NHTSA Complaint #10445242 — 2006 FORD TAURUS

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO DROP MY KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL AND DAYCARE WHEN I NOTICED IT WAS RUNNING AT AN EXTREMELY HIGH RPM (5000). I HAD TO DRIVE WITH BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO KEEP THE SPEED AT A REASONABLE LIMIT. ONCE I GOT TO THE FIRST SCHOOL, I PARKED AND SHUT IT OFF THINKING MAYBE THAT WOULD HELP. WHEN I STARTED IT BACK UP, THE ENGINE RPM IMMEDIATELY SHOT BACK UP TO 5000 AND CLIMBING. THE ENGINE WAS MAKING SUCH A LOUD AND VIBRATORY NOISE THAT I SHUT IT OFF AGAIN AND CALLED MY HUSBAND AND HE CAME OVER AND TRADED VEHICLES WITH ME. SAME THING WHEN STARTED IT; IT IMMEDIATELY STARTED REVVING AND HE PUT IT INTO DRIVE AND THERE WAS LOUD THUD AS IF THE ENGINE HAD HIT THE GROUND. HE LET OFF THE GAS AND IT STARTED PULLING ITSELF. (NOW FROM MY HUSBAND'S EXPERIENCE) HE TOOK IT ON THE INTERSTATE TO SEE HOW HIGH THE SPEED WOULD GET BEFORE IT TOPPED OUT. EVENTUALLY HE HAD TO START APPLYING THE BRAKES AT 93 MPH. FOR WHATEVER REASON, HE WONDERED IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE SPEED AND HE WOULDN'T HAVE TO RIDE THE BRAKES AT 65-70 MPH. WHEN HIT THE CRUISE CONTROL IT DIDN'T WORK (HE REALIZED HE WAS RIDING THE BRAKES) SO HE HIT THE BRAKE AS FIRMLY AS HE COULD TO GET IT DOWN TO A SLOWER SPEED TO INVOKE THE CRUISE CONTROL. ONCE HE GOT DOWN TO ABOUT 50-60 MPH HE HIT THE CRUISE AGAIN AND IT CAME ON BUT THE CAR WAS STILL SLOWLY ACCELERATING. HE HIT THE BRAKES TO TURN THE CRUISE OFF AND FELT THE GAS PEDAL POP UP AND HIT HIM ON THE SIDE OF THE RIGHT FOOT AND THEN THE CAR STARTED SLOWING DOWN. WE STILL HAVE TO DRIVE IT (HE DOES BECAUSE I?M TERRIFIED TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL) AND IT DOES THE SAME THING. NOW HE JUST TAPS THE GAS PEDAL UNTIL RELEASES AND TRIES NOT TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL TO DEEP. *TR