The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has started an investigation into 1.9 million Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable sedans over a concern that the vehicles may be exhibiting similar unintended acceleration issues similar to those that plagued Toyota Motor Co over the past few years.
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The NHTSA investigation in the reports that the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable sedans may be accelerating on their one is focusing specifically on models from the 2001 through 2006 model years. When the investigation was opened, it related to around 360,000 2005 and 2006 Ford Taurus models, but the NHTSA expanded their investigation to include the Mercury Sable from those same model years along with adding 2001 through 2004 models from both closely related Ford Motor Company sedans – increasing the total scope of coverage to roughly 1,900,000 vehicles.
This investigation has been opened after the NHTSA received 14 complaints of these 2001-2006 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable sedans accelerating on their own, but the exact breakdown by model and model year has not been released. Luckily, there have been no reports of accidents or injuries stemming from Ford’s alleged unintended acceleration problems, but there have been reports where drivers were unable to avoid going through red lights before getting the car to come to a stop. One report indicated that the vehicle would not stop simply by pressing the brakes and after running a red light and swerving around several vehicles, the driver was smart enough to shut the car off to get it to stop speeding up.
The NHTSA investigation will work to determine if there is a faulty component causing these 1.9 million Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable sedans to accelerate on their own. If the NHTSA finds that there is a specific component causing the problem, the NHTSA will check to see what vehicles in that 2001-2006 range have the component(s) and if it indeed affects both the Taurus and the Sable. However, considering that the two cars are nearly identical – we would expect that any mechanical, electrical or engineering recall causing unintended acceleration would affect both Ford Motor Company sedans. Should the Feds find an issue with the cruise control system, the Motor Company could be forced to recall almost 2 million vehicles.
This NHTSA investigation of the 2001-2006 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable is similar in nature to the one that eventually forced Toyota Motor Co to recall over 14 million vehicles around the world. However, where the Toyota unintended acceleration issues and investigation around those problems focused on the accelerator pedal assembly, the electric throttle system and floor mats stuck under the gas pedal – this Ford investigation is initially focusing on Ford’s cruise control system. Reports indicate that cruise control cable can detach and hold the throttle wide open according to the NHTSA.
Luckily for Ford Motor Company, the NHTSA has gotten ahold of this problem before it has caused any deaths – as the unintended acceleration issues, the intra-company memos about the issue, at least 50 deaths and “ripple effect” stemming from those recalls continue to plague the Japanese automaker.
David Pierce, a spokesman from Ford Motor Company stated that "(The NHTSA) is asking for information like they have done in the past with other vehicles, and we will be working with them throughout the investigation. Ford received a request for data from NHTSA on Monday and it is just starting to look into how many complaints have been made to company dealers.”
Owners of the 2001-2006 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable sedans can call Ford Motor Company for more information on this issue at 1-866-436-7332.
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As I recall, the entire
As I recall, the entire "investigation" into Toyota came to nothing. So, did Ford just forget to pay off the right people in NHTSA like Toyota did and this is their come-uppance? :/
This was happening to me last
This was happening to me last year with my 2005 Taurus. I called Ford and they basically told me that I was crazy and for me to keep driving it. After attempting to take the car to the dealer and having it accelerate on me again during rush hour in DC traffic, forcing me to get a tow truck, I decided to never drive it again. I've been afraid to sell it too because I don't want to have anyone else drive the machine of death. So, I'm out thousands for buying a defective car and now I'm out the resale value of it to.
I'm not the only one that's had this issue, all you have to do is google sudden acceleration and Taurus and you'll see thousands of complaints, almost all of which have been called into Ford. In some cases you see people pleading for more information after their loved ones have died due to this defect.
Ford knew about this and didn't do anything until the Federal Government got involved, and that is grounds for serious lawsuits. I also wonder how much is a life worth to Ford? I bring that up because I myself asked the gal on Ford's complaint line how many people had to die before this issue was resolved, and her response was: "Sir, the statisticians decide that."
Makes me sick.
I understand your concern.
I understand your concern. This happened to me a while back (probably a good bit before the time this thread started) and it was definitely scary, but I did notice the cruise control cable had popped off the throttle and wasn't moving with it. This seemed to cause it and I promptly pulled a good old black zip tie out and secured it back to the assembly. This "fixed" the problem and I've been driving it ever since without a problem.
It looks like the problem is a plastic tip on the end of the cable gets worn down and doesn't remain secured in the assembly any longer. As I said, a nylon zip tie wasn't exactly the most high-tech solution but even my mechanic (and a Ford technician at the Dealer on one visit for another service) said it wasn't bad and would likely hold up longer than the original configuration.
This is my third Taurus (all with 3.0L Vulcan engines) and it hasn't really dissuaded me from driving the car or losing faith in the Ford brand. I still drive it every day; a 72 mi. round trip to work and back.
I hope you got your issue resolved.
This was happening to me last
This was happening to me last year with my 2005 Taurus. I called Ford and they basically told me that I was crazy and for me to keep driving it. After attempting to take the car to the dealer and having it accelerate on me again during rush hour in DC traffic, forcing me to get a tow truck, I decided to never drive it again. I've been afraid to sell it too because I don't want to have anyone else drive the machine of death. So, I'm out thousands for buying a defective car and now I'm out the resale value of it to.
I'm not the only one that's had this issue, all you have to do is google sudden acceleration and Taurus and you'll see thousands of complaints, almost all of which have been called into Ford. In some cases you see people pleading for more information after their loved ones have died due to this defect.
Ford knew about this and didn't do anything until the Federal Government got involved, and that is grounds for serious lawsuits. I also wonder how much is a life worth to Ford? I bring that up because I myself asked the gal on Ford's complaint line how many people had to die before this issue was resolved, and her response was: "Sir, the statisticians decide that."
Makes me sick.
I have a 2006 Taurus that
I have a 2006 Taurus that kept accelerating after letting up on the gas. It was hard to stop while pressing on the brake. Fortunately my daughter who was driving thought to put it in neutral so she would stop. I found the problem to be in the cruise control linkage. I "fixed" it with duct tape and it has help over a year now. Wish Ford would fix it for good.
I have a 2001 Mercury Sable
I have a 2001 Mercury Sable that i just got few months ago and mine is doing this to. When i take it out of park and put in gear i dont have to give it gas sometimes, it goes on its own. I got up to 25mph before the accelerator stop going on its own. It idles below 1 so i know its not the idle that made it do that. It has been doing this for the past month. Going down the higway if you take your foot of the gas better put the break on cause taking foot of gas wont do anything, it acts like never took foot off gas.
I had a 1999 ford Taurus.
I had a 1999 ford Taurus. When I push on the brakes to slow down for a red light my car suddenly accelerated. I ended up hitting a car. The car traveled further and I eventually hit a tree and the car flipped on the drivers side. It took thirty minutes to cut me out. I did sustain injuries. This accident happened 08-20-2017
Incident of unintended
Incident of unintended acceleration last Wednesday in Hendersonville, NC on 64 just before 4 seasons shopping plaza. I managed to stop it when i hot into mall and get it into neutral. It was the cable someone else spoke about, the cruise control cable. It was doing 60 on its own. Terrible. Got it towed to Ashville but they could not get part. Got it towed back to SC. 2nd time i have been in an unintended acceleration.... firstvtime was 6 years ago in my Ford Focus.