# 1997 FORD TAURUS — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
> NHTSA complaint `148271` · 1999-04-23 · Ford Motor Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 0
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** No
- **Vehicle towed:** No
## Vehicle
- **Make:** FORD
- **Model:** TAURUS
- **Year:** 1997
- **Manufacturer:** Ford Motor Company
- **Component:** VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
## Narrative
SPOUSE BACKED OUT FROM A PARKING SPACE AND WHEN SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN "DRIVE"  THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, AND BEFORE ANY ACTION COULD BE TAKEN SHE COLLIDED WITH A STORE FRONT.  THE "CRUISE CONTROL" HAD BEEN USED THE DAY BEFORE AND THERE IS REASON TO BELIEVE IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING AND CAUSED THE SUDDEN FORWARD MOVEMENT.  THE REASON FOR THIS ASSUMPTION IS THAT I HAD DRIVEN THE CAR ON A PREVIOUS RECENT OCCASION, AND NOTICED THE LIGHT INDICATING CRUISE WAS ON ALTHOUGH I HAD JUST STARTED THE CAR.  I THOUGHT PERHAPS I MAY HAVE BUMPED IT BUT NOW I AM SURE IT WAS MALFUNCTIONING.  THIS WAS REENFORCED WHEN I TALKED TO THREE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAD SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH FORD PRODUCTS.  *AK
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*