I was driving my 2007 Ford taurus se with my family in the vehicle with me, out of nowhere my car RPM shot up. I had to put my car in park while my engine is screaming and hit the gas peddle couple of times, to bring my RPM back down.(note: RPM be around 4000). Sometimes while I'm driving my car, it will keep the same speed or it will accelerate without hitting the gas peddle. *tr
2007 Ford Taurus cruise control problems
severe 46 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
46
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
2crashes
1injury
What stands out
Cruise control accounts for 31% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 9 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 46 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2007 Taurus has widespread reports of a cruise control cable that detaches from the throttle body, causing uncontrolled acceleration and high idle RPMs—a safety hazard Ford has not recalled for this model year despite fixing it on earlier Taurus generations. Avoid buying one without thorough pre-purchase inspection of the cruise control assembly and throttle linkage, and insist on test-driving to catch intermittent surging.
The 2007 Taurus cruise control system has a fundamental design flaw: the cable's quick-connect clip routinely detaches from the throttle body connector. When this happens, the rigid cable interferes with the throttle linkage, jamming it partially open. Owners describe sudden, unintended acceleration at any speed—especially dangerous at stop lights or while merging—combined with engine RPMs stuck at 3,000–6,000 even when parked or in neutral.
The problem usually starts with cruise control failure (light comes on, set button does nothing), then progresses to acceleration episodes. Tapping the gas pedal hard multiple times, shifting to neutral, or restarting the engine temporarily clears the condition—evidence the throttle is mechanically stuck, not electrically faulty. Dealers often find no fault codes and cannot diagnose it unless the clip has visibly popped off during inspection.
The cable clip keeps detaching despite reattachment; owners report it coming loose again within days. Replacing the cruise control assembly, cable, or securing it with a zip tie has fixed the issue for some, but ford never recalled the 2007 model year despite identical systems being recalled on earlier Taurus generations. Cold or wet weather can make the accelerator sticky on top of this core defect.
Same Ford Taurus cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2008 · 2010
Failure modes owners describe
Cruise control cable detachment causing stuck throttle
The cruise control cable quick-connect clip becomes loose or detaches from the throttle body, allowing the rigid cable to lodge against and hold open the throttle plate. Owners report the clip popping off repeatedly, sometimes needing temporary fixes like zip ties. The disconnected cable interferes with normal throttle operation, preventing it from returning to idle.
When: Varies; reported from 30,000 to 162,500 miles. Some owners experienced onset after initial cruise control failure.
Symptoms owners cite: Unintended acceleration after removing foot from gas pedal; Unable to slow down or decelerate; brakes must be used to control speed; Engine RPMs stuck high (3,000–6,000 RPM) even at idle or in park; Throttle feels stuck or engaged when foot is not on pedal; Cruise control light comes on but set button does not function; Cruise control stops working entirely before acceleration episodes begin; Car lunges forward at stops or intersections despite brake pressure; Shifting to neutral allows RPMs to rise but car to slow
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report replacing the cruise control cable clip, cruise control assembly, cable, and sometimes throttle cable and throttle body. Dealers often unable to diagnose if the clip has reseated before inspection. Temporary fix: zip-tie to secure cable away from throttle.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford has issued recalls for cruise control cable defects on earlier Taurus model years (PE12005). The 2007 model year was not included in those recalls despite sharing the same assembly. No current service bulletins or recall programs mentioned by owners for 2007.
Sticky or slow-to-respond accelerator pedal in cold or wet weather
Owners report the accelerator sticks or becomes sluggish when ambient temperature is low or conditions are wet, especially immediately after starting or shifting into gear. The pedal eventually unsticks but then causes sudden acceleration.
When: Cold or wet weather conditions; typically at startup or after sitting.
Symptoms owners cite: Gas pedal sticks when pressing, requires hard push to move; Delayed acceleration response in cold or wet conditions; Once unstuck, pedal causes sudden acceleration into traffic; Stop-and-go traffic exacerbates the problem; Throttle body may require replacement seasonally (winter)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports replacing the throttle body every winter; extended warranty used multiple times. No specific repair procedure cited by others.
Intermittent high-RPM surging at idle or during deceleration
Engine revs rise to abnormally high RPMs (3,000–6,000) while the vehicle is stopped, parked, or when the driver releases the accelerator to decelerate. The surging occurs intermittently and may be triggered by shifting into or out of gear, or by depressing the brake pedal.
When: Varies widely; recorded from 30,000 to 162,500 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: RPMs suddenly spike to 3,000–6,000 without driver input; Surging occurs while stopped at lights or signs despite foot on brake; Engine races in park; shift to neutral temporarily returns RPMs to high but allows braking control; Tapping the gas pedal hard and quickly ('gunning' the pedal) temporarily resets the condition; Vehicle may surge forward at traffic lights or intersections; Fuel economy gauge fluctuates wildly (e.g., 7 MPG to 34 MPG)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite tapping the accelerator pedal multiple times to clear the condition; shifting to neutral, letting vehicle sit, or restarting the engine as temporary workarounds. One owner reports replacing the entire cruise control assembly resolved the issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers often report no fault codes found and inability to replicate the failure during inspection.
Non-responsive or failed cruise control function
Cruise control fails to set or maintain a speed, or the system becomes inoperable entirely. The light may illuminate but pressing the set button produces no effect. This often precedes or accompanies unintended acceleration incidents.
When: Variable onset; often reported weeks or days before acceleration episodes.
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control light illuminates but set function does not engage; Unable to set or maintain cruising speed; System becomes completely inoperable; No warning lights on dashboard
Repairs/costs cited: Owners have replaced the cruise control cable, cruise control assembly, or had the cable reattached by dealers. One owner reports the cable kept detaching and reattaching the clip did not fully restore function.
Accelerated vehicle movement after shifting into gear or from park
Upon shifting from park into drive or immediately after starting the vehicle and putting it in gear, the car surges forward or accelerates unexpectedly, even with foot off the accelerator pedal or while braking.
When: At startup or immediately after shifting.
Symptoms owners cite: Car lunges forward when shifting into drive from park; Sudden acceleration after shifting, making it difficult to control; Loud engine noise before rapid acceleration; Car accelerates despite foot on brake pedal; Happens in stop-and-go traffic or at traffic lights
Repairs/costs cited: One owner involved in a crash (into a cement barrier) with no reported repair completed. Others have not documented specific repairs.
Synthesized from 46 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 2007 Ford Taurus?
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 2007 Ford Taurus?
It's a meaningful issue. 46 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 38 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 85,000 and 109,000 miles, with the median around 99,567. A quarter of owners report trouble before 85,000; a quarter make it past 109,000. 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/2007/Ford/Taurus.
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.