2001 Ford Taurus Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 99about this part
- Share
- 10%of 1,037 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 120,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 99 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 2001 Ford Taurus, 10% of the 1,037 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 120,000 miles. 17 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The car will sometimes stay at high rpms even when pressure is released on the accelerator pedal. This happened to me in 2018 when I first got the car and has happened recently in december 2020. In the first episode, I depressed the brake and the car did not slow down until I shifted to neutral. In the second, my wife had to throw it into park. The car was in motion on a city street in both instances going straight”
NHTSA complaint #11384164, filed 2020-12, 102,000 miles“I pulled out of a gas station. Came up to a stop light. After the light turned green I pushed the accelerator then noticed the car was increasing in speed without my foot on the accelerator. Came up to another stop light and could barely get the vehicle to stop.”
NHTSA complaint #10500552, filed 2013-02, 159,541 miles“My daughter had just left a stoplight and at approximately 35 miles an hour let off the throttle but vehicle continue to accelerate. Pushed as hard as possible on the brake to slow vehicle down and get off the road put in park throttle still high, shut the vehicle off. I investigated and found cruise control cable casing had come out of plastic retainer clip and end of cable housing caught on plastic retaining clip causing throttle to remain open approximately 1/2 inch off idle!”
NHTSA complaint #10702143, filed 2015-03, 91,200 miles“The accelerator pedal stuck in the full open position as I was driving down a side street. I was able to pull to the side of the road but by the time the car was turned off the transmission had totally fried and all the fluids came out of the engine.”
NHTSA complaint #10508121, filed 2013-04, 116,000 miles“I had just punched the gas pedal and then went to hit the brakes a few seconds later, but the car wasn't really slowing. Looked down and noticed the rpms were at 4000 so I moved the transmission to neutral and the car started slowing more. The car kept revving at 4k rpms though so I turned off the engine. I hadn't come to a complete stop yet so the last few feet were harder to stop, but luckily there wasn't any traffic in front of me and I wasn't in any danger of hitting anyone/anything. …”
NHTSA complaint #10460322, filed 2012-06, 164,100 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10052600Jun 21, 2013Ford: see document search button for owner letter. Speed control cable is susceptible to damage and can disconnect during hood maintenance and also interfere with full throttle…
Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 2% |
| 2015 | 10 | 4% |
| 2014 | 8 | 3% |
| 2013 | 18 | 3% |
| 2012 | 4 | 5% |
| 2011 | 14 | 7% |
| 2010 | 24 | 12% |
| 2009 | 10 | 16% |
| 2008 | 32 | 18% |
| 2007 | 55 | 37% |
| 2006 | 176 | 55% |
| 2005 | 529 | 68% |
| 2004 | 164 | 44% |
| 2003 | 88 | 7% |
| 2002 | 76 | 5% |
| 2001 | 99 | 10% |
| 2000 | 87 | 7% |
| 1999 | 109 | 12% |
| 1998 | 111 | 20% |
| 1997 | 58 | 8% |
| 1996 | 42 | 5% |
| 1995 | 85 | 7% |
| 1994 | 61 | 7% |
| 1993 | 57 | 4% |
| 1992 | 49 | 7% |
| 1991 | 26 | 4% |
| 1990 | 30 | 8% |
| 1989 | 23 | 4% |
| 1988 | 16 | 5% |
| 1987 | 15 | 6% |
| 1986 | 5 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2001 Ford Taurus
515 complaintsBrakes
97 complaintsAir bags
66 complaintsEngine cooling
60 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
58 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
39 complaintsBody and structure
38 complaintsElectrical system
37 complaintsTires
35 complaintsExterior lighting
29 complaintsSeat belts
24 complaintsFuel system
23 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2001 Ford Taurus
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology