Ford Taurus Vehicle Speed Control Problems
Owners have filed 1,800 complaints with NHTSA about vehicle speed control problems on the Ford Taurus across 22 model years. The 2005 model year has the most (529). The words owners use most often: “cruise control” (27% of reports).
- 1,800vehicle speed control complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 184mention a crash
- 85mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $360typical repair cost reported by owners
- 31%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Cruise control: mentioned in 489 of 1,800 complaints (27%)
- Put neutral: mentioned in 120 of 1,800 complaints (7%)
- Foot off: mentioned in 111 of 1,800 complaints (6%)
- Suddenly accelerated: mentioned in 103 of 1,800 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical vehicle speed control repair on the Ford Taurus at $360, and half of them between $210 and $580.
Based on 14 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2003–2014), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do vehicle speed control problems happen?
Based on 1,235 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,800 complaints, 184 mention a crash, 13 a fire, 85 an injury.
Ford Taurus vehicle speed control complaints by model year
| Model year | Vehicle Speed Control complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Taurus | 1 | 2% | 25,800 |
| 2015 Taurus | 10 | 4% | 12,630 |
| 2014 Taurus | 8 | 3% | 35,100 |
| 2013 Taurus | 18 | 3% | 62,214 |
| 2012 Taurus | 4 | 5% | 50,000 |
| 2011 Taurus | 14 | 7% | 15,600 |
| 2010 Taurus | 24 | 12% | 26,500 |
| 2009 Taurus | 10 | 16% | 80,500 |
| 2008 Taurus | 32 | 18% | 58,000 |
| 2007 Taurus | 55 | 37% | 98,784 |
| 2006 Taurus | 176 | 55% | 91,000 |
| 2005 Taurus | 529 | 68% | 94,197 |
| 2004 Taurus | 164 | 44% | 100,000 |
| 2003 Taurus | 88 | 7% | 103,716 |
| 2002 Taurus | 76 | 5% | 103,000 |
| 2001 Taurus | 99 | 10% | 120,000 |
| 2000 Taurus | 87 | 7% | 100,000 |
| 1999 Taurus | 109 | 12% | 59,000 |
| 1998 Taurus | 111 | 20% | 90,000 |
| 1997 Taurus | 58 | 8% | 96,200 |
| 1996 Taurus | 42 | 5% | 99,181 |
| 1995 Taurus | 85 | 7% | 71,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Vehicle speed control
Model years: 1999
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A dash insulator retainer clip was not fully assembled to the accelerator cable dash fitting. The clip can disengage from the accelerator cable and fall into the accelerator pedal arm pivot area.
Risk: If this condition occurs, the engine may not fully return to idle. Also, the insulator may not stay in the intended location and could interfere with the accelerator cable.
Fix: Dealers will inspect these vehicles to ensure proper installation of the accelerator cable clip, and re-install if needed.
Vehicle speed control
Model years: 1995
Problem: Vehicle description: vehicles equipped with 3.8l engines and originally sold or currently registered in the following states: alaska, colorado, iowa, idaho, illinois, indiana, kansas, massachusetts, maine, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, north dakota, nebraska, new hampshire, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, south dakota, vermont, wisconsin, and wyoming. Water can accumulate within the speed control cable conduit. If enough water accumulates, it could freeze within a low area of the cable routing when exposed to a long term cold soak at temperatures at least several degrees below freezing.
Risk: Driver control of vehicle speed using the speed control system or the accelerator control system would be diminished increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will add a boot to the speed control cable.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Unknown
Unknown
The contact owns a 2008 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the front driver's side seat belt had failed to unbuckle and was previously repaired. Additionally, the contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously rear-ended on…
Unknown. Car was going 100 mph. Driver, my son , was killed in this car accident. This year make AND model is known for throttle acceleration issues with brake afail override non existent until later models. Case number [XXX] sterling heights police department INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE…
Driving down CR 230 in Wyoming, the situation started if I have to estimate, 7 miles west of Woods Landing, I heard a metal on metal grinding noise from the engine bay, and a loss of power on the throttle. I look at my RPM gauge and notice it is a zero. No check engine light, all electronics…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Tauruss have vehicle speed control problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,800 owner complaints about vehicle speed control for the Ford Taurus. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Taurus vehicle speed control?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list vehicle speed control. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix vehicle speed control problems on the Ford Taurus?
Owners report a typical cost of $360 (half paid between $210 and $580), from 14 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about vehicle speed control problems on the Ford Taurus?
The most frequent phrase is “cruise control”, in 489 of 1,800 complaints, followed by “put neutral” (120).
Other Ford Taurus problems
- Suspension problems (2,734)
- Power Train problems (1,895)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (1,312)
- Steering problems (995)
- Electrical System problems (888)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (683)
- Visibility problems (643)
- Air Bags problems (615)
See all Ford Taurus problems.