Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
97V025000FORD MOTOR COMPANYfrom 07/30/1990 to 11/18/1994V (Vehicle)21270004/23/1997MFRFORD MOTOR COMPANY02/26/199703/03/1997
Defect SummaryVehicle description: vehicles equipped with 3.8l engines and originally sold or currently registered in the following states: alaska, colorado, iowa, idaho, illinois, indiana, kansas, massachusetts, maine, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, north dakota, nebraska, new hampshire, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, south dakota, vermont, wisconsin, and wyoming. water can accumulate within the speed control cable conduit. if enough water accumulates, it could freeze within a low area of the cable routing when exposed to a long term cold soak at temperatures at least several degrees below freezing.
Consequence SummaryDriver control of vehicle speed using the speed control system or the accelerator control system would be diminished increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Corrective SummaryDealers will add a boot to the speed control cable.
NotesOwner notification:owner notification is expected to begin april 7, 1997.note:owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.also contract the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393.

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
05/13/2004540002
 While applying the brakes vehicle accelerates. no impact reported. *ak in the last 5 months the consumer has had 2 near accident in the vehicle due to sudden acceleration. the ford dealer offered no information that was helpful, therefore the consumer contacted a service station who diagnosed the problem as a defective throttle positioning sensor. *nm
11/10/2003188632206/15/2003
 Chuck's clean & used cars of pembroke sold me a 1993 ford tarus vin 1facp584xpa290349 with a known recall on it. there was a fire with the ignition system was totally destroyed. *la
04/07/20031
 The vehicle experienced sudden acceleration. *jb
06/01/2002
 While traveling on highway consumer noticed that cruise control/ horn and airbag were not operable. dealership was aware of problem.*ak
07/01/20021
 Speed control stopped working, vehicle has not been examined by dealer.*jb
07/05/2002109/19/1996
 Headlight went out while driving at night, then came back on. recall was done 2 years ago, dealer replaced the multi function switch.*jb consumer also stated the vehicle would stall, the electrical control box was replaced, and the cruise control has not worked for the past 5 years.*jb
 While driving 40 mph and without warning vehicle began to rev up to full rpms. driver was able to pull vehicle over.*ak
 There is a hesitation when accelerating. please provide further information.*ak
03/04/199612/01/1994
 I have had trouble with almost everything possible on this car. the head gasket failed with no warning, no overheating - car would not start, had it towed to dealer who informed that head gasket had blown. head gasket failed again 7 months later. had trouble with surging, racing engine from about 25000 miles, dealer could not find problem. finally, replaced speed sensor when out of warranty, and it failed again 4 months later. have had tie rods and ball joints replaced, motor mounts replaced twice, brake problems starting at 24,000 miles. the air conditioner compressor came apart while under warranty. the cooling fan is now sticking, which started at 65000 miles.mechanic advised that this part is notorious for going bad, and that so many have had to be replace, the price of the part has gone down. i feel the 1993 3.8l taurus models should be covered under the recall, as well as the cooling fans, and i should be reimbursed for the cost of repairs. this car has very low mileage, has not been abused, and should not be costing me so much to drive. i will never buy another ford product, due to these problems, as well as problems i have had with the dealership. thank you for any assistance in this matter.*ak
10/31/20001
 Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration, causing consumer to lose control, vehicle ended up going off the road and into the bushes where there were logs on the ground, the vehicle was totalled. *slc
01/19/20010
 Car was in park, but still running. then, it all of a sudden took off . *ak
09/01/19981
 Ignition is inoperative. key gets stuck in the ignition & doesn't line up correctly. this makes it very easy to stealthe vehicle. vehicle's air bag & horn are not working relating to this. dealer has never tried to find a remedy for the problem.*ak cruise control failed as well. steering system malfunctions. *yh
08/10/2000108/01/1996
 When throttle locked open i jumped a curb with my foot applied to brake and cutting off ignition i got stopped about 3 feet from a building
03/16/1998102/01/1994
 This has been a very trouble-prone car. cruise control would stick on accelerate and could not be disabled without turning of the ignition. there have been many other coslty repairs about which we complained to ford with no remedies offered. this complaint regards the head gaskets on our 1993 ford taurus which failed at 93600 miles. it cost $1319 to repair (date: 3-16-98). the dealership told us that this is common in the 3.8l eingine. we know that ford has partially acknowledged the problem and has extended warranties back to the 1994 models, but the problem extends to earlier model years.
06/08/20003
 Vehicle keeps stalling when trying to start up. car rumbles when it finally does start. makes a loud clunking noise when shifting gears. after i start up after a stop sign or stop light, i barely touch the gas and its off in a flash. when i am on the freeway and take my foot off the accelarator, it continues at the same speed for 5 minutes. i checked the cruise control and it was off. the engine sounds like a diesel engine every once in a while.*ak
08/01/1999102/24/1996
 Cruise control and radio static due to faulty ignition switch, after replacement of switch cruise control continued to fail. mjs
1
 Speed control repaired. mjs
08/25/1998100001/01/1995
 Speed control will disengage on it's own or will not engage at all, at any normal highway speed. windshield wiper, intermittent control fails to work at most settings and will usually only work at highest intermittent setting. sometimes it will not work on any setting, including low speed or high speed. if you cycle it off and on, or wiggle the level, it may resume working, but only at highest intermittent setting, or the low and high settings. failures occurs must often when the steering wheel is turned, or the turn signal lever/dimmer switch is operated. this is especially dangerous in moderate to heavy rain or snow, and when in heavy traffic. to say the least, my wife has screamed more than one time.
 Going downhill vehicle increased speed even with cruise control set on a specific speed. dealer says vehicle is not included in the recall recall, and it is not a problem. recall 97v-025000. *ak
08/01/1996
 Windshield wipers don't work regularly. they work in some setting intermittently. when you turn them on you sometimes have to play with the switch to find a decent setting. we have been having trouble with the car running roughly, dying at stops, worse in wet weather, lurching at stops if not dying and it sometimes dies when slowing down from highway speeds to below 30 mph. have had this fixed several times by mechanics. they say it is the throttle switch or mechanism and they get it running fine for a couple of months and then the problem reappears. *ak
06/16/19980
 Going 45-50 mph on the expressway when the vehicle immediately halted. the halting lasted for a couple of seconds, and caused the driver to lurch forward. the vehicle continued to drive as normal again. *ak
03/01/1998
 Consumer complaining of manufacturer's known defect in the clock spring which controls the speed/ air bags and horn. the defective clock spring would cause the brake pedal not to respond to deactivate the speed control. dealer and manufacturer were notified, and will not repair without cost to the consumer . *ak
12/13/19983
 Was waiting at a stop when the engine started to surge forward. had foot on brakes. hit a garage door. happened twice before. has not been to dealer. *ak
12/15/1998
 The consumer has been experiencing problems with accelerator. while sitting idle at a stop sign, the vehicle took off. the manufacturer has yet to be contacted. *ak
1
 Recall repairs refused due to unavailability of parts.
09/04/1997
 Received recall notice (#97v02500). called dealer & made appointment. took vehicle in for appointment. after arriving, was informed there are no parts available. also that they do not know when the parts will be in. *ak
04/25/1997
 Recieved recall notice 97 v 025 000 fuel throttle in april, and contacted dealer. they said that the parts for the recall will be in in two weeks, but dealer has not contacted owner and it has been two months since owner has contacted dealer. dealer will not return calls, and the parts are still not available. *ak
04/23/1997
 She has contacted the dealership about her cruise control recall, and it has been sixty days and the dealership still doesn't have the recalled part. *ak
06/11/1997
 The dealership fixed the recall according to ford, but the cruise control activates by itself now without pressing the buttonsl. *ak
04/29/1997
 Vehicle owner received recall notice from ford, contacted dealer april 29, 1997, was told there were no partsvailable. dealer expected parts within 1 week, contacted dealer again on may 13, 1997, was told it would be about a month before parts would be in. vehicle stalled, owner not sure if recall related. nhtsa #97v02500; manufacturer #97s65. *ak
10/01/1996111/01/1993
 Vehicle surges.
07/31/1996104/17/1993
 Backing out of driveway, vehicle went into open throttle position, rpms unknown, impact 6:00 position, hitting a house. *ak
09/27/1996111/01/1993
 Sudden acceleration, causing accident.
09/14/1996
 Cruise control was engaged, would not disengage, impact 2:00 position, speed 65 mph and vehicle rolled. *ak
 Vehicle accelerates by itself while in second gear. tt
10/06/1995
 Car still running after shutting off. no known alternative means for shutting off the vehicle. please describe. tt
11/06/1995
 Engine fails to decelerated when travelling at hwy speed. tt
01/01/19951
 Cruise control failure. *ak
09/12/1995
 Auto-trans: while exiting car wash, accelerator stuck causing vehicle to lurch forward; rearended another vehicle. tt
 When driving accelerate 15 mph .
05/17/19946
 Sudden acceleration/idle races then vehicle will stall, causing loss of control. *skd
04/02/19952
 Unexpected sudden reving of vehicle, high rpms. tt
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL - ACCELERATOR PEDAL
02/12/1995
 While driving at any speed the vehicle doesn't give any prior warning before cutting off. also, when applying the accelerator the vehicle just slows down , not giving the vehicle any type of power. vehicle has been in the shop four times, dealer cannot determine the problem. *ak
02/02/1995
 While driving at any speed, the vehicle shuts off, giving no prior warning. the vehicle just shakes alot. when applying the accelerator and touching the acclerator, the vehicle loses power too. vehicle has been in the shop four to five times. dealer cannot determine the problem. *ak
308/18/1993
 On 3 occasions vehicle experienced sticking gas pedal. *ak
07/28/1997112/15/1992
 Accelerator cable broke, while accelerating in traffic, next to the molded plug that connect to the arm of the accelerator pedal.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL - CABLES
09/24/2008860001
 Tl*the contact owns a 1993 ford taurus. while driving 45 mph through the toll plaza, the vehicle failed to slow down when the brake pedal was depressed. the contact exited off the interstate and approached a traffic light thirty seconds later. she noticed smoke under the hood and the vehicle was towed to a repair shop. the mechanic stated that the cable to the cruise control was stuck. prior to the failure, the contact had never used the cruise control button. the dealer was notified and advised her to bring in the vehicle; however, it was already being repaired by her mechanic. the cruise control cable was stuck which caused the throttle to saty open. updated 11/19/08. *jb
06/08/1999111/22/1993
 Accelerator cable failed. yh
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL - CRUISE CONTROL
1
 The horn nor the cruise control buttons worked in the steering wheel hub. *ph consumer felt that there's no need to fix the problem at once even though it was such an inconvenience on his behalf. after ten months of ownership of vehicle purchased from e-bay, vehicle was taken to repair facility to have steering controls fixed. mechanic called consumer and was informed that air bag had been removed from steering wheel hub and replaced with foam to simulate the shape of the air bag. consumer was able to have air bag installed into steering wheel hub along with the repairs on horn and cruise control. consumer now asking if it's against florida or federal law to sell a car with the air bag either unionization or inoperative and not inform the buyer. *la
10/05/20001203/01/1995
 During idle situations (in any gear), engine will idle very high and sometime accelerate uncontrollably. gunning engine does not effect it. turning car off and restarting usually resets idle to normal level.*ak
05/27/2000212/01/1993
 In january 1998 i noticed while driving home from work that the temperature gauge was staying in the red zone near the h. i took it into an independent mechanic the next morning and was informed that the head gasket had blown. the cost of this repair was around $1100. on saturday 05/27/2000 when driving away from a parking lot i noticed the car was idling very rough, the temperature gauge was pegged at the h, and smoke was coming out the tailpipe. i parked the car and had it towed to another independent repair shop near my home. they informed me that the head gasket had blown again. the repair bill is possibly going to be between $1100 - $1500. both independent repair shops informed me that this is a common problem with the 1993 taurus 3.8 v6 engine. i have also browsed your complaints section of your website and found many other complaints like mine. i will be contacting the national ford office in the morning to see if there is any recourse they can offer. if this is a known problem i feel like ford should recall these vehicles and/or reimburse people who have already spent money on repairing this problem. *ak
08/01/19992
 The vehicle lost power while driving and would not start until 10 minutes later because of irc module failure. yh
10/01/1996104/21/1994
 Vehicle experiences rough idle continually, replacement of fuel pump and air bypass did not rectify problems. mjs
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL - LINKAGES
11/07/199811001/15/1993
 While traveling at any speed vehicle will hesitate like it wants to switch gears. also, surges forward. took to vehicle personal mechanic. he cleaned connections, and vehicle ran fine for year. currently, problem is happening again. *ak
09/15/1998
 While driving the vehicle, using the cruise control, turned off the cruise control and applied foot to brakes, and vehicle would not stop, but slowed down. vehiclecontinued to accellerate up to 50-55 mph., incident occurred two times. consumer could not stop the car, vehicle needs to be towed to dealer. *ak
11/27/1996203/01/1994
 Cruise control cable failed, causing loss of control.
04/27/19957
 Cruise control cable stuck in wide open throttle. *ak
04/26/19951
 Vehicle had defective cruise cable which stayed open,causing unwanted acceleration with no braking ability. *ak