FaultScore

1989 Ford Taurus acceleration problems

23 of the 762 complaints about the 1989 Ford Taurus are about the throttle and cruise control — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 96,000 miles.

F

23

Complaints

6

Crashes

0

Fires

3

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 18 78.3%
Accelerator Pedal 4 17.4%
Cables 1 4.3%

Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Ford Taurus year

1987 15 0.7%
1988 16 0.8%
1989 23 1.1%
1990 31 1.5%
1991 27 1.3%
1992 51 2.4%
1993 58 2.8%
1994 63 3.0%
1995 88 4.2%
1996 43 2.0%
1997 58 2.8%
1998 113 5.4%
1999 113 5.4%
2000 90 4.3%
2001 100 4.7%
2002 77 3.7%
2003 90 4.3%
2004 166 7.9%
2005 541 25.7%
2006 181 8.6%
2007 55 2.6%
2008 32 1.5%
2009 10 0.5%
2010 25 1.2%
2011 15 0.7%
2013 18 0.9%
2015 10 0.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 96,000 miles Mooresville, NC

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, HE NOTICED THAT WHEN HE TRIED TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, HE WAS UNABLE TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL USING THE BRAKE PEDAL. HE ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN USING THE BRAKES BUT HAD TO DEACTIVATE THE CRUISE CONTROL BY PUSHING THE OFF BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT INSPECTED OR REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 96,000.

NHTSA complaint #10326978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,000 miles Charlotteville, VA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1989 FORD TAURUS GLS. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TRIED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UP TO 85 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF AS THE SPEED INCREASED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE.THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE DEALER. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND THEY NEVER WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE DUPLICATE FAILURE 2 YEARS LATER. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. THE CONTACT REPORTED THE CRASH TO THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER INCIDENT BEFORE HER STATE CONSIDERED THE VEHICLE FAILURES UNDER THE LEMON LAW. THE CONTACT GAVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA complaint #10316194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150,000 miles Anacortes, WA Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 TO 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER ACCIDENTLY STEPPED ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHILE APPLYING PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND UNEXPECTEDLY, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN AND CRASHED INTO THE PROCEEDING VEHICLE. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO BOTH THE BRAKE AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDALS BEING POSITIONED TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. THE POLICE WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10300317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

MT. Tremper, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR REPAIRED REPEATEDLY FOR A LURCHING/JERKING PROBLEM. MOTOR MOUNTS REPLACED, NEW CLUTCH, NEW TRANSMISSION, NEW BRAKES, NEW TIRES, IT IS STILL DOING THIS. IF THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF, SOMETIMES YOU CAN GET THE CAR TO TEMPORARILY STOP THE JERKING. WE ARE AGAIN, TAKING IT IN FOR REPAIRS. HAVE YOU ANY KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM? IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AT THIS POINT. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #725974 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oroville, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHILE PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL, IT WOULD SLIP. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING THOUGH A MAIN INTERSECTION THE CAR JUST QUITS. TOOK TO DEALER AND DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO.

NHTSA complaint #850845 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Riverside, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE TAURUS IS THE WORST ENGINEERED CAR I HAVE EVER SEEN. - WFS

NHTSA complaint #710070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lakewood, CO Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING ON A SLIGHT UPWARD INCLINE WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN INTO A GARAGE DOOR. CAUSE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #841900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN VEHICLE IS AT A STOP SIGN/LIGHT, ENGINE WOULD START TO RACE, AS IF IT WAS GOING TO TAKE OFF. WOULD HAVE KEEP FOOT ON BRAKES, AND TURN VEHICLE OFF. RESTARTED VEHICLE & PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR AGAIN. TOOK TO DEALER & PROBLEM WAS NOT LOCATED. HAS HAPPENED TWICE BEFORE. HAD TO DISCONNECT THE CRUISE CONTROL JUST IN CASE IT WAS PART OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #841632 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LAS Vegas, NV Crash 3 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DRIVING DOWN STREET TOWARDS RED LIGHT. ATTEMPTED TO APPLY BRAKES AT NORMAL BRAKING DISTANCE, BRAKES SEEMED TO HAVE NO AFFECT, CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. APPLIED BRAKES TWO MORE TIMES. CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. IMPACT OCCURRED IN INTERSECTION. FINAL VELOCITY APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH.

NHTSA complaint #707842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chantilly, VA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED VEHICLE ACCELERATING AT INTERSECTION WHILE WATING FOR LIGHT TO CHANGE. ALL OF A SUDDEN VEHICLE COMMENCED TO ACCELERATE, FORCING VEHICLE INTO THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. POLICE WITNESSED INCIDENT WHEN IT OCCURRED. DEALER NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT THEY WILL DO UNLESS OWNER PAYS FOR THE REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #835410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Philipsburg, MT

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA complaint #835547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bradenton, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND OVER CRUISE CONTROL GETS STUCK, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO COME TO A STOP.

NHTSA complaint #834808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mechanicsburg, PA Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE REVERSE IT TOOK OFF WIDE OPEN, HITTING A TELEPHONE POLE. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. WHEN DRIVER PUT VEHICLE INTO DRIVE, AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF AGAIN. DRIVER THEN PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL, TURNED OFF MOTOR AND WAS ABLE TO COAST INTO A PARKING LOT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #822529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Georgetown, FL

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT IN LESS THAN A YEAR.

NHTSA complaint #525467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Palo Alto, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED, CAUSING INTERMITTENT STALLING. IN ADDITION, TRANSMISSION FAILED AND THROTTLE STUCK, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE OUT OF CONTROL.

NHTSA complaint #513867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brooklyn, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT DISENGAGE WHEN PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE SWITCH IN THE STEERING WHEEL HAS TO BE USED TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #816645 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Tulare, CA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15-25MPH WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 55MPH OR HIGHER. COULD NOT GET VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN UNTIL APPLIED BRAKES. CAUSE OF THIS ACCELERATION IS NOT KNOWN. *AK

NHTSA complaint #815214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Antonio, TX Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE PULLING INTO CARPORT, HIT BRAKES AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING IN A CRASH. ALSO, BRAKE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #518812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brooklyn, NY

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

IDLE VACUUM FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #509854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Femington, NJ

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CONSUMER AT A STOP SIGN CAR ACCELERATED, PLEASE DESCRIBE .

NHTSA complaint #985726 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Somerville, NJ Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION SPEED UNKNOWN, IMPACT 12:00. TT

NHTSA complaint #968920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hamden, CT

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

WHILE DRIVING UP SLIGHT INCLINE, ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK TO FLOOR; EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO RELEASE; ENGINE SURGED FROM 35 MPH TO HIGH SPEED. TT

NHTSA complaint #964976 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

MT Prospect, 00

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

GAS PEDAL STUCK WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING ACCELERATION. TT

NHTSA complaint #961311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1989 Ford Taurus problems

← Full 1989 Ford Taurus report