Driving my 2006 automatic transmission mustang scs on the freeway and accelerated to pass a car when the throttle went to the floor and became stuck. I had intended to accelerate from about 65 to 70. I tried to brake and this prevented me from speeding up past 85 but did not stop the car or even slow it down. The throttle was completely stuck. This lasted for about 12 - 15 seconds and then…
2006 Ford Mustang cruise control problems
severe Owners of the 2006 Ford Mustang have filed 38 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control, typically surfacing around 36,900 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
38
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2005 Mustang | 46 |
| 2006 Mustang (this page) | 38 |
| 2007 Mustang | 37 |
| 2008 Mustang | 17 |
| 2009 Mustang | 12 |
| 2010 Mustang | 9 |
8crashes
1fire
5injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 38 cruise control complaints filed for the 2006 Ford Mustang, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Owners have filed 38 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Among the 13 model years of Ford Mustang in our records for cruise control problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently describe a dangerous electronic throttle failure where the accelerator pedal sticks at full throttle during normal driving, most often during passing or acceleration on highways. The vehicle rockets to 85–120+ mph with zero throttle response. Brakes slow the car only partially; some owners report applying maximum pressure without stopping the vehicle. The only reliable recovery is shutting off the engine. The pedal often physically sticks to the floorboard, and one owner had to manually pry it loose.
A related problem: after using cruise control, the vehicle holds a set speed (10–15 mph) even after disengagement and restart, resisting brake input until the engine is turned off and restarted.
A third pattern involves sudden surges at idle—engine jumps from 500 to 1500+ RPM without pedal input while parked or at traffic lights, causing the vehicle to lurch forward despite brake pressure. Owners also report a 4–6 second lag when accelerating, then an abrupt surge to unintended RPM.
Engine stalls occur at highway speed with the electronic throttle control warning lamp illuminating; the engine restarts easily but the stalls recur unpredictably. Some owners experience throttle body failure causing limp-home mode and repeated warning lights.
Across all cases, Ford dealers claim no knowledge of the defect, cannot duplicate it during test drives, find no trouble codes, and offer no recall or warranty assistance. One dealer falsely blamed simultaneous brake–accelerator pedal depression. Owners have paid up to $800 for throttle body repair after warranty expiration. This cluster involves 38 NHTSA complaints, yet no manufacturer recall has been issued.
Same Ford Mustang cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009
Failure modes owners describe
Stuck throttle / unintended full acceleration
Accelerator pedal becomes stuck at or near full throttle, often triggered during normal acceleration or passing maneuvers. The electronic throttle fails to return to idle, causing rapid uncontrolled acceleration to 85–120+ mph. Braking provides only partial resistance and does not stop the vehicle reliably. Engine shutdown via ignition is often the only way to regain control. Some owners report the throttle physically sticks to the floorboard.
When: Most commonly during acceleration or passing (65–70 mph baseline speeds escalating to 85–120+ mph); occasionally at low speeds in parking lots; sometimes after highway driving lasting 2+ hours. Occurs at various mileages from 15,000 to 64,000+ miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal stuck at floor or won't return to neutral position; Sudden uncontrolled acceleration despite removing foot from pedal; Engine revs to high RPMs (7000–8000+ typical); Brakes ineffective or only partially slow vehicle; Tires spin or screech during incident; Throttle releases only after engine shutdown or after 10–15 seconds of sustained acceleration; Pedal has physical 'play' or freedom of movement despite throttle being stuck
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite throttle body replacement ($800 typical cost); one owner physically pried the rubber pedal from the floor to free the metal component. Dealers often find no trouble codes and cannot duplicate the problem during diagnostics.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford dealers and manufacturer repeatedly claim no knowledge of the issue or deny any defect. One dealer offered a $600 throttle computer 'update' after an earlier pulling/revving problem. Recall for floor-mat shielding mentioned but did not apply to affected VINs. No recall issued for electronic throttle failure despite multiple customer reports online.
Acceleration hesitation / delay followed by surge
A 4–6 second lag between pressing the accelerator pedal and engine response, followed by an abrupt surge or jump forward. Vehicle lurches unexpectedly to a higher RPM than intended, sometimes reaching full throttle after light pedal input. Occurs during normal city driving and at low speeds.
When: Low-speed city driving, start-from-stop, attempting to merge or pass. Reported at various mileages; one case at 64,000 miles with recurring behavior over 12 months.
Symptoms owners cite: 4–6 second delay between pedal press and engine acceleration; Sudden lurch or jerk when engine finally responds; Unintended rapid acceleration to high RPM from gentle throttle input; Vehicle accelerates beyond driver intent; Engine sputtering or hesitation before surge
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented in narratives; one owner mentioned brake pad wear from repeated hard braking during incidents.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer blamed floor mat interference despite owner confirming no extra mats were present; no diagnostic codes found.
Idle surge / unintended acceleration at stop
Engine RPM jumps from idle (500) to 1500+ RPM without driver input, or vehicle surges forward while stationary with foot on brake. Occurs when vehicle is stopped, shifting into gear, or beginning to accelerate from rest. Brake pressure required to prevent forward motion increases significantly.
When: At parking lots while attempting to park; at stop signs or traffic lights; when shifting into or out of gear; after car has been running for extended periods. One case at 51,000 miles reported sustained incidents over 12 months.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine RPM jumps from 500 to 1500+ without pedal input; Vehicle surges or lurches forward while in brake; High engine revving at idle when foot is off accelerator; Unusually high RPM increase (up to 6000 RPM) when starting and shifting into drive; Tires spin or screech despite brake application; Vehicle difficult to control during parking
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to replicate; no trouble codes found. One technician falsely claimed driver was simultaneously pressing brake and accelerator pedals.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Service manager at State College Ford (PA) claimed a 'triple-check system' prevents this and blamed simultaneous pedal depression—claim rejected by experienced driver of 45+ years. No warranty assistance after expiration.
Cruise control holding vehicle at unintended speed after disengagement
After cruise control is disengaged, vehicle continues to maintain a set speed (typically 10–15 mph) even after engine restart, requiring brake input to stop. Reported as happening minutes or hours after cruise control was last used, then resolving after vehicle is shut off and restarted.
When: Hours or minutes after cruise control use; speed typically 10–15 mph but can range higher.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle maintains cruising speed despite cruise control being off; Continued forward motion after brake expected to stop it; Issue resolves after engine is turned off and restarted
Repairs/costs cited: One owner paid $600 for a 'computer' repair of the throttle control module; another received a computer 'update' from Ford.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Offered computer update; initial $600 repair for throttle computer did not permanently resolve the underlying problem.
Engine stall with electronic throttle control warning lamp
Vehicle stalls during highway driving (around 60–70 mph), with the electronic throttle control warning lamp illuminating. Engine restarts easily and resumes normal operation. Multiple stalls occur over time at highway speeds.
When: Highway speeds of 60–70 mph; one case occurred seven times; another case three times. Failure mileages in the 25,000–76,000 range.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine stalls without warning during highway driving; Electronic throttle control warning lamp illuminates; Vehicle restarts on first attempt; Vehicle resumes normal operation after restart; Repeated stalls without consistent trigger
Codes mentioned: Electronic throttle control warning
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; dealers unable to diagnose.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in one case; no action taken. In another case, no diagnosis possible at dealer.
Throttle body malfunction / limp-home mode
Throttle body fails or enters 'limp-home' mode, limiting vehicle performance and triggering repeated warning lights. Vehicle may lose power and hesitate during acceleration, or show erratic throttle behavior.
When: Recurring over months or years; one case documented over 12 months with 15+ documented incidents.
Symptoms owners cite: Repeated warning lights (check engine, service engine soon); Limp-home mode activation; Loss of power during acceleration; Hesitation then surge pattern; Erratic throttle response
Repairs/costs cited: One owner replaced defective throttle body after repeated warnings and limp-home events. Cost approximately $800 when diagnosed by dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer able to identify throttle body as the component but no recall or warranty assistance offered after warranty expiration.
Synthesized from 38 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2006 Ford Mustang?
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 Mustang?
It's a meaningful issue. 38 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 34 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 13,383 and 71,000 miles, with the median around 36,900. A quarter of owners report trouble before 13,383; a quarter make it past 71,000. 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/Mustang.
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.