On 14 oct 2017, the subject vehicle had just been serviced. On the drive home, the throttle cable became stuck causing the car to not stop accelerating. The driver was able to exit the highway and stopped the car by crashing into a dumpster/fence at a service station.
2002 Ford Taurus acceleration problems
76 complaints (5% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 101,000. 16 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 76
- of this car's complaints
- 5%
- typical mileage
- 101,000
- crashes
- 16
- recalls
- 0
Which part fails
- Accelerator pedal10
- Cruise control1
- Cables1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+
Ford Taurus acceleration problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2002 Ford Taurus acceleration
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Related investigations
Speed control cable damage
On June 21, 2013, Ford initiated Customer Satisfaction Program 13B04 to address a concern with Speed Control Cable damage in certain model year (MY) 2000 through 2003 Taurus and Sable vehicles equipped with 3.0L 4V Duratec engines and built at the Chicago assembly plant.In the dealer letter for the program, Ford indicates that the Speed Control Cables on affected vehicles may be susceptible to damage or becoming partially disconnected during under hood vehicle maintenance (e.g., replacing a battery or changing the air filter) and that a damaged Speed Control Cable could interfere with the throttle's full return to idle when the accelerator pedal is released.Ford's program instructs dealers to inspect the Speed Control Cables and replace any with any portion of either collar retention tab missing.Dealers will install a Collar Reinforcement Clip at the Speed Control Cable collar in all vehicles. Figure 1 shows the location of the Speed Control Cable in the engine compartment and the proximity of the battery and air filter.The failure mode of the cable assembly is associated with the plastic collar used to secure the cable to a bracket near the throttle body (Figure 2).Damage to one or both retention tabs used to secure the cable ferrule within the collar may allow the ferrule to become disconnected from the collar when the throttle is opened during accelerator pedal application.Additional examples of Speed Control Cables with damaged collar retention tabs and partial ferrule displacement are shown in Figures 3 through 5.If the displacement pulls the ferrule completely out of the collar, the ferrule end may contact the face of the collar when the accelerator pedal is released and the throttle is returning to idle (Figure 6).This results in a throttle stuck at approximately 26-29% open.Testing conducted at the federal safety agency's Vehicle Research and Test Center found that brake booster vacuum may become depleted, resulting in reduced brake effectiveness, if the brake is applied repeatedly when the throttle is stuck at this position.Drivers who experienced this condition have reported being surprised that the engine speed did not drop as expected and in some cases misjudged the degree of braking required to slow the vehicle.Some drivers reported difficulty in braking the vehicle and responded by shifting to neutral or turning the engine off.One minor crash occurred when the vehicle contacted a roadside fence post after the driver responded to the stuck throttle by shifting the car to neutral, turning the engine off and coasting to the side of a roadway with no shoulder, resulting in approximately $400 damage to the vehicle.There were four crashes reported which were attributed to increased stopping distance caused by the increased engine power and/or reduced brake effectiveness, including two of the complaints to ODI.In one crash reported to ODI (VOQ 10516101), the subject vehicle allegedly hit the back end of a truck at approximately 40 mph causing about $2000 damage.In the other crash complaint to ODI (VOQ 10501834), the subject vehicle side-swiped a vehicle as the driver was unable to stop in time and attempted to maneuver around a line of vehicles stopped at a traffic light.When the tow truck driver subsequently started the incident vehicle, the engine was still racing and it was verified that the Speed Control Cable ferrule was stuck on the collar.After further investigation, ODI does not consider the crashes reported in VOQs 10456249 and 10159399 to be related to the Speed Control Cable problem.
PE12033
What 2002 Ford Taurus owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Driving at a speed of about 25 MPH ,my car suddenly revved up and sped up without my pressing the gas. I nearly rear-ended a car in front of me. I pressed on my brake as hard as I could but it did not help much .I downshifted to 3rd gear but still not much help. Finally it returned to normal speed. I was too scared and did not see how high the rpms went.
Entering my neighborhood when gas pedal "broke". Car accelerated to highest RPM and I had to counteract this by putting both feet on my brakes to keep my car from flying off and hitting something. Extremely scary. Car cannot be turned on without the engine revving to the highest possible speed. Had I been on the interstate I may be dead. Gas pedal is depressed all the way to floor. Have not yet had it inspected by a shop.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. While driving at low speeds, the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a tree. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained severe injuries to the head and left side of the body that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. While driving 10-20 MPH, the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact was able to place the vehicle in neutral to slow it down. The contact inspected the vehicle and noticed that a plastic tab linked to the vehicle speed control cable fractured and seized in the open position. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 87,667.
While accelerating onto an interstate(210frwy in la), the vehicle began accelerating on it's own up to 4000 RPM's. The car reached up to 80 MPH without touching the pedal. I had to use the neutral setting on transmission to slow down and eventually exit the busy highway. After checking under the hood I noticed the cruise control cable out of it's plastic retainer and stuck along the broken plastic clip that holds it. This car belongs to my 78 yr old father inlaw and I am glad this happened to me and not him or the outcome could have been fatal. Ford should have a recall on this design flaw in my opinion. At the very least they should have a simple fix like a metal cable retainer.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. While driving various speeds, the vehicle accelerated on its own at twenty six percent throttle without warning. The contact stated that there was an investigation per the federal safety agency action number: pe12033. The contact also referenced the federal safety agency item number: 100526000, which expired on august 31, 2014. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was unaware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,672.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle accelerated without warning and caused the vehicle to have trouble slowing down. The failure only recurred once. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.
Was stopped at a stop light and went to accelerate and the car started to accelerate by itself up to 4000 RPM's and I was unable to get it to stop. Had to keep two feet on the brakes until I could get it to a stopping place. When I had to stop I would have to put the car in neutral an the engine was still revving up and the brakes started to smoke. Had the car towed to a mechanic and he said it was the cruise control cable that had came loose. It was a very scary situation and thankfully no one was hurt and I managed to get the car to a place where I could stop and turn it off. The brakes were smoking and the rear brakes are totally burnt up. I am just glad that my wife or daughter were not driving when this occurred because I don't think they would have know what to do in that type of situation and there could have been a much worse outcome. We have been the sole owners of this vehicle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford taurus. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH the vehicle suddenly experienced rapid acceleration after the accelerator pedal was slightly pressed. The contact indicated that after removing his foot off the accelerator pedal the vehicle continued to accelerate to speeds over 40 MPH. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 116,000.
Questions about the 2002 Ford Taurus acceleration
Does the 2002 Ford Taurus have acceleration problems?
Owners have filed 76 complaints about the acceleration of the 2002 Ford Taurus, 5% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2002 Ford Taurus acceleration problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 101,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2002 Ford Taurus acceleration?
There is no recall for this problem on this model year.
What year does the Ford Taurus have the most acceleration problems?
The Ford Taurus model years with the most acceleration complaints are 2005 (529 complaints), 2006 (176 complaints) and 2004 (164 complaints).
Other 2002 Ford Taurus problems
Suspension 962Visibility 100Engine 61Body 54Airbags 47Brakes 46Electrical 42Transmission 39Tires 38Fuel system 27Lights 24Steering 18Seat belts 13Wheels 11Driver assistance 4Seats 3Locks 1
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