NHTSA Complaint #10505732 — 2001 FORD TAURUS

WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AT A STEADY SPEED, THE CAR BEGAN TO SPEED UP RAPIDLY, REACHING NEAR 55 MPH WITHIN SECONDS. THE ENGINE STAYED AROUND 4,000 RPM AND USING THE BRAKES ONLY SLOWED THE VEHICLE, BUT COULD NOT STOP IT. TO AVOID A CRASH, THE ONLY OPTION I HAD WAS TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN IN TO A PARKING LOT. ONCE IN NEUTRAL, THE ENGINE'S RPM REMAINED CLOSE TO 4,000. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION OFF, I INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR TO FIND THAT THE FLIMSY PLASTIC PIECE THAT HOLDS THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE IN THE PROPER POSITION WAS BROKEN IN SEVERAL PLACES, LEAVING THE CABLE FREE TO GET CAUGHT ON WHAT IS LEFT OF THE PLASTIC PIECE EXTREMELY EASILY. SINCE THAT INCIDENT, THE EXACT SAME SITUATION HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. DUE TO THE PLASTIC PIECE BEING BROKEN, THE CABLE DOES NOT SIT INSIDE THE PLASTIC PIECE AS INTENDED, WHICH HAS CAUSED THE RPM TO STAY HIGHER THAN NORMAL AT ALL TIMES WHEN THE CAR IS IN GEAR. WHILE DRIVING, REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BEGIN DECELERATING BEFORE A STOP HAS NO EFFECT, AS IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ENGAGED AT ALL TIMES. SLOWING THE VEHICLE CAN ONLY BE DONE BY USING THE BRAKES. THIS SITUATION CAME VERY SUDDENLY WITH ABSOLUTELY NO PRIOR SIGNS OR SYMPTOMS OF ANY PROBLEM. THE RAPID, UNCONTROLLABLE ACCELERATION POSES A SEVERE SAFETY THREAT TO DRIVER AND ANYBODY AROUND THE VEHICLE. LUCKILY THERE WAS NOT ANY TRAFFIC WHEN THIS HAPPENED TO ME, AND THERE WAS A PARKING LOT NEARBY TO EXIT THE ROAD. IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE IN MODERATE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC, A CRASH WOULD BE VERY LIKELY. THIS ISSUE IS UNPREDICTABLE AND HAS HAPPENED TO ME AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 70 MPH AND AT ROAD SPEEDS OF 35 MPH. I HAVE SINCE DECIDED TO PARK MY CAR AND NOT OPERATE IT UNTIL I CAN FIX THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE IT IS HIGHLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE IN ITS CURRENT STATE. *TR