NHTSA Complaint #10302448 — 2006 FORD TAURUS

I JUST PURCHASED (1/23/2010) A USED 2006 FORD TAURUS SE, 3.0L VEHICLE WITH 62,800 MILES. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK (WOULD NOT ENGAGE) AND I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER (PHILLIPSBURG/STATELINE HYUNDAI) THEY WOULD HAVE ME RETURN TO REPAIR IT AS SOON AS THE PARTS ARRIVED. AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM ON 1/26/2010), I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 35 MPH ON AIRPORT ROAD/SOUTH WHEN I NOTICED THE LIGHT AHEAD TURNED YELLOW. I RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR CONTINUED TO MAINTAIN SPEED. (I HAD NOT TURNED ON THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS IT WAS ON). I THEN STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND TO MY AMAZEMENT THE CAR ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE. I DEPRESSED THE BRAKES FURTHER, BUT THE ENGINE REVVED HIGHER TO MAINTAIN SPEED AND I WENT THRU THE RED LIGHT! ATTEMPTING TO STOP THE CAR, AS ANOTHER TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH STOPPED CARS WAS IMMEDIATELY AHEAD, I HAD TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT TURN LANE AND WENT THRU ANOTHER RED LIGHT BARELY AVOIDING CROSSING TRAFFIC. NOT THINKING TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION, I DEPRESSED THE PARKING BRAKE, CONTINUED TO HIT THE MAIN BRAKES AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SLOW (SPEED) ALTHOUGH THE ENGINE REVVED UNCONTROLLABLY. I FINALLY PULLED TO THE SIDE AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE CAR AND DURING 4 SUCCESSIVE TRIES IT IMMEDIATELY REVVED TO OVER 4,000 RPM. ON THE 5TH TRY THE START WAS NORMAL AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE HOME. I AM TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALER TOMORROW MORNING TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED AND CORRECTED IMMEDIATELY! THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER FOR BOTH MYSELF, MY CAR AND THOSE INNOCENT PEDESTRIANS/FELLOW DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME. *TR