NHTSA Complaint #10549583 — 2012 FORD TAURUS

THE KEYLESS START/STOP BUTTON IS OBSCURED BY THE STEERING WHEEL AND CAN BE INADVERTENTLY TOUCHED WHILE KEEPING ATTENTION TO ROAD AND TRAFFIC.THE BUTTON IN OUR CAR IS EXTREMELY SENSITIVE AND DOES NOT REQUIRE A DELIBERATE PUSH TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF. WHILE DRIVING I WAS TRYING TO ADJUST THE AIR DISCHARGE VENT CONTROL, THAT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE START/STOP BUTTON.WHEN I PRESSED DOWN ON THE VENT CONTROL MY HAND SLIPPED AND THE HEEL OF MY HAND MUST HAVE CONTACTED THE START/STOP BUTTON. I WAS UNAWARE THE ENGINE WAS OFF UNTIL I REALIZED THE CAR WAS SLOWING AND I HAD NO POWER. NO POWER STEERING AND NO TURN SIGNALS TO LET TRAFFIC KNOW I NEEDED TO MOVE OVER.FORTUNATELY, I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. HAD I HAVE BEEN 50 FT. FURTHER, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO SHOULDER TO MOVE ONTO. I HAD NO IDEA WHAT HAD CAUSED THIS EVENT UNTIL A FEW DAYS LATER.WHILE TRAVELING ON I-90 IN A 3 LANE AREA AT 65 MPH, IN THE CENTER LANE, MY HUSBAND INADVERTENTLY HIT THE START/STOP BUTTON WHILE TRYING TO TURN ON THE RADIO.THERE IS ONLY A 3 1/2 INCH GAP, CENTER TO CENTER OF THESE TWO BUTTONS.HE WAS NOT AWARE HE HAD TURNED OFF THE ENGINE UNTIL HE REALIZED THE CAR WAS SLOWING DOWN.PLEASE REALIZE TI TAKES MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS TO GATHER YOUR THOUGHTS, TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RECOVER FROM THIS. AGAIN, YOU HAVE NO POWER STEERING, NO POWER BRAKES, NO TURN SIGNALS. HE TURNED ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS AND MANAGED TO GET US INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND THEN OFF THE HIGHWAY. ALL THE TIME THE CAR IS SLOWING MORE AND MORE, AND YOU HAVE SEMI TRUCKS IN YOUR LANE AND THE ADJACENT RIGHT LANE.WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER WHERE PURCHASED, THE SERVICE MANAGER TEST DROVE IT AND COULD DUPLICATE ALL OUR CONCERNS AND MORE. #338992. WE ASKED FORD MOTOR CO. TO REPURCHASE, THEY REFUSED, AND HAVE MADE NO OFFER TO DO ANY REPAIR. WHY WOULD A CAR BE DESIGNED THAT YOU CAN SO EASILY STOP THE ENGINE? *TR