Problems · by component

2008 Ford Taurus X vehicle speed control problems

26 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Ford Taurus X cite vehicle speed control, 17% of all 153 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
26
17% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the vehicle speed control

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I bought this vehicle used from a lot. It had 2 previous owners and came with all the service history. I first noticed the vehicle seemed like it didn’t want to go into overdrive . It would get to about 70 mph which would have the rpm’s at 3k! The 2nd time or so that we got it to these speeds (on interstate) the vehicle suddenly clunked , steering wheel jerked , vehicle lost power - I had my 2 children in the vehicle and I was pregnant. We had to pull over immediately . After sitting side the road for a few , it crunk up and we rode out . Only for it to happen 2 more times. And this is not the only thing effected by this . Not long after I got it , I started noticing a hard shift / clunk / slam when going into gear and especially when the vehicle has just tried to downshift and I pressed the gas again . Due to this , I’m unable to tell when and if we can pull out into traffic and such. I must time it good in order to not risk getting T boned etc. Also, with 3 kids in tow , a vehicle slamming their necks and heads is dangerous and scary. So , I’ve had some work done on . Trying to help my issue. Apparently my issue is the same as a lot of others . Which is an…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 20, 2021Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlODI 11437440
“WHEN VEHICLE GETS BETWEEN 40-45 MPH, WILL NOT GEAR UP PROPERLY AND WILL NOT RUN CORRECTLY. ONLY DOES THIS INTERMITTENTLY, AND YOU HAVE TO STOP THE CAR, UNHOOK BATTERY CABLE, GIVE IT A MINUTE, HOOK IT BACK UP AND IT WILL RUN FINE UNTIL THE NEXT TIME IT DOES IT- WHICH COULD BE DAYS, WEEKS, EVEN MONTHS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 18, 2019Power train, Vehicle speed controlODI 11180887
“WHEN PULLING UP TO A STOP SIGN AND APPLYING THE BRAKE, THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED INSTEAD OF STOPPING. THIS HAS HAPPENED 2 TIMES IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS. THE CAR WAS IN STRAIGHT FORWARD MOTION ON A STREET PULLING UP TO A STOP SIGN, THE BRAKE APPLIED, AND INSTEAD OF STOPPING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. WE WERE ABLE TO GO THROUGH THE STOP SIGN AND IMMEDIATELY TURN TO THE RIGHT AND AVOIDED ANY ACCIDENT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 30, 2019Vehicle speed controlODI 11173050
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 FORD TAURUS X. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLING AT A RED LIGHT, IT INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT PLACED THE GEAR SHIFTER IN NEUTRAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT NO DIAGNOSTIC FAILURE CODES WERE FOUND AND THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FORD LINCOLN OF COOKEVILLE (1600 INTERSTATE DR., COOKEVILLE, TN 38501, (931) 284-4509), BUT NO DIAGNOSTIC FAILURE CODES WERE FOUND. THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED, BUT THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 8, 2018Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 11078209
“THE FORD TAURUS X HAS 57,945 MILES ON IT. TWO TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY THE DASH SHOWED ALL ZEROS AND THE CAR LOST POWER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CAR EXHIBITED SLOW ACCELERATION AND UNUSUAL SHIFTING. I TOOK IT AND HAD THE OBD CODE READ. THE CODE INDICATED THAT IT WAS A SPEED SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION (P720). THE CODE WAS RESET AND THE CAR IS CURRENTLY BEING DRIVEN. IT HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN A TWO-WEEK PERIOD. I OWN TWO 2008 FORD TAURUS AND IT HAPPENED ON THE SAME DAY TO BOTH OF THEM. I WILL BE FILING INCIDENT INFORMATION ON THE OTHER VEHICLE TOO.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 4, 2017Power train, Vehicle speed control, EngineODI 11031822
“WHILE AT A STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT WITHMY FOOT ON THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN THROWN INTO TRAFFIC DUE TO THE INDEPENDENT ACCELERATED. AFTER THIS HAPPENING SEVRAL TIMES AND PHONE CALLS TO THE DEALER AND THEN TAKING THE CAR INTO THE DEALER.THE FORD DEALER STATED THEY HAVE SEEN THIS ALOT AND THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE THRODDEL BODY. HOWEVER, I HAD TO STILL PAY $700.00 TO HAVE THEIR KNOWN PROBLEM FIXED. CAR MILEAGE 113,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 25, 2016Power train, Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10888212

Showing 6 of 26 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2008 Taurus X problem areas