NHTSA Complaint #10145776 — 2000 FORD TAURUS

THE INCIDENT HAPPENED AS I WAS DRIVING HOME IN MY 2000 FORD TAURUS SEL ON THE ILLINOIS TOLL ROAD ON 12/20/2005 USING CRUISE CONTROL IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER (8-11 DEGREES). I DROVE SEVERAL MILES, AND THEN EXITED THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE ACCELERATOR STUCK AT ABOUT 50-55 MILES PER HOUR. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD NOT RELEASE. I DROVE THE CAR FOR NEARLY 2 MILES TRYING TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO, AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR COMPLETELY. FINALLY, NEAR MY HOME, IN AN OPEN, LESS-TRAVELED AREA, I TRIED TO STOP, BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RACE, AND THE CAR JUMPED FORWARD. I PROCEEDED THROUGH THE RED LIGHT, PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND FLIPPED THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION, WHICH STOPPED THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL STEERING CAPABILITY AND CAME TO A STOP. I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE ENGINE REVVED TO 4000 RPM AND I IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE CAR OFF. AFTER TRYING THIS TWICE, AND TAPPING THE PEDAL HEAVILY TO TRY TO RELEASE THE STUCK ACCELERATOR, I PROCEEDED TO OPEN THE HOOD WITH THE CAR OFF. I TRIED TO FIND THE ACCELERATOR CABLE IN THE COLD (NOW 4 DEGREES) AND DARK. AFTER SEARCHING FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES, I AGAIN TRIED TO START THE CAR AND IT STARTED NORMALLY. I WAS THEN ABLE TO DRIVE HOME CAUTIOUSLY. TOMORROW I WILL CONTACT MY FORD VEHICLE FOR SERVICE. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES RECENTLY, BUT IT NEVER STUCK FOR MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS. HOWEVER, THIS INCIDENT WAS NOT ONLY EXTREMELY FRIGHTENING AND DANGEROUS, BUT ALSO COULD HAVE POTENTIALLY DAMAGED THE ENGINE AND BRAKES. THE NHTSA MUST RECALL THESE VEHICLES IMMEDIATELY, AS THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION!! I AM LUCKY THAT I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 2:30 IN THE MORNING WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC, WITH NO OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE, AND THAT THE BRAKES WERE ABLE TO SLOW THE VEHICLE. OTHERWISE, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A POTENTIALLY DEADLY SITUATION FOR MYSELF AND OTHER MOTORISTS. *JB