The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened a Preliminary Evaluation on Ford Taurus models because of sticking throttles or run away engine speeds. The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) in a filing today said it has received 14 complaints from owners of model year 2005 and 2006 Ford Taurus vehicles alleging incidents of a stuck throttle resulting from cruise control cable detachment.
Complaints allege engine speeds as high as 4,000 RPM after shifting into Park or Neutral. Some complaints report that it was difficult to slow the vehicle with the brakes during the incident and one report indicated that when the car was finally stopped, it was partially in an intersection after going through a red light.
In some of the incidents, the drivers alleged having to shut-off the engine and/or shift into neutral in order to stop the vehicle. The so-called Preliminary Evaluation has been opened to assess the scope, frequency, and safety-related consequences of the alleged defect.
There are three steps in the NHTSA recall process. P.E., E.A. – Engineering Analysis – and then a ‘voluntary’ recall. Usually, but not always, the automaker will recall – if it hasn’t already – when NHTSA upgrades the P.E. to an E.A. based on warranty data the auto maker is required to submit when the P.E. is opened.
