Four problems related to cruise control have been reported for the 1996 Ford Taurus. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Idle air control or auxiliaryair control is used to control rpms or to adjust for a varity of load introduced for air conditions ,electrical charging and numerous other auto goodies. The idle speed control failed and kept the engine running when NY wife went to stop the car kept pushing and making it difficult to stop. I reached from the passenger side of the car and put the car in neutral . This action permitted her to stop the car ,but with high rpms on the tachometer. God only knowns if I had not been there she may have been in a serious accident.
Vehicle will not decelerate and rpm stays at 2100 when attempting to stop. The idle control valve sticks and maintains highs speed rpm.
Cruise control problem, causes vehicle's speed to increase upon traveling downhill.
Cruise control not designed to slow vehicle down on down slopes.