There are 17 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 1989 Ford Taurusin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
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.
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.
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. *AK
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. *AK
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY. *AK
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. *AK
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
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 *JB
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. *AK
IDLE VACUUM FAILED.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WENT INTO OPEN THROTTLE POSITION SPEED UNKNOWN, IMPACT 12:00. TT
WHILE DRIVING UP SLIGHT INCLINE, ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK TO FLOOR; EXCESSIVE EFFORT TO RELEASE; ENGINE SURGED FROM 35 MPH TO HIGH SPEED. TT
GAS PEDAL STUCK WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING ACCELERATION. TT
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.
CONSUMER AT A STOP SIGN CAR ACCELERATED, PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT IN LESS THAN A YEAR.
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. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026