2005 Ford Taurus: check engine light

Filed Oct 4, 2022 · Acceleration · CA

For a while now I have noticed that intermittently when barely stepping on the accelerator pedal, the car will accelerate but continue to speed up even with my foot off of the accelerator. I have to step on the break extremely hard to come to a stop, and car will still be doing around 40mph when at a complete stop or light. The check engine light has been on, and I have taken it to a mechanic twice, one of the times he had it for a month trying to figure out what that light is about, checking everything possible, but I am not sure if that light has anything to do with the accelerator.

Filed Mar 20, 2019 · Engine, Transmission · 125,000 miles · NC

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford taurus. When the vehicle was started, the rpms increased and the fuel cap and check engine warning indicators illuminated. When the vehicle was shifted into drive, it lunged forward. The dealer and manufacturer were not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 125,000.

Filed Aug 20, 2018 · Acceleration, Transmission · 100,000 miles · TX

Driving on a high-speed highway, when without warning (no check engine light or any other notification), the transmission quit working. I was left unable to accelerate or even maintain my speed; and I had to coast to a stop on an exit ramp as the portion of highway that I was on did not have shoulders on either side. It was very dangerous. The traffic behind me was just as ill-prepared for this sudden deceleration, and I was powerless to do anything other than steer to relative safety. It appears that the torque converter's splines are not properly designed and this is a common occurrence on this specific make, model and year. This defect should be attended to, especially so that there is no injury or loss of life in the future.

Filed Dec 27, 2016 · Acceleration, Electrical · 77,250 miles · TN

This vehicle was in motion on a busy street. It slowed down,sputtered,and would not move.it was in gear (d) drive. I was able to coast it off the main street to safety.the engine light and the check transmission alerts were on. Accelerator seemed stuck as well. There are only 77,000 miles. I am told that the transmission is gone. There are more that 170 complaints concerning this car. Ford needs to take responsibility and repair these transmissions. Some owners have been on the highway. I was fortunate,I was only on a busy street. Turning was also difficult. The federal safety agency please do something before someone is killed.

Filed Mar 1, 2016 · Engine · 200,000 miles · MA

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford taurus. After starting the engine, the rpms revved extremely high. On several occasions, the engine would not start and the check engine light illuminated. The cause of the failures was not diagnosed nor repaired. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was 200,000.

Filed Jan 28, 2015 · 109,000 miles · FL

Was at stopped at a red light, when it turned green proceeded through the intersection when my car suddenly down-shifted into neutral without any warning. The check engine light had come on, but no noises or any other mechanical indication. The car behind me had to swerve around quickly to avoid hitting me. I had to put the car in park, and turn off, and restart to gain my drive ability back. After that I would not drive the car, for safety of myself and children. My husband test drove it after doing some basic transmission services, but the problem persisted. He now believes that it is the torque converter, which after much research is highly common with this make and model. This is a costly repair, and an extremely dangerous issue, that seems to be occurring frequently among owners of this make and model. Im in disbelief that ford hasn't been investigated for transmission issues by now, after the hundreds of complaints made about this exact issue.

Filed May 15, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 135,000 miles · AZ

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford taurus. The contact stated that the vehicle abnormally accelerated when the brakes were engaged. The check engine light illuminated after the failure occurred. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the technician was unable to diagnose the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 135,000. The current mileage was 135,040.

Filed Feb 22, 2014 · Acceleration, Fuel system · 58,000 miles · TX

I was driving on highway with my baby and suddenly found that even though I fully released the gas pad the engine still kept running at ~3000 RPM. I had to put brake to slow the speed which would otherwise accelerate my car out of my control. I finally stopped by switching to neutral and hard brake. When I restarted the car the problem was still there and the engine made a big noise at parking gear. The problem disappeared after I disconnected the battery. During the whole incident, I did not see any warning signs (e.g. Check engine) on.

Filed Jan 18, 2014 · Acceleration · 101,200 miles · OK

On 1/18/2014: I was traveling approximately 45 MPH, when all the sudden my 2005 ford taurus suddenly started accelerating. I did not have my foot on the gas pedal. When I started to used the brakes it felt like the car was pushing against the brakes. The brakes held and I was able to stop the car. I put the car into park and when I did this the RPM's went to 60000. I quickly turned off the car because I was afraid that I would blow the motor, I let the car sit there for a few minutes. I re-started the motor and the motor was reeving at a high rate and when I put the car in drive it slammed into drive and the car took off. I feel that something is terribly wrong. There are no "check engine" lights on. It feels like the cruise control is engaged, but I continuously pushed the "off" button on cruise control and no light displayed that the cruise control was engaged. I feel this is a defect in the making of this automobile and I'm very concerned that I could have been the cause of a terrible accident. I am forced not to use my car until I can get a mechanic to look it over a diagnosis the situation. I had my 93 year old grandmother traveling with me on this day and I am fortunate that I was not in a serious accident. I am reporting this situation because, I wonder if other 2005 ford taurus have had the same issues & reported & maybe have even not been as luck as I, and have been in serious accidence due to this issue that should be re-called by ford. Thank you.

Filed Mar 30, 2013 · Engine, Transmission · 106,000 miles · OH

July 25, 2011, 1st engine revved but car did not move. Pressed gas,car took off at full speed. Reached speeds over100 MPH in a 35 MPH, turned off ke to stop. Ford replaced throttle body ,cruise control cable due to wear, fuel filter, air filter , transmission flush, replace washer hose at $748.22 cost to owner. 2nd, june 2012. Car started sudden acceleration, turnoff key to stop car. Ford dealer could not replicate sudden acceleration incident, told owner to pick up vehicle, no work performed. 3rd incident march 21,2013, sudden acceleration shifting into drive, turned off key, re-started engine light came on, car missed & chugged. Car would not go 20 MPH. Ford said they could not replicate rapid acceleration. Went to pick up car at deal and when started engine light was on and car missed and chugged. Could not drive car off of dealer's lot. Returned keys with instructions to review rapid acceleration problems. Contacted ford corporate customer service opened case [xxx]. Was told that no recall exists on that vehicle, we could have a discount on buying a new ford vehicle to resolve the incident. Ford dealer on nd review replaced ignition coil assy, spark plugs, updated PCM codes, tightened tie rods, 4 wheel alignment, replaced 2 front tires, fuel filter, front or rear brakes with rotor replacements, oil filter and lube change at cost of $1681.82 to owner. Ford dealer at pick up would not provide written guarantee that rapid acceleration problem had been fixed or eliminated. My son's safety at hands of fords refusal to fix problem. His fathers 2002 escape (similar 6 cylinder ford) has a recall and fix for rapid acceleration problems. We asked ford customer service about future liability if we sold the car & they said if we sell the car there would be no liability. This does not seem to ethical & leaves vehicle owner at a potential safety risk.

Filed Mar 16, 2012 · Engine · 80,000 miles · SC

Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford taurus. The contact stated that the rpms would increase to 4000 and the engine warning light would illuminate on the instrument panel. A local mechanic changed the fuel filter, but the failure recurred. Neither the dealer nor manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 80,000.

Filed Mar 14, 2012 · Acceleration · 63,000 miles · MD

I was driving in suburban rush hour traffic, 35-40mph, slowed for red light and engine started racing. Rpms over 2000, car would not slow down. I had to literally "stand" on the brake pedal to prevent hitting the car in front of me. My car then slowed down to about 5-10 MPH, I shifted to neutral and turned engine off. There I sat, traumatized, blocking traffic for several minutes, before restarting engine, pulling off road and turning engine off again. After about 10 minutes I restarted and drove to my destination without problem recurring. There were no engine warning lights. This was second time this has happened, oddly enough at about the same location in my commute (after about 20 minutes of driving). Broadcast and internet sources indicate that you are investigating this issue. I contacted ford, where customer service personnel were polite but not very helpful. They acknowledge issue, but say there's no recall. They took contact information, but would not give me an incident/case number because "our computers are down." I contacted two local dealers, who say they have heard nothing about the problem, but will be happy to take a look (at their regular service charge of $200-300). Please add this to your list of safety complaints for this model.