Problems · by component
2006 Ford Taurus vehicle speed control problems
176 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2006 Ford Taurus cite vehicle speed control, 55% of all 318 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
176
55% of all complaints
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
What owners say about the vehicle speed control
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“Throttle stuck and vehicle accelerated out of control. Had to brake hard and turn off engine to prevent crash. Speed Control Cable disconnected from cruise control. It has been repaired since the incident. Yes, was reproduced by the tow truck driver as well as at a service center. No warnings, only high engine revving noise as it happened, high RPMs and high speed noticeable on dashboard as my car's acceleration stuck. Case #FCAS37586176 reported to Ford company.”
“The contact owns a 2006 Ford Taurus. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle failed to slow down as needed while depressing the brake to make a left turn. The contact stopped the vehicle and shifted the gear shifter to park; however, while parked the RPM rose to 5,000 RPM. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 169,530.”
“Car engine accelerate on own. Tac meter shows over 3,000 RPM when I put it in neutral. I have to tap the accelerator and it goes back to normal. This happens about once a week now. I was slowing down for a stoplight and it happened. Brakes were not enough. Almost hit a car. Only by throwing into neutral allowed me to gain control and stop. My mechanic couldn’t find anything. I cannot allow anyone else to drive this as I am the only one familiar to handle it. I’ll probably sell it on a trade. I’ve read dozens of reports of this but no recall. I am surprised. If I get into an accident I have a lawyer handle it Here are others https://www.carproblemzoo.com/ford/taurus/cruise-control-problems.php”
“THE THROTTLE STICKS OPEN AND THE ENGINE REVS HIGH MAKING IT HARD TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP. THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE IS HOLDING THE THROTTLE OPEN BECAUSE OF A FAULTY ATTACHMENT TO THE THROTTLE CONTROL. THIS IS A KNOWN AND WIDE PROBLEM. PEOPLE ARE BANDAGING THE PROBLEM WITH BACK YARD FIXES THAT CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS. NOT FIRST TIME.”
“VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN WITHOUT TOUCHING GAS IT INCREASES TO 40-60 MPH HIGH RPM IN NEUTRAL OR PARK WHILE DRIVING IT INCREASES SPEED ON ITS OWN. NEARLY REAR ENDED ANOTHER CAR AT LIGHT TODAY AS I TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE IT JUMPED TO 20 MPH CAR HAS 68,000 MILES WELL MAINTAINED”
“I WAS DRIVING ON A 2-LANE HIGHWAY WITH A RELATIVELY STEEP DOWNHILL GRADE. I NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS ACCELERATING EVEN THOUGH I WAS NOT PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR. I THOUGHT AT FIRST THAT IT WAS JUST ACCELERATION DUE TO GRAVITY, BUT I QUICKLY REALIZED THAT THE THROTTLE MUST BE OPEN SINCE I WAS QUICKLY ACCELERATING TO SPEEDS ABOVE 65MPH, AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT AS EFFECTIVE AS THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN IF THE ACCELERATION WERE DUE ONLY TO THE HILL. I SAW A PLACE UP AHEAD TO PULL OVER, BUT I HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD IN ORDER TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK VERY QUICKLY AND TURNED IT OFF SINCE THE ENGINE WAS RACING. THERE WAS A GREAT DEAL OF SMOKE COMING FROM MY FRONT BRAKES, WHICH WAS VERY DISCONCERTING. I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HAD COME UNFASTENED AND HAD CAUSED THE THROTTLE TO STICK OPEN. THIS SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS AND I FEEL FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.”
Showing 6 of 176 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.