2003 Ford Taurus Driver assistance Problems

At times the vehicle accelerates by itself albeit I am not touching the gas pedal. While driving the vehicle at 45 mph, I take my foot off of the accelerator and the vehicle maintains the 45 mph speed or increases speed if I am driving down a hill or any downward gradient regardless of the angle of decent. When I try to stop the vehicle using the foot brake it continues to maintain speed and if I put the shift lever in neutral, while trying to stop, the RPM's increase from approximately 1500 rpm's to 3200 rpm's until the vehicle comes to a complete stop, and then, only after approximately five seconds do the RPM's begin to drop to 1000 rpm's. If I am driving the vehicle with cruise control and cancel the cruise control, the vehicle maintains the cruise control speed indefinitely, literally for miles thereafter. I wanted to give this vehicle to my daughter who has multiple sclerosis but it's too dangerous for her to drive with this acceleration problem. Do you have any recommendations for me???

NHTSA ID

11475206

Incident

Jul 21, 2022

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, IF I RELEASE THE GAS PEDAL, THE VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE IN SPEED. WHEN I AM COMPLETELY STOPPED AT STOP SIGN OR STOP LIGHT, I HAVE TO PRESSED ON THE BRAKES REALLY HARD TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM SURGING FORWARD

NHTSA ID

11302448

Incident

Jan 13, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE ACCELERATOR CABLE GETS STUCK. WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO REV AT 2000 RPMS EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE CAR IS TRYING TO TAKE OFF WHEN WAITING AT A RED LIGHT OR IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID

11246322

Incident

Aug 26, 2019

Mileage

164,000 mi

MY CAR SUDDENLY, AND WITHOUT WARNING, ACCELERATED AND THE BRAKE PEDDLE DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. THE CAR MAT WAS NOT ON THE PEDDLE.

NHTSA ID

11241731

Incident

Aug 5, 2019

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE THROTTLE CONTROL CABLE BECAME STUCK. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER PLACED EXCESSIVE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT ASSISTED THE DRIVER WITH RELEASING THE STUCK CABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE CONTACT CALLED AVIS FORD INC AT 248-355-7500 (29200 TELEGRAPH RD, SOUTHFIELD, MICHIGAN 48034) AND WAS INFORMED THAT AN UNKNOWN RECALL REPAIR WAS PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AND WOULD NOT BE DONE AGAIN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 115,000.

NHTSA ID

11080126

Incident

Mar 18, 2018

Mileage

115,000 mi

MY FORD TAURUS SELF ACCELORATES WHEN ON THE ROAD.EVEN AFTER TAKING FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL IT WILL DRIVE ITSELF FASTER.MAKING USING THE BRAKES DIFFICULT IT DOES NOT WANT TO STOP.IT IS VERY SCARY TO DRIVE .MY HUSBAND HAS CHANGED THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE,SAME AND MANY SENSORS AND NOTHING IS FIXING THE PROBLEM. IF FORD DOUBTS THIS CAN HAPPEN THEY ARE WELCOME TO TAKE MY CAR FOR A DRIVE.IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE CAR .

NHTSA ID

11043337

Incident

Jul 29, 2016

Mileage

177,000 mi

DRIVING IN INTERMITTENT RAIN SHOWERS AT 60-70MPH I HAD THE ENGINE CUT OUT AND DROPPED OUT OF CRUISE CONTROL. SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER BOUNCING UP AND DOWN. THEFT AND ENGINE LIGHT WERE FLASHING ON AND OFF AT THE SAME TIME AS ENGINE WAS STALLING. THEN THE ENGINE REENGAGED AT 50-55 MPH AND CONTINUED ON NOW RESPONSIVE TO GAS PEDAL AND ACCELERATION. THIS REPEATED 5 - 8X IN THE SPAN OF 15 MILES AND SEVERAL TIMES PULLING OVER. WEATHER CLEARED AND DROVE ANOTHER 100 MILES WITH NO EVENTS. NEXT MORNING DRIVING KIDS TO SCHOOL AFTER 10 MINUTES OF RUNNING 25-40MPH THE SAME PROBLEM RECURRED BUT ENGINE DID NOT RECOVER AND COMPLETELY STALLED 3X IN 1 MILE. RESTARTED IMMEDIATELY EACH TIME. READING THROUGH POTENTIAL CAUSES THERE WERE NO LESS THAN 30 OTHER INDIVIDUALS DESCRIBING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. THEFT LIGHT ON AND ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING. VARIOUS SOLUTIONS PROPOSED FROM ELECTRICAL GROUNDS, BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, FUSE. MEGA FUSE, DPFE (DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE FUEL EXHAUST?) SENSOR, EGR (EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION) SYSTEM, PCM, ICR, AND SEVERAL OTHERS. NOT SURE WHICH IT MIGHT BE. GIVEN THERE ARE SO MANY AND THAT IT OCCURS IN POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS - AT HIGH SPEED AND NO WARNING - THIS SEEMS TO BE WORTHY OF AN INVESTIGATION OR RECALL.

NHTSA ID

10992243

Incident

May 29, 2017

Mileage

104,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING AND THE CAR REVVED THE ENGINE WHICH MADE IT FEEL LIKE THE CAR WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF.THE CAR DID JERK FORWARD. AND ANOTHER TIME, I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR REVVED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO GO, EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE WAS BEING HELD DOWN. THE GRAY CAP THAT HOLDS THE THROTTLE CABLE IN HAS BROKEN ON ONE SIDE AND THE CABLE IS SLIPPING OUT. IS THIS A RECALL PART?

NHTSA ID

10920045

Incident

Oct 5, 2016

Mileage

116,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND THE MORE I TRIED TO PUT ON MY BRAKES IT CONTINUES ON A BUSY 4 LANE STREET. I WAS ABLE TO TURN AT A TURN IN SLAMMING IN ON MY BRAKES AND THROWING MY SHAFT INTO PARK. IT WAS STILL SHAKING LIKE IT WANTED TO GO. I GOT IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. THE CRUISE CONTROL THROTTLE CABLE INSERT SPLIT AND GOT CAUGHT ON THE THROTTLE BRACKET. IT COULD HAVE KILLED ME AND HURT A LOT OF PEOPLE. I CAN'T SELL THIS CAR LIKE THIS. I WANT FORD TO RECALL AND REIMBURSE ME FOR THIS TERRIBLE TRAUMATIC INCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

10903392

Incident

Jul 20, 2016

Mileage

181,560 mi

CAR ACCELERATED ITSELF AFTER RELEASING GAS PEDAL ON HIGHWAY. ENGINE RPM HIT ABOUT 4000. IT WAS VERY HARD TO STOP THE CAR BY BRAKE. I CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND FOUND THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE HAD PROBLEM. A PLASTIC PART ON THE CABLE WAS BROKEN AND CAUSED THE THROTTLE BODY TO STUCK. PLEASE SEE ATTACHED PICTURE FOR REFERENCE.

NHTSA ID

10897020

Incident

Aug 18, 2016

Mileage

95,000 mi

PUT VEHICLE IN SHOP VEHICLE HAD ROUGH IDLE, MISFIRING ON #2 CYLINDER. SHOP REMOVED AND REPLACED SPARK PLUG, AIR FILTER, FUEL FILTER, AND IGNITION COIL. GOT VEHICLE FROM SHOP. VEHICLE IDLE TOO HIGH-SPEEDS UP ON ITS OWN. TOOK BACK TO SHOP SHOP REMOVED AND REPLACED IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE GOT VEHICLE OUT OF SHOP. VEHICLE STILL IDLE TOO HIGH AND STILL SPEEDS UP ON ITS OWN. WHEN STOPPED AT STOP LIGHT, WHEN THE BREAKS ARE RELEASED, CAR JUMPS FORWARD. WHEN BACKING UP OUT OF GARAGE, CAR BACK-UP TOO FAST; MUST HOLD BREAKS AT ALL TIMES.

NHTSA ID

10850441

Incident

Feb 16, 2016

Mileage

136,856 mi

MY VEHICLE WITH [XXX]. I CAN NOT SHIFT MY CAR FROM PARK, OR IF I PRESS ON THE BRAKE A COUPLE OF TIMES, AND GET THE BRAKE LIGHT TO COME ON, THEY SAY ON. EVEN WHEN FOOT IS NOT ON BRAKE. MY VEHICLE IN NOT APART OF A RECALL, IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN AN ATLANTA PLANT. I AM BEING OUT OF MONEY AND TIME WITH REPAIRS THAT I HAVE HAD DONE, AND ITS NOT SOLVING THE ISSUE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10788377

Incident

Oct 3, 2015

I HAVING SO MUCH TROUBLE ISSUES ON THIS CAR I WANT REFUND MONEY FOR THIS WAS $1,900 REFUND BACK TO ME...UPDATED 11/13/15 *BF *JS

NHTSA ID

10786130

Incident

Jan 10, 2010

Mileage

167 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK WITHOUT WARNING AND THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE OF ENGINE RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS MERGED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE IT WAS TURNED OFF AND TOWED TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER SERVICE CAMPAIGN DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

10760950

Incident

Sep 1, 2015

Mileage

160,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE'S SPEED RAPIDLY INCREASED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, DROVE INTO A GRASS FIELD OVER A DIP IN THE FIELD WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL OVER AND LAND UPSIDE DOWN. WHILE FLIPPED UPSIDE DOWN, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO REV UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT AND TWO PASSENGERS SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 177,000.

NHTSA ID

10750316

Incident

Aug 20, 2015

Mileage

177,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND IN THE OUTSIDE LANE OF A 4 LANE HWY. VEHICLE CHANGED LANES ABRUPTLY AND WENT LEFT OF THE CENTER OF ROADWAY ENTERING INTO THE NOURTHBOUND LANES OF TRAFFIC, CONTINUING IN A SOUTHBOUND DIRECTION, THE VEHICLE DEPARTED THE EAST SIDE AND COLLIDED WITH THE END PORTION OF A GUARDRAIL. THE INSIDE PORTION OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE CAUGHT THE OUTSIDE OF GAURDRAIL CAUSING THE CAR TO STRADDLE THE TOP OF THE RAIL UNTIL THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE CAR CAUGHT ON A POST OF THE RAIL CAUSING THE CAR TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS UNTIL THE LEFT SIDE TIRES DUG INTO THE GROUND AND FLIPPED THE CAR COMPLETELY OVER WHERE IT CONTINUED TO TRAVEL SOUTH, ROLLING OVER AGAIN, COLLIDING WITH A WOOD POST THEN FINALLY COMING TO REST ON IT'S TIRES FACING NORTHWEST. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AT ANY POINT OF THE COLLISION. GEARSHIFT WAS BETWEEN NEUTRAL AND OVERDRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680433

Incident

Dec 2, 2011

Mileage

103,716 mi

TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING, IT WAS REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10669651

Incident

Oct 1, 2012

Mileage

100,000 mi

MY CAR WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WHEN DRIVING.AND IN THE MORNING IT WILL BE IN PARK BUT THE RPM NOZZLE WILL GO UP LIKE SOMEBODY'S PUSHING ON THE GAS PEDAL.WHEN IM PULLING OFF I HAVE TO HOLD THE BRAKES DOWN HARD BECAUSE THE CAR WILL TRY TO TAKE OFF BEFORE ME.IT HAS SERIOUS ACCELERATION ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10637885

Incident

Sep 21, 2014

Mileage

171,000 mi

MY 2003 FORD TAURUS ACCELERATES BY ITSELF TO 35-45 MPH WITHOUT HAVING TO TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR (NOTE: THE CAR WILL ALSO ACCELERATE UPHILL WITHOUT HAVING TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR. ALSO, THE CRUISE CONTROL LIGHT WORKS, BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL ITSELF IS NOT ENGAGING. *TR

NHTSA ID

10620952

Incident

Aug 8, 2014

Mileage

143,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN LONG ROAD, GOT UP TO 40 MPH, CAR STAYED ON THAT SPEED AS IF IT WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE. I HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF. I EVEN SLOWED DOWN TO 30, CAR STAYED ON THIRTY. HAD FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL. IT SURGES FORWARD. I READ HORROR STORIES OF OTHER YEAR TAURUS' DOING SAME THING, CAUSING CRASHES. MY 16 YR OLD DAUGHTER DRIVES THIS CAR. EVERY OTHER CAR AROUND THIS YEARS DATE WAS RECALLED, BUT NOT THE 2003. I CHANGED MY HOSES, SO IT'S NOT THAT. THE CAR IS LITERALLY STAYING IN CRUISE CONTROL MODE EVEN WHEN IT'S OFF. WHEN I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO THE RIGHT, I CAN HEAR A TICKING SOUND ONCE OR TWICE, NOT SURE WHAT THAT IS, IT'S SCARY THOUGH. BEFORE SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS I WANT A RECALL FOR THIS YEAR OF TAURUS REGARDING THE CRUISE CONTROL BEING ENGAGED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10607643

Incident

Jun 16, 2014

Mileage

147,777 mi

THE CAR DOES NOT SLOW DOWN (INTERMITTENT) SOMETIMES. TRAVELING AT BOUT 55 OR 60 I WILL TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL AND THE CAR WILL NOT SLOW DOWN. WHEN I FINALLY COME TO A STOP (WHICH IS HARD ON THE BRAKES) MY RPM'S ARE 1000. IF I PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL MY RPM'S WILL CLIMB TO 4000. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND HAS NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. *TT

NHTSA ID

10582868

Incident

Apr 15, 2014

Mileage

118,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN WITH OUT PUSHING THE GAS. EVEN WHEN YOU COME TO A COMPLETE STOP THE RPM WILL NOT GO DOWN TO 0 IT WILL STAY ABOVE THE 1. THE CAR NEVER COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR IS ALWAYS ACCELERATING EVEN WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10578343

Incident

Apr 3, 2014

Mileage

121,757 mi

I WAS PULLING INTO A GAS STATION, GOING TO A GAS PUMP, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE RPMS REVVED UP AND THE CAR ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID THE GAS PUMP AND INSTEAD WENT OVER A RAMP WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO GO AIRBORNE. I WENT THROUGH A FENCE AND HIT A POLE. THE IMPACT CAUSED ENOUGH DAMAGE ON THE CAR FOR THE CAR TO COME TO AN ABRUPT AND COMPLETE STOP. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOTALED. I HAVE SEEN OTHER REPORTS ON 2003 FORD TAURUS REGARDING ACCELERATION PROBLEMS/ISSUES. I WOULD LIKE FOR MY INCIDENT TO BE PART OF THE INVESTIGATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10575947

Incident

Feb 22, 2014

Mileage

137,018 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO ACCELERATE AFTER SHE HAD REMOVED HER FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 159,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 159,100.

NHTSA ID

10566983

Incident

Feb 4, 2014

Mileage

159,000 mi

AFTER DISENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL BY TAPPING THE BRAKE (THE CRUISE CONTROL INDICATION TURNED OFF), THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STAY AT THE PREVIOUSLY SET SPEED. I THEN TURNED OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, WHICH HAD NO EFFECT. I IMMEDIATELY STARTED APPLYING HEAVY BRAKING UNTIL THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 5 MILES AN HOUR AND PUT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO PARK AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE IGNITION. ALL THE WHILE THE CAR WAS ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE BACK UP TO 55 MPH (THE PREVIOUSLY SET CRUISE CONTROL SPEED). THIS HAPPENED 2 MORE TIMES AND I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND THAT TEMPORARILY FIXED THE ISSUE. I ALSO LATER LEARNED TO BRIEFLY PRESS AND RELEASE THE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR WHICH WORKED EVERY TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10566315

Incident

Dec 16, 2013

Mileage

151,000 mi