The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is investigating about 360,000 Ford Taurus models from the 2005-2006 model years following complaints that a loose cruise control cable has caused throttles to stick, resulting in unintended acceleration.
NHTSA said it had received 14 complaints from owners, including some who said they had to shift the automatic transmission into neutral or turn off the engine to slow the vehicle.
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There were no reports of accidents, but one owner told the agency when the vehicle stopped it was “partially in an intersection after going through a red light”. The agency said a loose cruise control cable may be causing the vehicles’ throttles to stick.
The agency has launched a preliminary evaluation and, should it find additional reason for concern, a more serious engineering analysis will be opened – a significant step toward a recall.
A Ford spokesman said the company was aware of the investigation and is cooperating with the agency.
