1998 Ford Taurus: sudden unintended acceleration

Filed Oct 17, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 175,500 miles · CO

This is the scariest thing I have ever seen while driving my teenage son's vehicle. His vehicle would not decrease in speed. While taking off from a stop, without touching the pedal, the vehicle accelerated on its own. I have never seen a vehicle accelerate without hitting the gas pedal. This is a serious safety concern especially since its a teenagers vehicle. I see that newer tauruses had a recall for the exact same issue. Many were reporting the vehicle accelerating on its own, this is exactly what my son's did tonight. Also, when I placed his vehicle in park, the vehicle revved up to 4000 RPM's like someone was hitting the gas. I had to shut the car off before it blew the engine. It was nerve racking. This is likely to cause a serious injury of death to my child.

Filed Feb 21, 2013 · Acceleration, Brakes · 140,920 miles · TX

While applying the brake to stop at a light on a highway access road, the vehicle had trouble stopping. It started violently jerking and vibrating and the brakes were all the way to the floor. The RPM's read in the 4's. I pulled over and in a parking lot, the vehicle rapidly reached 45 MPH without stepping on the gas pedal. I was reluctant to have it reach a greater speed so I stopped the vehicle. It once again did not want to respond properly to the brakes. I called ford and eplained the sudden acceleration and the vehicle difficulty in stopping, there are no recalls. I researched online, and it appears that there is a faulty cruise control cable that sticks to the throttle and leaves it open. I once again contacted ford for an estimate to replace the cruise control cable. The service advisor stated that there was no such thing as a cruise control cable. I called the parts department and they said that part is aftermarket and is no longer available. This is a very dangerous situation. I was reading the aol vehicle complaints on this and accidents have occured and people have been injured. I don't know why ford does not recognize this serious safet issue in a timely manner.

Filed May 31, 2012 · Acceleration · 90,000 miles · MN

Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford taurus. The contact was driving 10 MPH when the throttle became stuck, causing the vehicle to abnormally accelerate without warning. The contact was able to stop the vehicle by shifting into neutral and applying the brakes. The contact took the vehicle to a dealer to have the cruise and throttle cable replaced but the dealer did not have the necessary parts. The dealer lubricated the components but that did not remedy the issue. The contact also replaced the cruise control module but to no avail. The contact had experienced the failure numerous times. The failure mileage was 90,000. Updated 07/25/12*lj the consumer stated the vehicle would accelerate on its own. Each time, the accelerator pedal would go down on its own, and the consumer had no way of controlling the vehicle. As the consumer stepped on the brake pedal, the vehicle continued to go faster. The dealer fixed the problem. However, it returned months later. The dealer informed the consumer, parts were no longer being made. They sprayed the cables, but the sudden acceleration returned weeks later. Updated 07/25/12

Filed Jul 22, 2004 · Acceleration · 50,000 miles · TN

I have a 1998 ford taurus station wagon. On 5 occasions the car went into a sudden acceleration while I was stopped with my foot on the brake or while I was slowing down to stop. In each case I would press hard on the brake in order to hold the car and immediately shift out of gear. In the first two incidents, brake pressure would hold the car until I got it out of gear. In the later incidents brake pressure would only slow the forward motion. The engine rush was so great that the car would not stop until it was out of gear. On 2 of these 5 occasions I narrowly avoided an accident. The dealer has been looking into this and has been trying to find the cause, so far without success. The date given below is an estimate of the first time that this occurred.

Filed Apr 2, 2004 · Acceleration, Airbags · IA

Request for assistance in repairing 1998 taurus wagon.*mr the consumer experienced sudden acceleration while attempting to park the vehicle. This problem recurred when the vehicle was being parked at the dealer for a repair estimate. The consumer noticed that the vehicle horn and cruise control were inoperative and believes this may be caused by a defective clock spring.

Filed Jul 24, 2003 · Acceleration · 12,000 miles · NJ · crash · 1 injury

When vehicle is put into reverse the vehicle suddenly accelerates.*mr *ts. When the vehicle was placed in reverse, it suddenly accelerated out of control and crashed.

Filed Sep 23, 2002 · Acceleration · NJ · 1 injury

Consumer experienced a period of sudden acceleration, which overpowered the vehicles brakes. The consumer was able to steer the vehicle into a parking lot where he lost control and hit a brick, as a result the vehicle was totaled and the consumer sustaining multiple bruises to body.

Filed Aug 30, 2002 · Acceleration · NJ · crash

While driving, driver removed feet from gas pedal, engine started running at a full throttle, causing sudden acceleration at a high speed, vehicle turned at a 360 degree angle. Vehicle stopped when it hit a wall.

Filed Aug 23, 2002 · Acceleration · TN · crash

Unintended acceleration, revving with high idle while parked. Owner has rear ended another vehicle due to the unwanted acceleration kicking in when braking. Owner has had a total of 3 occurrences; august 13th/ 15th and 22nd of 2002. Please describe details.

Filed Feb 3, 2001 · Acceleration · SC

Recently purchased this 1998 fleet vehicle with 70,700 miles. Twice in the past week, approximately 75 miles driven vehicle has lunged forward during a stop. Both times it was caused by the engine failing to reduce rpms during deceleration. Again, in both cases I was traveling at approximately 40 miles per hour just prior to approaching the stop signs. I was able to stop the car by applying significant pressure to brake, and engine returned to normal. I came to this website to see if there were any recalls or similar reported problems with this model and found what may be a related problem with certain cars not reducing RPM during deceleration at highway speeds. My car does this also. That was the first difference I noticed between this vehicle and the 1999 ford taurus I used to drive as my fleet car. Because the problem is only random, I was reluctant to take the car to a dealer for investigation as they would probably not be able to actually observe the problem. What should I have them check?

Filed Aug 30, 2000 · Acceleration · VA · crash

While pulling into a parking space with foot on brake, car suddenly accelerated and crashed. Dealer could not identify the defect. Damage: $1,500. This is a serious saftey problem that has been repeatedly reported for model years 1996 through 1999. Why hasn't the government taken any action? I wonder how many people did not live to tell about it. I was one of the fortunate ones. This not only puts the driver and passengers in jeopardy, but pedestrians as well!

Filed Jun 28, 2000 · Acceleration · NC

Would touch brake pedal lightly to slow down or stop, and vehicle would suddenly accelerate for no reason. Acceleration problem was intermittent. Took vehicle to dealer at least 3 times & problem was not resolved.