2001 Ford Taurus Driver assistance Problems

The vehicle failed recall

NHTSA ID

11580825

Incident

Jan 14, 2024

THE CAR WILL SOMETIMES STAY AT HIGH RPMS EVEN WHEN PRESSURE IS RELEASED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THIS HAPPENED TO ME IN 2018 WHEN I FIRST GOT THE CAR AND HAS HAPPENED RECENTLY IN DECEMBER 2020. IN THE FIRST EPISODE, I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE AND THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN UNTIL I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. IN THE SECOND, MY WIFE HAD TO THROW IT INTO PARK. THE CAR WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET IN BOTH INSTANCES GOING STRAIGHT

NHTSA ID

11384164

Incident

Dec 18, 2020

Mileage

102,000 mi

MY HIGH BEAM LIGHT INDICATOR IS ON BUT THE LOW BEAMS ARE ON. WHEN I PUSH THE SWITCH TO TURN MY HIGH BEAMS ON THEY TURN ON BUT THE LIGHT INDICATOR TURNS OFF AND WHEN SWITCH MY HIGH BEAMS ON MY SPEEDOMETER STARTS KINDA WORKING, OTHERWISE IT DOESN'T WORK AT ALL.

NHTSA ID

11278592

Incident

Nov 7, 2019

THE THROTTLE CABLE HOUSING DOES NOT STAY IN IT'S SEAT WHERE IT IS MOUNTED BY THE THROTTLE BODY CAUSING OVER ACCELERATION WHEN USING MODERATE ACCELERATION, VERY HARD BRAKING IS NECSESARY TO STOP AND PUTTING THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL CAUSES MAJOR OVER REVING OF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

11014037

Incident

Jul 18, 2017

Mileage

206,600 mi

CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATING WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL. CRUISE CONTROL ACTUATOR CABLE ADJUSTER APPEARS TO BE MALFUNCTIONING.

NHTSA ID

10887846

Incident

Jul 21, 2016

Mileage

171,000 mi

I WAS ENTERING ONTO THE FREEWAY, AND WHEN I ACCELERATED TO REACH 60MPH, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL, AND HAD TO USE MY BRAKES CONTINUOUSLY TO KEEP FROM CRASHING INTO OTHER CARS UNTIL I COULD GET IT SAFELY PULLED OVER TO THE EMERGENCY LANE, AND FORCING THE STOP WITH ALL I HAD. THE WHOLE CAR WAS SHAKING. QUITE SCARY. HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS THAT THE CRUISE CABLE BROKE AND GOT CAUGHT ON THE ACCELERATOR CABLE WHICH CAUSED SUDDEN AND UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. WHILE RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE, FOUND OTHERS WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING. WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL ON THIS, I WILL NEVER KNOW. IF THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OF MALFUNCTIONS RESULTING IN POSSIBLE CRASH, DON'T YOU THINK THE MANUFACTURER WOULD PUT THE CONSUMER FIRST, INVESTIGATE IT, AND MAKE IT RIGHT? I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD.

NHTSA ID

10734836

Incident

Jul 14, 2015

Mileage

97,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH BY SHIFTING THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

NHTSA ID

10734822

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

Mileage

132,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 226,000.

NHTSA ID

10717203

Incident

May 16, 2015

Mileage

226,000 mi

MY DAUGHTER HAD JUST LEFT A STOPLIGHT AND AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MILES AN HOUR LET OFF THE THROTTLE BUT VEHICLE CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE. PUSHED AS HARD AS POSSIBLE ON THE BRAKE TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN AND GET OFF THE ROAD PUT IN PARK THROTTLE STILL HIGH, SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. I INVESTIGATED AND FOUND CRUISE CONTROL CABLE CASING HAD COME OUT OF PLASTIC RETAINER CLIP AND END OF CABLE HOUSING CAUGHT ON PLASTIC RETAINING CLIP CAUSING THROTTLE TO REMAIN OPEN APPROXIMATELY 1/2 INCH OFF IDLE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10702143

Incident

Mar 26, 2015

Mileage

91,200 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND MAKING A TURN, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY INCREASED ACCELERATION. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE GEAR LEVER WAS SHIFTED INTO THE NEUTRAL POSITION AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ENGAGED FORCEFULLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES AFTER BEING REPAIRED UNDER A VOLUNTARY RECALL ISSUED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE REMEDY CONSISTED OF REPLACING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CABLE CLIP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10693578

Incident

Jul 17, 2014

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE THROUGH A RED LIGHT. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE SHIFTER HAD TO BE SWITCHED TO THE PARK POSITION AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DETERMINED THAT THE PLASTIC RING ON THE END OF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DEFECTIVE DUE TO DAMAGED PRONGS THAT SNAPPED. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CRUISE CONTROL TO BECOME STUCK WHEN PRESSING THE THROTTLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID

10644461

Incident

Jul 2, 2012

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT THEN DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO DECELERATE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT THEN MANAGED TO MERGE TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD REV WITHOUT BEING ACTUALLY DRIVEN AND SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TOWED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

NHTSA ID

10639869

Incident

Sep 28, 2014

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE WAS WRAPPED AROUND THE ACCELERATOR CABLE AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CRUISE CONTROL AND ACCELERATOR CABLES WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10629976

Incident

Aug 28, 2014

Mileage

140,000 mi

CAR WOULD NOT STOP ACCELERATING. I SEE THAT THROTTLE CABLE IS BINDING AND GETTING HUNG UP IN THE OPEN POSITION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10562551

Incident

Feb 1, 2014

Mileage

140,000 mi

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE THROTTLE CABLE (OR SPEED CONTROL CABLE) GOT STUCK AND MY CAR ACCELERATED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. LUCKILY, BOTH TIMES I WAS FAIRLY CLOSE TO HOME AND MADE IT WITHOUT CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, I FOUND WHERE THE CABLE WAS GETTING HUNG UP. I SPRAYED IT WITH WD-40, BUT THAT OBVIOUSLY DID NOT DO THE TRICK AS IT HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY. I'VE READ WHERE OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE AND, GIVEN THIS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AM SHOCKED THAT THE NHTSA HASN'T TAKEN ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10510629

Incident

Mar 20, 2013

Mileage

194,000 mi

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE TO COME TO A STOP AT A RED LIGHT, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SURGE AT FULL THROTTLE. IN THE ELEVEN YEARS I HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE THIS IS THE FOURTH INSTANCE OF THE VEHICLE SURGING. TO RECOVER FROM THIS CONDITION IT WAS NECESSARY TO TURN THE IGNITION OFF, PLACE THE VEHICLE IN PARK, AND ATTEMPT TO RESTART. IT TOOK THREE ATTEMPTS AT RESTARTING TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE IS IN FOR REPAIR. THIS IS A DANGEROUS CONDITION WHICH MUST BE ADDRESSED BY NHTSA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10509819

Incident

Apr 26, 2013

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK IN THE FULL OPEN POSITION AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN A SIDE STREET. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BUT BY THE TIME THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF THE TRANSMISSION HAD TOTALLY FRIED AND ALL THE FLUIDS CAME OUT OF THE ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10508121

Incident

Mar 22, 2013

Mileage

116,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AT A STEADY SPEED, THE CAR BEGAN TO SPEED UP RAPIDLY, REACHING NEAR 55 MPH WITHIN SECONDS. THE ENGINE STAYED AROUND 4,000 RPM AND USING THE BRAKES ONLY SLOWED THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT STOP IT. TO AVOID A CRASH, THE ONLY OPTION I HAD WAS TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN IN TO A PARKING LOT. ONCE IN NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE'S RPM REMAINED CLOSE TO 4,000. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION OFF, I INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR TO FIND THAT THE FLIMSY PLASTIC PIECE THAT HOLDS THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE IN THE PROPER POSITION WAS BROKEN IN SEVERAL PLACES, LEAVING THE CABLE FREE TO GET CAUGHT ON WHAT IS LEFT OF THE PLASTIC PIECE EXTREMELY EASILY. SINCE THAT INCIDENT, THE EXACT SAME SITUATION HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. DUE TO THE PLASTIC PIECE BEING BROKEN, THE CABLE DOES NOT SIT INSIDE THE PLASTIC PIECE AS INTENDED, WHICH HAS CAUSED THE RPM TO STAY HIGHER THAN NORMAL AT ALL TIMES WHEN THE CAR IS IN GEAR. WHILE DRIVING, REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BEGIN DECELERATING BEFORE A STOP HAS NO EFFECT, AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED AT ALL TIMES. SLOWING THE VEHICLE CAN ONLY BE DONE BY USING THE BRAKES. THIS SITUATION CAME VERY SUDDENLY WITH ABSOLUTELY NO PRIOR SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS OF ANY PROBLEM. THE RAPID, UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION POSES A SEVERE SAFETY THREAT TO DRIVER AND ANYBODY AROUND THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY THERE WAS NOT ANY TRAFFIC WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO ME, AND THERE WAS A PARKING LOT NEARBY TO EXIT THE ROAD. IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE IN MODERATE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC, A CRASH WOULD BE VERY LIKELY. THIS ISSUE IS UNPREDICTABLE AND HAS HAPPENED TO ME AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 70 MPH AND AT ROAD SPEEDS OF 35 MPH. I HAVE SINCE DECIDED TO PARK MY CAR AND NOT OPERATE IT UNTIL I CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS HIGHLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN ITS CURRENT STATE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10505732

Incident

Apr 8, 2013

Mileage

184,500 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN FINGER AND A BRUISED KNEE. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000.

NHTSA ID

10502526

Incident

Mar 3, 2013

Mileage

90,000 mi

I PULLED OUT OF A GAS STATION. CAME UP TO A STOP LIGHT. AFTER THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR THEN NOTICED THE CAR WAS INCREASING IN SPEED WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. CAME UP TO ANOTHER STOP LIGHT AND COULD BARELY GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10500552

Incident

Feb 26, 2013

Mileage

159,541 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY SHIFTING INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THAT A MOUNTING PIECE ON THE THROTTLE CABLE FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISCONNECTED TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 130,000...UPDATED 03/18/13 *BF UPDATED 03/27/13

NHTSA ID

10497774

Incident

Feb 9, 2013

Mileage

130,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE ALTHOUGH HE HAD REMOVED HIS FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 39,052.

NHTSA ID

10493038

Incident

Jan 12, 2013

Mileage

39,000 mi

AS I WAS DRIVING ALONG, THE GAS PEDAL STARTED TO STICK I APPLIED THE BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE, BUT SCARED THAT ONE OF THESE DAYS IT WON'T SLOW DOWN. ..UPDATED 12/11/12 *BF

NHTSA ID

10488401

Incident

Sep 26, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRYING TO PARK HIS VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL HARD IN ORDER TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 300. UPDATED 12/21/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE UNEXPECTED ENGINE ACCELERATION WOULD OCCUR WHILE PARKING, STANDING STILL, IDILING IN A PARKING LOT, OR FIRST ACCELERATING. UPDATED 1/9/2013 *JS

NHTSA ID

10484607

Incident

Apr 19, 2001

Mileage

300 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 FORD TAURUS ONTO A FREEWAY AND GOT UP TO 45 MPH AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AFTER I LIFTED MY FOOT OFF THE GAS. I ATTEMPTED TO PRESS ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD AND THE CAR WAS STILL ACCELERATING. PRESSING THE BRAKE WOULD NOT MAKE THE CAR STOP. I WAS NOT USING CRUISE CONTROL. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK, THE CAR WAS STILL REVVING UP, SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF. I WAITED A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND CONTINUED DRIVING AND THE CAR EXHIBITED THE SAME CONDITIONS AS BEFORE. I WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE FREEWAY AND WAS ABOUT TO GET TO AN INTERSECTION THAT HAD A STOP SIGN. I REALIZED THAT EVEN AFTER PRESSING DOWN ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD, THE CAR WAS NOT GOING TO STOP SO I PROCEEDED TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE AGAIN AND QUICKLY PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURN THE CAR OFF. I LEFT THE CAR THERE AND WALKED TO THE NEAREST GAS STATION AND TOWED THE CAR HOME. I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING ANYMORE AND IT IS A MIRACLE THAT I DID NOT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10483979

Incident

Nov 10, 2012

Mileage

136,484 mi