've been to my Ford dealer (marshall Ford, Inc. Of union, ms). They have attempted to diagnose and correct this problem. I believe they have tried their best to act in good faith. However, my communications with Ford Motor Co. Regarding this serious problem have not been satisfactory. They have denied any existence of this malfunction. The number of Taurus owners with identical engine R.P.M. acceleration complaints on your website reflect a much different story. Can you investigate this problem and consult with Ford Motor Company concerning the engine R.P.M. surging as described, which is potentially very dangerous.
Recently purchased this 1998 fleet vehicle with 70,700 miles. Twice in the past week, approximately 75 miles driven vehicle has lunged forward during a stop. Both times it was caused by the engine failing to reduce rpms during deceleration. Again, in both cases I was traveling at approximately 40 miles per hour just prior to approaching the stop signs. I was able to stop the car by applying significant pressure to brake, and engine returned to normal. I came to this website to see if there were any recalls or similar reported problems with this model and found what may be a related problem with certain cars not reducing RPM during deceleration at highway speeds. My car does this also. That was the first difference I noticed between this vehicle and the 1999 Ford Taurus I used to drive as my fleet car. Because the problem is only random, I was reluctant to take the car to a dealer for investigation as they would probably not be able to actually observe the problem. What should I have them check?
Cruise control will not shut off when brake is applied, and brake lights do not shine at same time. It has been repaired, but consumer wanted to report it.
Cruise control failed to hold while descending a hill. If control set to 55, unless you apply the brake you can be doing 75-85 mph at the bottom of the hill. Dealer says condition normal and that it is impossible to design a system that will hold speed on an incline, despite personal experience in previous vehicles to the contrary.
With in last month when the car was in park or neutral engine would run up to about 3000rpms. Only way to stop it was to turn it off with the key. It has not done this in gear.
While driving vehicle speeds up and cannot slow down when pressing down on brakes. This may cause a crash. Took vehicle to dealer, but dealer could not determine cause. The left front drive wheel makes roaring noise. The vehicle also trys to pull off when braking to stop. The dealer neither can fix it nor take the vehicle back.
I was at a stop when the engine lunged ahead and died, at the time I had my foot on the brake. It repeated this 3 other times. The repiring dealer said the ground cable for the PCM was lose causing the engine to lose control. The lunging was quite violent.
Car has no engine braking on coast down. In fact throttle seems to open when coasting down a grade. This requires braking to prevent runaway. Believe this has resulted in premature brake wear and warped rotors. The last car I owned that had this problem was a 1972 nova, which opened the throttle to prevent NO2 emissions. I thought we had progress. Ford needs a better way to control emissions.
While driving 45mph took foot off accelerator and vehicle increased speed & maintained that speed. Cruise control not on. Vehicle failed to slow down with braking & rpms had came down without braking. Will be taking to dealer for a check. Vehicle takes off by itself and can be slowed only by braking.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Whippany, NJ, USA