NHTSA complaint: 2011 FORD TAURUS — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I PURCHASED A NEW 2011 TAURUS SEL A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO. ONE DAY WHILE DRIVING INTO A PARKING LOT, THE CAR ACCELERATED FULL SPEED ON ITS OWN HEAD ON INTO A WALL AND WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED ($11,000+ IN DAMAGES - THE DRIVER AIRBAG DEPLOYED BUT I WAS NOT INJURED). THE INSURANCE COMPANY DID NOT TOTAL THE CAR AND IT WAS REPAIRED. THE CAUSE FOR THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WAS NEVER DETERMINED. THIS PAST WEEKEND MY BROTHER WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND ALMOST GOT INVOLVED IN A SIMILAR INCIDENT. HE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT IN THE TAURUS. HE FELT A STRANGE RUMBLING THAT FELT LIKE IT WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH HIM. HE WASN'T EVEN SURE IT WAS THE CAR SO HE TOOK HIS FOOT OFF THE BRAKE SLIGHTLY TO SEE IF THE RUMBLING WOULD STOP. AS SOON AS HE TOOK HIS FOOT OFF THE BRAKE, THE RPM GAUGE SHOT UP TO 7,000 AND THE CAR TOOK OFF. HE SLAMMED HIS FOOT BACK DOWN ON THE BRAKE AND THE CAR STOPPED BUT THE RPM GAUGE WAS STILL AT 7,000 AND THE ENGINE WAS RACING. WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RACING (WITH NORMAL PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE THE CAR DID NOT MOVE EVEN THOUGH THE ENGINE WAS RACING) HE TOOK A GLANCE DOWN AT THE GAS PEDAL AND NOTHING WAS PRESSING DOWN ON THE GAS PEDAL...NO FEET, NO TRAPPED FLOOR MATS. HE SHIFTED TO PARK, THE ENGINE CALMED DOWN AND IT WAS LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED. IT DROVE NORMALLY AGAIN. THE CAR IS GOING BACK TO A FORD DEALER FOR INSPECTION BUT THERE IS CLEARLY A POTENTIALLY FATAL MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN THIS VEHICLE. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation