Speed Control Cable problems of the 2005 Ford Taurus - part 2

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Taurus. The contact stated the cruise control was not activated; while driving approximately 40 mph when the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated up to 70 mph with an intermittent illumination of the engine warning indicator. The brake pedal was depressed repeatedly before coming to a stop. A certified mechanic detached the cruise control cable; however, the unintended acceleration persisted. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where they were unable to duplicate the problem. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.

As I was driving down the road, I noticed that my 2005 Ford Taurus was accelerating, even though I wasn't actively pushing the accelerator and the cruise control wasn't on. I was forced to use the brakes to control the speed of the vehicle. I was able to maintain my speed at 30 mph, but could tell that I was fighting the car's need to accelerate. Thankfully, I was close enough to home and tried my best to make it there. I used the brake to get my car down to a safe enough speed to turn onto my street, at which point I heard a loud grinding sound. I tried shifting the car into neutral and the car went up to 4000 rpm. I then returned it back to drive and was forced to start circling my block. I called my father and he told me to turn my car off while still in drive. I did this and rolled to a stop in front of my house. While in park, I turned the car back on, and it immediately went up to 4000 rpm. I shut the car back off and repeated the test, with the same results. Upon inspection, we found that the cruise control cable had detached from the throttle cam and was blocking the throttle from returning to its correct position. We removed the cable from the area of the throttle and the engine returned to the normal idling range around 1000 rpm.

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Taurus. While driving at various speeds or while idling, the vehicle would rev and attempt to accelerate. The contact attempted to shift the vehicle into neutral position, but it continued to rev. The vehicle would only resume normal function after it was restarted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The technician diagnosed that the cruise control cable was loose and strapped up the cable so it would not loosen again. The failure continued to occur. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 60,000.

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving 40 mph, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. The contact quickly applied the brakes and stopped the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer for diagnostic testing, which determined that two metal brackets for the curse control were fractured. The dealer replaced the speed control cable. The failure mileage was 9,739.

Car began to accelerate on its own and would not slow down when foot was removed from gas. It responded to the brake, but then revved up to 3000 rpm on its own, with my foot off the gas pedal. It was hard to stop. This happened in speed ranges of 0-60 mph. After car sat for 8 hours, I turned the ignition on and it shot up to 3000 rpm. I shifted into gear and the car accelerated on its own, without my foot on the gas pedal. I called aaa and the tow truck driver found the plastic clips on the cruise control cable disconnected from the throttle. He reconnected the clips but they seemed to be too loose and easily came off again. The car was towed to a aaa car center, where the technician replaced the cruise control cable and idle air control valve. No issues since the repair.

While driving at a safe speed , was starting to slow down to make turn, engine accelerated on its own, lucky my husband was with me and told me to put in neutral and put foot on gas hard and short to stop the acceleration, which I did. This happened and I took the car to dealer to be repaired. May 7,2013. The dealer replaced the cruise control servo cable. All was working well until now as of August 2014, it is now accelerating on its own again. Why is this happening again as it was repaired a year ago?.

While driving my 2005 Ford Taurus, it began to accelerate independently of whether I was pressing the gas pedal. It began speeding from 25 up to 50 mph in a residential area. I was able to eventually stop the vehicle by pushing on the brakes very hard, but it continued to try to accelerate through the brakes. I pulled over and placed it in park and it continued to try to accelerate until I shut off the engine. I checked to make sure nothing was near the gas pedal and it was completely free and not depressed. I had the car towed to the dealer, where they found that the cable for throttle/speed control was loose, as something had become worn and allowed the cable to hold the throttle open. They replaced the cable and throttle, at a cost of $600. I see that there was an NHTSA investigation of 2005 Ford Tauruses in 2012 for this exact issue and that the investigation was closed without a recall. I strongly urge you to reopen the investigation or at least issue a warning and require Ford to pay for fixing this dangerous malfunction. Thank you.

When traveling from work today at lunch, I was traveling at approx. 35-40 mph. When I tried to slow the car down as I left parking area to the main road, the car suddenly started to excellerate. The car tried to advance and I had to stand on the brake hard and put the car into neutral. I stopped at nearby parking lot to check what was going on with th car. This same type of acceleration has happened to me once beford while I was driving the car locally near my home around the same speed. This is really frightening! talking to the mechanic he looked and again found that the cruise control cable had become detached at the throttle body just like before. This is the source of this type of issue. The plastic clip that is suppose to keep the cable attached comes loose from the cable. I checked the Ford website again and there is not a recall at this time, but there should be. When is Ford or the NHTSA going to take action on this before someone else is seruously hurt or killed. This needs to get fixed as there is a serious design flaw with the sysyem.

There now been 3 days where the car starts accelerating by its self. I took it to a mechanic but he could not find anything wrong after the first two incidents, now I have contacted Ford motor CO. About waiting a reply. I am worried about driving the car or letting my children drive this car, taking back to mechanic to check cruise control cable as this seems to be a major problem with these cars.

While driving at a speed of approximately 35 I lifted my foot from the accelerator to stop at a traffic light; however, the vehicle did not reduce it's speed and continued without my foot on the accelerator. I was able to stop the vehicle by applying excessive pressure to the brakes as the car continued to want to accelerate forward. After inspection of the car I discovered that the cruise control throttle cable had broken loose causing the throttle to stick.

First noticed that the cruise control was not working. Driving on interstate at 65 mph and the car suddenly started to accelerate. I took my foot off the accelerator and the car continued to accelerate. At approximately 80 mph I applied the brakes hard and slowed to about 60 mph. I took my foot off the brake and the car continued to accelerate. At approximately 80 mph, I shifted into neutral and the engine rpm stayed at 4000 rpm. I tapped the accelerator pedal a couple times and rpm returned to idle and vehicle operated normally. This type of sudden acceleration incident continued to happen on a sporadic basis. The acceleration incident felt very similar to actuating the cruise control accel or resume control. I suspected the issue was in the cruise control system. I disconnected and removed the cruise control cable and the incident has not happened since. The cruise control cable was properly connected before I removed to this is not the same as NHTSA investigation #pe12005. The cruise control cable was not detached and therefore not keeping the throttle from closing properly. My incidents occurred while traveling at a constant speed, the car would suddenly accelerate on it's own. I suspect there is a defect within the cruise control system and the engine is getting a signal to accelerate. Applying the brakes does not stop the acceleration. The only way to keep the car from accelerating is to shut off the engine or shift into neutral and tap on the accelerator pedal.

Accelerator stuck and my son and he barely got car stopped . Needed to shift in to neutral brakes barely stopped him. . Car continued to rev at 4500rpm. Took to dealer and found throttle body cam worn and speed control cable worn and keeping throttle open. Car was traveling at 65mph and was at the point son was scared greatly and thought he would either end up crashing in to a tree and nearby river.

Throttle will stick and car will continue as if on cruise control. It is a random event. So far, have had the throttle cable replaced, fuel pressure "thing", and had the throttle body cleaned, and throttle continues to randomly stick.

Throttle was sticking and accelerating by itself while driving. Then the engine would rev to about 4000rpm. I had to push down on the brakes with both feet to get it to stop. This happened numerous times over 2 days. If the gas pedal was wiggled this would stop it from revving. Took the car to a Ford dealership and the cruise control cable was broken, causing the throttle to bind.

Starting January 7, 2013 I noticed my gas pedal was stuck and the car suddenly starting to accelerate. I pushed in the gas pedal to unstick it. Later that day this same issue occurred again. I took my car to the Ford quick lane for them to figure out why my car suddenly started to accelerate without my control. They could not find anything wrong with my car or why this issue was happening. Throughout the week this issue continued and on Friday January 11, 2013 I dropped my car off for 2 days at the quick lane again. They could not get the car to suddenly accelerate. When I picked up my car on Saturday I was told that the cruise control cable was broken, but that cable shouldn't have any affect on the sudden acceleration of the car. So as of right now Tuesday January 15,2013 my car is still accelerating on its own and I have to put the car in neutral just to get the engine to quit accelerating.

This problem first appeared a bit over a year ago. Date above is not exact. After speaking with a mechanic, my husband disconnected the cruise control cable and the problem appeared to go away. I've never received any type of recall notice on the vehicle. Now I have approximately 137k miles on the vehicle. In November of 2013, the transmission died. This past Sunday, on the way home from church, the vehicle accelerated to 4500 rpm's while going approximately 30 miles an hour in a residential zone. It took 2 feet on the brakes, had to make a quick turn and put the vehicle in neutral. I cannot drive the vehicle. Please help us find a solution.

Cruise control cable on this vehicle popped off of the throttle body. I reconnected the cable but it popped off again. I secured the cable away from the throttle body to prevent the throttle from being jammed open. This defect needs to be addressed as a design flaw worthy of a manufacturer recall; failure of the cruise control assembly doesn't simply render the cruise control inoperative, but has the real potential for fatal accidents. As an interim measure the NHTSA should issue a bulletin warning owners of the potential for failure.

Vehicle speed did not reduce after removing foot from pedal. Applied brakes to slow vehicle, and then vehicle resumed acceleration when removed foot from brake. Was able to "unstick" throttle by repeatedly tapping accelerator pedal, and also pulling up on it with my foot from underneath. Used brakes to come to a stop. Mechanic found the cruise control cable had come unattached, possibly getting caught up in the throttle system. Cable was reattached. On 10/21/12 cruise control would not engage. 10 miles later vehicle would not DE-accelerate. Again pumped gas pedal while applying brake pedal. Vehicle resumed normal operation. Contacted Ford after seeing numerous online postings about this, and the NHTSA investigation (March 2012) and was told there is no recall or safety bulletin regarding the dangling cruise control cable getting stuck in the throttle body, but that I could get it repaired at my own expense.

Tl-the contact owns a 2005 Ford Taurus. While driving approximately 65 mph the vehicle accelerated on its own to approximately 70 mph. The contact applied the brake pedal and placed the vehicle in neutral and was able to stop on the shoulder of the road. The failure occurred approximately six different times. The engine revs up while parked. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. There was an investigation open under NHTSA action number: pe12005 (vehicle speed control:cables) that may be related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000. Da.

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning while. The contact drove the vehicle home with the brakes depressed. The contact inspected the vehicle and located the failure at the throttle cable, which was disconnected from the throttle plastic lever. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate current and failure mileage was 95,000.

I am not really sure when this started to happen, it has been a long time. I thought it was a problem with my gas pedal, have been taking it to mechanic to fix it, never helped. After reading the reports of the cruise control problems being experienced, I realize that what is being reported is exactly what I am experiencing. Today it happened when my 19 year old son was driving. He was on the freeway at 70 mph, and when he needed to exit, the vehicle would not slow down. The vehicle accelerates on it's own at times, and at other times the accelerator gets stuck as though the cruise is set, even when you have not set it. Thus you wish to slow down, and you are still stuck going 70 mph. I have been stuck in traffic jams and had it start to accelerate, and have to keep the brakes on to slow down. If you try to put it in neutral or park, the rpms race badly. I took it back to my mechanic to try to completely disconnect the cruise control last Friday (8-31-12) and it seemed to help for a few days, but now today when my son had the vehicle get stuck at 70, he looked and the cruise control cable had reconnected on it's own. We have now removed the plastic assembly cover to try and prevent this from recurring, after reading suggestions from others online who are also experiencing this problem. In reading other driver's descriptions online, I believe this problem is occurring to many other drivers of the 2005 Taurus. I have contacted Ford, their response was that I have to take it to the dealer where I purchased it for a complete diagnostic. I called the dealership, they said the diagnostic was $98 and would only do me any good if I can "replicate the problem" while it is at their dealership. As this problem occurs very randomly, I don't see how this is possible. I firmly believe that this problem needs to be further investigated before a tragedy occurs.

During moderate speed travel, let off of accelerator and expected vehicle to begin slowing down. However, it responded by slowly accelerating. Then, while trying to stop at an intersection, lurching of the vehicle began when applying the brake. Could not make this activity stop without rapidly stepping on the accelerator and releasing. Once it stopped, the vehicle seemed ok until the next day when it began again. There did not appear to be any relation to warm up time, etc. Took vehicle to Ford service center and they could find no problem. I then researched this issue on the internet and found similar complaints that were resolved by fixing the cruise control (this had not occurred to me since the cruise control was not engaged during problem). I then asked the service center to check cruise control circuitry (they said they had with no problems found). I picked up the vehicle, took is immediately to the freeway and engaged the cruise control, and it would not hold speed. I took the vehicle back, the service technician looked under the hood and found the cruise control cable disconnected. He manipulated the throttle and was able to see the cable connect and disconnect randomly; he also stated he could see how the cable would be in the way of normal throttle operation if it was disconnected. The cable has been replaced and the acceleration issue has not recurred.

The cruise control was not working properly and had not been since I bought the car one month ago. It worked only a couple of times. On yesterday, I tested it again, as I have almost everyday. I turned it on at 40 mph to see if it would kick in. It finally did but it would not go off! when I hit the brakes, the motor revved up, when I pressed the off button, it did not work, the car just kept going and surpassed 40 mph. When I stopped the motor revved up very high. I tried several times but when I turned it off and turned it back on the car would abruptly move forward on its own - making a loud jerking sound in the motor. We were at my grandsons' football practices where children and adults were all around and I was very afraid that I would accidentally hit someone. I finally took it to a nearby mechanic and he had to unplug the cruise control cable, and for now its fine. This is very dangerous and according to other posts it happens quite often. I read where other had disconnected their cruise control cable and yet had problems with rapid acceleration. Is there a recall? and if not, why? what can I do to get this problem corrected? I had my daughter and grandchildren in the car with me and it was very scary for all of us. If I had hit another vehicle, stationary object, or much worse a child or an adult, that would have been devastating. Sincerely. . . .

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving 35 mph, the vehicle abnormally accelerated to 60 mph. The contact was able to maintain control of the vehicle. The contact mentioned that an independent mechanic inspected the vehicle and diagnosed that the cruise control cable separated from the plastic holder that was attached to the metal shaft, causing the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The current and failure mileage was 150,000.

I was driving at 40 mph down the road when traffic slowed down. I released the throttle to apply the brakes and the engine rpms increased and the vehicle would not slow down. I narrowly avoided an accident by applying the brakes as hard as I could and drove into a parking lot before shutting the vehicle off. Upon restarting the vehicle, the engine rpm was around 4,000 rpm and would not come down. After pressing the accelerator pedal several times the vehicles engine returned to idle speed. Upon further inspection I found that the cruise control cable had become disconnected from the throttle body. I assume that the cable was able to wedge the throttle open and became unstuck once I depressed the accelerator pedal several times. The plastic end on the cruise control cable is not broken but does fit loosely on the throttle body when I reconnected it. I have applied a plastic zip tie to the cruise control cable to keep it from coming off again.

My wife had called me today and advised that the accelerator pedal had stuck on our 2005 Ford Taurus and almost caused her to have an accident. When I got home from work I took the Taurus for a test drive and the problem reoccurred. I was on rt. 145 in lehigh county PA when my car continued to accelerate when I removed my foot from the accelerator pedal. I was able to stop the car by standing on the brake pedal. When I put the car in park the rpm's reved in excess of 4000. I tapped the accelerator pedal several times and the idle finally came down. After returning home I found the cruise control cable had become disconnected from the throttle body linkage which prevents the throttle body from closing. I was able to reconnect the cruise control cable but it becomes dislodged as soon as the throttle is opened. The clip on the end of the cruise control cable is made of plastic and appears to be intact but must be worn on the inside because it will not stay in place. This is a dangerous flaw.

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle suddenly accelerated without warning. The contact mentioned that after inspecting the vehicle she noticed that the cruise control cable had detached. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and did not offer any assistance. The vehicle was repaired. The failure and current mileages were 120,000. . . . . Updated 08-24-12 updated 08/30/2012.

On two different occasions. First, my wife was driving approximately 30 mph and the car rapidly accelerated to approx 55. Difficult to stop, engine revved up to 5k on tach. Second incident (next day), I was driving on highway doing 65 mph. Car accelerated rapidly to 85 mph and would not slow down until I threw the tranny into neutral. Car was revving at approx 5k on tach. I brought the car to my mechanic. Cruise control cable changed. I have been driving 36 years and this scared the hell out of me. No instances since. Is Ford going to wait for someone to be killed. My two daughters who drive the car often would not have known what to do in these instances. There is no doubt injury or death would have occurred if wither of them were driving the vehicle. Are there not enough documented cases to require Ford/gm to step up to the plate? please help us that have incurred the expense as well as those who have yet to experience what thousands of us have.

Driving at 35mph I took my foot off the gas pedal and the car continued to accelerate. I put the car in neutral and the rpm's jumped to 4000. I pushed the pedal down to the floor and the throttle began to slow down and return to normal. Now randomly during acceleration the throttle will stick open when I take my foot off the gas, and not return to normal until after pushing hard down on the gas pedal. This was quite scary being on the road and have my car accelerating out of my control. I read that a cruise control cable can become disconnected that can be causing this problem.

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds the accelerator pedal would become stuck. As a result, there was an increase in engine rpms. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the throttle box and cable were fractured and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 132,000 and the current mileage was 132,500.

Absolutely frightening! this afternoon a passenger and I pulled out onto the main thoroughfare when my car (2005 Taurus) independently accelerated and began running/spinning at a high rpm. The experience was not unlike a self propelled vacuum where you let go and it wants to run off by itself - only this is far more dangerous having been in traffic with precious lives at stake. It was not wanting me to brake either. Thankfully, I was able to pull off into a gravel lot. I turned the car off for a few minutes then started it again only that time it was running at rocket speed. Needless to say it was unsafe to drive at that point so I had it towed to the local Ford dealer. They just called to say it was the "speed control cable" that appeared to disengage and do something with the throttle. Clearly this is a problem with the make and model of car based on the cumulative posts I am seeing. Ford needs to step up or the ntsb needs to step in.

On 5/24/2012, I was driving in my neighborhood at about 45 mph when all of a sudden the rpms spiked to about 4000 and the car would not slow down from 45 mph even with my foot off the accelerator. I was able to turn down a side street and stop. My brakes did work. I had the car towed to my dealer. The dealer replaced the throttle body and speed control cable and said they had worn causing cable to come loose and jam throttle body.

Throttle stuck while running @ highway speeds. While slowing, became difficult to stop. Required putting the trans into n then turning off the engine. Seems to reset after restarting. Upon inspection of the throttle, the cruise control cable had become detached. Unsure of next action to take.

When I let my foot off the gas pedal the engine continues to accelerate. I thought it was the floor mat catching on the gas pedal. On Saturday may 12 I was coming up my street at about 25 mph and the car wouldn't stop and I came zooming into my driveway. I slammed on the brakes and put the car into neutral and the engine was racing then I turned off the key. When I restarted the engine the problem was gone. I checked the floor mat but I found no problem with the mat. This is the first time I was sure the floor mat was not the problem. Last week may 24 2012 my wife used the car and said she had the same problem and it wasn't the floor mat. Yesterday may 28, 2012 as I approached a busy intersection with a stop sign I let my foot off the gas pedal and the car continued to accelerate into the intersection. By the time I could react I was in the middle of the intersection. I just barely avoided a collision with possible personal injury. This was the last straw with this dangerous problem, so I put the car in my garage and took the cover off the accelerator control leaver. I found the problem quickly. The cause of this unintended acceleration is the cruise control cable has become disconnected from the throttle leaver and is catching on the throttle leaver, so the lever can't return. I tried to reconnect this cable but the plastic retainer on this cheap cable has become defective and will not reconnect. I have now tied the cable back so it can not interfere with the throttle lever. I have contacted Ford about this problem and issued a complaint. There are no recalls regarding this issue. This problem is a serious safety issue and beyond the scope of vehicle maintenance. This issue could cause a fatal accident to an unsuspecting driver. I have documented this issue with photographs. Please contact me for a copy of the photo.

The contact owns a 2005 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while attempting to brake from 60 mph, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The contact mentioned that he was able to stop the vehicle by shifting to neutral. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic who diagnosed that the cruise control cable was disconnected and the wire had become stuck in the accelerator cable, causing the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem who filed a complaint on behalf of the contact. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 102,000.