Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
98-473709/01/1998607151Engine spark knock on acceleration. *ak11/03/2000
1216311/01/1998613178Some vehicles may exhibit a slight vibration during acceleration only. *mjs06/19/2000
1325009/01/19996090649Information regarding slight vibration upon acceleration. *mjs03/22/2000
98322102/12/1998607433Exhibiting a vibration at sppeds of 45 mph and above with the cruise on.09/23/1999
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL - CRUISE CONTROL
520312/01/1998615335Some vehicles may exhibit a hard start / long crank, cold start stall, cold rough idle concern. *tt01/13/2001
9622310/21/199650942Long crank - sticking idle air control (iac) valve - vehicles built from 11/1/94 through 3/30/96 -stall - after starting when engine allowed to soak from 1-4 hours - sticking idle air control (iac) valve. *tw06/17/1997
BC024496010212/01/1995464533.0l, ax4s/ax4n transaxle, trans engagements from park to reverse or drive may be harsh after start up from engine high idle speed as high idle speed as high as 1400 prm after start up & require upto 2 minutes to return to normal idle (70004/25/1996

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
04/11/2003100362101/01/2003
 (1)throttle went completely to floor and auto could not be stopped (2)auto accident salem police report #03-19963 near fatal injuries (3)no repair done. *nm
11/08/2004127000205/20/2000
 While stopped in a line of traffic, my 96 ford taurus began to accelerate to appr. 40-50 m.p.h i left rubber, thankfully i did have my foot on the brake which helped to some degree. about three weeks earlier something similar had happened but at far less a speed appr. 5 mph. *ak
07/25/200492000109/01/2002
 While driving out of a tow booth vehicle suddenly accelerated and lurched at high speed. consumer was able to gain control, and pulled the vehicle over. dealer was notified, but was unable to find the cause of the problem. *ak
07/23/2004900001
 While applying the brake pedal vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly accelerated and took off. vehicle was forced onto a curb, and flattened the right front tire before the engine cut off . no injury was reported. *ak the consumer stated that she suffered back problems due to the accident. *tc
06/16/200298000011/24/2001
 Purchased my 1996 ford taurus wagon in nov. 2001. it accelerates at high speeds with cruise going down hill. the gas pedal often gets hung up which leaves me tapping it my foot to get it to go, so that i do not have an accident. the whole car rides very roughly. it also hangs up in passing gear almost every time. and also how do i find out where to check to see if all the recalls were taken care of. be careful for what u buy. *nlm
08/02/2002112/01/2096
 Car rolled backward into garage door while parked with transmission in park position on level ground. *ak
10/21/2000105/01/2000
 My car broke down 10/21/2000. i lost all power on the freeway driving with my 2 year old son. i took my car to 3 ford dealerships and none of the mechanics could figure out what was wrong. finally i found an independent machine shop who was competent enough to not only diagnose and fix my car properly, but they had to piece my engine (including the axles) together after a ford dealership refused to put my car back together. i had no vehicle for 7 months and had to pay $3171 for the repairs not to mention 4 tow trucks. shortly after having my car fixed i noticed it would idle high when sitting at stop signs or lights. eventually my check engine light appeared and recently discovered it is either the throttle position sensor or throttle body. regarding the cam sprocket failure, i know of at least 69 people who have had the exact same problems with their taurus sho models. ford refuses to help fix its defective product and hopefully no one will have to die from this sudden engine failure before action is taken. thank you. *ak
08/31/2001
 Vehicle accelerates faster than the desired speed. rpms rev up to 2 1/2 -3 in park. sensors were replaced, and set a few weeks ago, and idled down vehicle. problem has come back.
08/03/2001102/01/1997
 On 8/3/2001, while in heavy traffic on interstate 95 in maryland, my ford taurus suffered a castrophic transmission failure, which resulted in the car having no power, while the engine revved. i narrowly missed multiple accidents and was able to make my way to the shoulder. this failure wa sudden and extreme and could have resulted in my family's injury or death. i was towed to a transmission shop who had to perform a major rebuild of my transmission, including hard parts. the cost was in excess of $2600.*ak
05/28/2001209/01/2000
 After coming off a green light, at about 15 mph, transmission fluid began to leak and the rpm's revved with no further acceleration. after having vehicle towed to aamco, i was advised that the front seal had a major leak and failed along with the stador and transmission. i asked hayward ford for recall or technical service issues and was told that there weren't any. i also called the ford coroporate office and was told that there were no issues with the transmission. and i was told that there the ford engineers would be forwarded the message, but wouldn't be giving me a call nor the information i needed.
12/28/1998508/01/1997
 Engine intermitently accelerates on it's own. engine speed of 2500 rpm's at idle and under load observed. *ak
04/22/2001104/01/1996
 While attempting to park the driver placed car in reverse, the motor revved then it was place in drive and it took off. traveled for 2.2 miles before catapulting in the air and impacting a utility pole only after crashing through an iron i beam gate. braking would not even slow vehicle down. blew both passenger tires prior to the collision. estimated speed reached 50-70mph according to witnesses and driver. *ak
04/13/2001
 Rpms increased while consumer was going 60mph. it kept revving without giving any gas. finally it quit running, and vehicle stalled. consumer was able to drift in a parking lot. dealer has replaced transmission twice with rebuild transmissions, and it still was not correct. dealer only warrantied transmission for 12,000 miles or 12 months. dealer said they didn't put in new transmissions, they just rebuild them. *ak
06/15/200001/01/1996
 Transmission shifts at high rpm during 2-3 shift. problem continues to worsen. i was told by dealer that he could not duplicate the problem. but that it might be a shift computer problem. problem increases as temperature of engine increases, such as driving for more than 40 minutes in a warm climate. at engine start, noticing the car lurches forward as engine just starts to motor. *ak
12/01/2000
 Engine will rev at a high rpm or stall for no apparent reason.*ak
12/01/1999103/01/1996
 Car was put into drive from park while on a slight downgrade and the car took off into a house. the car was in the garage (not the dealer mentioned in the previous section) a week prior to incident with the same complaint and they said they could not find anything wrong. *ak
05/29/1999
 Throttle body got stuck, causing vehicle to suddenly accelerate, which may cause a crash. please provide further information. *ak
04/20/19991
 Vehicle experienced sudden acceleration when going from park to drive gear, resulting in collision with home, violent deployment of air bag causing injury to chest, nose and legs (bruises). mjs
02/01/1999
 While at a stop or in park position, vehicle suddenly accelerated unexpectedly which could have caused an accident. been to dealer, and dealer could not determine the problem. please provide further information. *ak
12/05/19983
 Vehicle was idling near garage. had opened door when vehicle leaped forward. had taken to dealer & nothing found by mechanic. the 2nd time, everything was in gear (parked) & owner in front of vehicle when it leaped forward & broke garage door. vehicle pushed owner through the door. *ak
06/15/1998108/01/1996
 Throttle cable failure could have caused seriuos accident if it had occured on the interstate or in an interchange. the dealer said this has never happened before.
09/09/1996
 When going downhill the vehicle surges and bucks. this also happens on a flat plain but more when going down hill. this is a intermediate problem. the dealer is not able to correct problem with vehicle. *ak
12/16/1995612/16/1995
 Rusty water in radiator reservoir. also, vehicle surges at all times; transmission shifts when going down incline, causing vehicle to runaway and brake vibration when driving at 40-45 mph. *ak
08/01/1996307/01/1996
 Fuel control valve failed three times.
10/01/1996
 When abs brakes are applied and slows down, vehicle will go into open throttle position, rpms unknown, to stop vehicle push on brakes real hard and put gear into park and turn ignition off. *ak
10/27/19961
 Consumer states when making a turn from freeway onto an exit ramp, power steering seems to turn off, at one point consumer almost lost control, auto became hard to steer. *ak consumer also states idle spped at cold start up remains at approximately 1350 rpm for greater than 60 seconds, this causes the vehicle to accelerate when placing vehicle in reverse.*jb
08/15/1996
 Upon cold start after sitting two hours, vehicle accelerated after shifting from reverse into drive. vehicle went through the side of the garage. please describe details. *ak
06/18/1996112/20/1995
 Vehicle's accelerator pedal stuck and cable broke at only 6 month old. *ak
09/08/19958
 Cruise control not designed to slow vehicle down on down slopes. *dsh
09/08/19958
 Cruise control problem, causes vehicle's speed to increase upon traveling downhill. *sd
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL - ACCELERATOR PEDAL
08/18/20022007/09/2002
 To whom it may concern. i bought a ford taurus 1996 from venuns ford in milwaukee wisconsin. i have only had this car for seven months and the gas pedal was sticking and taking off very fast and shifting its gears. the motor was rumbling and shaking. i had to repair the axles of the car. i had to take it back every month because of the engine. the water pump over heated and the gas pedal is still sticking and taking off very fast today. also the dealer is trying to take away the warranty so they wouldn't have to pay for the repairs. i asked the dealer to take a federal investigation but they refused. i asked for an even exchange for a different car but they wanted me to pay for this car and the other if i got one. urgently respond to my complaint. *jb
03/01/2000105/01/1996
 Gas pedal was sticking or binding:throttle cable was found to have a notch or defect on the plastic portion; cable, throttle body and gas pedal were replaced; paid 20% copayment. concerned that there may be other cars with defective throttle cables. *ak
02/01/1998
 On-going / intermittent problem with accelerator pedal sticking. dealer notified, and consumer has an appointment for inspection of vehicle. *ak
 When the accelerator pedal is applied the vehicle will not move or surge forward. the manufacturer has been notified. *ak
1
 Cables that connects to the gas pedal broke while accelerating onto the highway. nlm
03/01/1998
 Gas pedal is sticking. problem was identified to ford and repairs were mad., manufacturer could not duplicate the problem. after warranty expired, manufacturer found problem. repairs to be made at owners expense. provide further information. *ak
05/09/19961
 Accelerator stuck, causing vehicle to surge. *ak
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL - CABLES
04/05/19971
 The throttle cable snapped when accelerator depressed.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL - CRUISE CONTROL
01/21/199910/01/1996
 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.
12/18/1997110/12/1996
 Vehicle will not decelerate and rpm stays at 2100 when attempting to stop. the idle control valve sticks and maintains highs speed rpm.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL - LINKAGES
 Intermittently when brakes are applied or while applying brakes vehicle will surge forward suddenly and unexpectedly. dealer has not been able to duplicate or correct problem.*ak
03/01/2000105/01/1996
 Gas pedal was sticking or binding:throttle cable was found to have a notch or defect on the plastic portion; cable, throttle body and gas pedal were replaced; paid 20% copayment. concerned that there may be other cars with defective throttle cables. *ak