Vehicle gas peddle stick wide open about 6000 RPM cold out side with snow, 10 degrees f. Young girl 2 years of driving experience drove out of control until told to shut engine off and put in neutral. Dropped off at certified mechanic he cleaned carburetor tried to look at control cable things checked out fine. No warning codes came up. Drove he next day after picking up 10 degrees f, same…
2006 Ford Focus cruise control problems
moderate Owners of the 2006 Ford Focus have filed 20 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 92,000 miles at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 Focus | 35 |
| 2006 Focus (this page) | 20 |
| 2007 Focus | 16 |
| 2008 Focus | 9 |
| 2009 Focus | 18 |
| 2010 Focus | 32 |
1crash
When does it fail?
Of the 20 cruise control complaints filed for the 2006 Ford Focus, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 13 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2006 Focus models describe intermittent but severe throttle control problems tied to the cruise control cable system. The throttle cable kinks, shreds, or breaks, causing the pedal to stick open and RPMs to spike to 5,000–6,000+ uncontrollably. In many cases, pressing the brake pedal does not stop the acceleration; owners had to shift to neutral, turn off the engine, or apply extremely hard braking to regain control. Cold weather below 10°F and extended parking periods (8+ hours) trigger the issue most often, though it occurs across the mileage spectrum—from 13,000 to 112,000 miles.
Compounding the throttle sticking, owners report the engine stalls at stop signs and traffic lights after these acceleration events, cutting power entirely. One owner had to pump the accelerator repeatedly just to keep the car running. Shops have cleaned throttle bodies, replaced intake valves, and swapped the cruise control cable itself; costs ranged from $100 diagnosis fees to $600 total repair. Ford dealers initially denied the problem existed and refused post-warranty repairs. No recall has been issued, though owners document identical failures across multiple vehicles online.
Same Ford Focus cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Cruise control cable malfunction / kinking / shredding
The throttle cable attached to the cruise control module fails, either by kinking, breaking, or shredding, causing the throttle to stick in a partially open or fully open position. The pedal becomes unresponsive or feels like 'a lead weight.' Multiple owners report the cable completely breaking, becoming frayed, or kinked within the cable housing.
When: Failure reported from as low as 13,000 miles to 112,000 miles; often 50,000–80,000 range. One case at 65,040 miles on second occurrence after original repair.
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal stuck in open throttle position; Pedal becomes unresponsive or extremely resistant to depression; RPMs spike to 5,000–6,000+ RPM unintentionally; Loss of acceleration despite pressing pedal to the floor; Pedal feels sticky or catching; Cable visible as frayed or kinked on inspection
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers have replaced throttle cable, cruise control cable, and throttle body assembly. One owner paid $100 for diagnosis; another reported $300 parts + $300 labor for cable replacement plus additional sensor work. Post-warranty repair denied by one dealer; another disconnected cable after diagnosis charge.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers initially denied similar issues exist. Some replaced the cable under warranty early in vehicle ownership. Post-warranty, dealers have either declined repair or charged diagnostic fees. No recall issued despite multiple reports online.
Unintentional acceleration independent of driver input
Vehicle accelerates on its own without the driver pressing the gas pedal, or continues accelerating when the brake is applied. The engine revs high despite the accelerator being released or held steady. Brakes will eventually stop the vehicle but require strong application.
When: Occurs intermittently, often triggered by cold weather (below 10°F), after parking for extended periods (8+ hours), or during traffic lights and stop signs. One case occurred within 24 hours of purchase (April 2006); others span the vehicle's life.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates without driver depressing pedal; RPMs climb to 5,000+ during braking; Engine revving extremely high upon restart; Acceleration continues despite brake application; Occurs more frequently in cold weather; Engine stalls or cuts out intermittently after acceleration event; Intermittent high idle speed
Codes mentioned: P0410, P0491, P071x (related to O2 sensor levels, per one complaint)
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic in complaint #1 cleaned throttle body and replaced IYAK (likely fuel injector air intake valve or similar component) with minor carbon deposits found. Complaint #4 involved replacement of breather hose, CCM throttle cable, and O2 sensor totaling $300 parts + $300 labor. Many complaints report mechanics finding no fault after test drives.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford dealership denied knowledge of such issues despite multiple online reports. No recalls offered. Manufacturer advised one complainant to visit dealership but offered no assistance when contacted.
Engine stalling and loss of power under load
Engine cuts out, dies, or loses power while driving, particularly at traffic lights and stop signs, or after the unintentional acceleration event ceases. Vehicle becomes difficult to restart and requires driver to pump the accelerator to keep it running.
When: Typically occurs after unintentional acceleration incidents; one case reported stalling about a week after initial acceleration event. Recurring intermittently at traffic stops.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine dies at stop signs and traffic lights; Loss of power while accelerating; Rough running after high-revving events; Requires pumping accelerator to maintain idle; Vehicle decelerates unexpectedly before resisting acceleration; Difficulty starting after stalling; Lack of acceleration despite depressing pedal fully
Codes mentioned: P0410, P0491
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body cleaning and IAK replacement performed in complaint #1 without resolving the issue long-term. Breather hose replacement addressed in complaint #4 as part of multi-component repair.
Cold-weather accelerator sticking
Accelerator pedal becomes stuck, unresponsive, or extremely stiff specifically during cold weather (10°F and below), particularly when the vehicle has been parked for 8+ hours. Pedal requires full depression or multiple pumping motions to respond. Issue improves or resolves when vehicle warms up.
When: Occurs in winter months and freezing conditions. One case reported it 'just began recently in the last 2 months during cold weather.' Failure between 80,000 and 112,000 miles in affected cases.
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal stuck or extremely resistant during cold weather; Pedal can only be depressed partially or with great force; Requires pumping accelerator to operate vehicle; Intermittent sticking that clears when vehicle warms; High engine speed (RPM) when stuck; Pedal feels like 'lead weight' in cold conditions
Repairs/costs cited: One shop cleaned throttle body and air intake; issue resolved temporarily. One owner paid $100 for diagnosis; another had dealer disconnect cable after diagnosis. No permanent fix reported in cold-weather-specific cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer advised contacting dealership; no recall or assistance offered.
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford focus. During application the accelerator becomes stuck. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection. She was advised that they may have to make an adjustment, and that the throttle cable was shredding . She repaired the vehicle at an expense of $300.00 dollars. The failure and current mileages were 58000.
My 2006 Ford vent selector that moves from defrost to vent has broken twice now. I am told it is a 600 fix but I see so many complaints about this issue why is there no recall.. Next same car the gas pedal sticks in cold weather take to a auto shop they clean throtthle body and runs fine for a bit but again a lot of complaints yet no recall why. They both happen while in motion
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Ford focus. The contact was driving 5 MPH and entering a parking space when the accelerator pedal would became stuck in open throttle. The contact stated that the failure was most prominent in colder to freezing temperatures. The vehicle had not been inspected by a dealer nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure mileage…
When I try to start my car it doesn't want to stay running unless I push the accelerator pedal and at the same time my accelerator pedal wants to stick when I push it to go. I had it checked and nobody can seem to find the issue. *tr
This speed control problem nearly cost me my life the other night and fortunately no accident. I was driving on highway and it felt like peddle stuck...car accelerated and would not slow down . I kept hitting gas to try to release it, thought mat in way and it wasn't. Let the record reflect this car has this problem for many and if I get killed. Good luck Ford motor co. This is the 3rd time.…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2006 Ford Focus?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2006 Ford Focus?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 20 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 18 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 70,000 and 112,000 miles, with the median around 92,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 70,000; a quarter make it past 112,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Ford/Focus.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.