There are 11 owner-reported speed control & cruise complaints for the 1988 Ford Taurusin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK . THE CONTACT THEN NOTICED THAT THE RPMS DID NOT RETURN TO IDLE. THE CONTACT SAW THAT THE CABLE THAT WAS CONNECTED TO THE THROTTLE AND CRUISE CONTROL WAS OUT OF PLACE AND THE CONTACT RE-ATTACHED THE CABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED BUT NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 04/06/12*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A TACHOMETER. UPDATED 04/13/12
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES THE VEHICLE HAD UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
THE THROTTLE STUCK AND WOULD NOT RELEASE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY BURNED OUT AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
WAS DRVING HOME & NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT PICKING UP SPEED. APPLIED MORE PRESSURE TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL & STILL NOTHING HAPPENED. THERE WAS NO WARNING FOR LACK OF SPEED. VEHICLE WOULD NOT EVEN SHIFT. WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED. *AK
ON THREE DIFFERENT OCASSIONS IN 91', 93', AND 95' THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL. TT
VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT A HIGH SPEED AND THEN WENT INTO AN UNCONTROLABLE SPIN, ONCE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. TT
WENT TO APPLY BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
CRUISE CONTROL DOES NOT DISENGAGE. TT
VEHICLE SURGES WHEN IDLING, DRIVER MUST KEEP BOTH FEET ON BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP VEHICLE, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, HOWEVER PROBLEM CONTINUES. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)
WHEN DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AND PRESSING THE RELEASE BUTTON ON THE STEERING WHEEL, CRUISE CONTROL WILL NOT DISENGAGE,WILL RETURN TO SET SPEED OR HIGHER UNTIL BRAKES ARE APPLIED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
CONSUMER STATES WHEN THE ENGINE IS FIRST STARTED, EITHER HOT OR COLD, THE REVOLUTIONS ARE HIGH AND A WAIT IS REQUIRED TO AVOID HARSH SHIFTS (ALSO WASTES FUEL). SOMETIMES THE REVOLUTIONS NEVER SETTLE DOWN TO AN IDLE SPEED AND BRAKING IS REQUIRED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE FROM GOING OVER THE SPEED LIMIT. WHEN STOPPED THE ENGINE WILL SURGE WITHOUT WARNING AND THE BRAKE MUST BE DEPRESSED AT ALL TIMES AS NOT TO LOSE CONTROL. DEALER HAS DIAGNOSED 3 TIMES. HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *TT
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