Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Ford taurus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle accelerated abnormally. The vehicle had to be maneuvered to the side of the roadway in order to stop the failure. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle would roll forward after the being secured in park. The failure recurred over a five year span. The vehicle was taken to…
2008 Ford Taurus cruise control problems
severe 20 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
4crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 20 cruise control complaints filed for the 2008 Ford Taurus, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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 12 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2008 Ford Taurus has a documented pattern of unintended acceleration and throttle control issues that can occur suddenly while stopped or driving, sometimes with brakes failing to hold the vehicle adequately. These episodes—ranging from engine surges to stuck pedals—have caused collisions and create a legitimate safety hazard that dealers have been unable to diagnose or repair consistently.
Unintended acceleration is the dominant complaint across these 20 complaints. Owners report the engine surging to 2000–4000+ RPM without pedal input, often while stopped at lights or in parking lots with the brake applied. The vehicle lurches forward, sometimes with brakes unable to hold or requiring extreme two-foot pressure. Episodes occur both on cold starts and when the engine is warm. The problem recurs intermittently over years, from days after purchase to much later in ownership.
A related failure mode involves the accelerator pedal physically sticking to the floor. Drivers have had to manually pull the pedal up or shift to neutral and kill the engine to regain control. One owner reported a stuck pedal at highway speeds that required kicking and pulling to dislodge.
A throttle body replacement at one dealer failed to resolve hesitation-then-sudden-acceleration behavior. Owners also report throttle-related loss of braking response during surge events—one driver on the freeway could not brake effectively until the vehicle slowed on a downhill stretch.
Dealers and independent mechanics consistently fail to reproduce the failures during diagnostic testing or cannot identify a cause. Computer reprogramming, Event Data Recorder installation, and throttle body replacement have been attempted without lasting success. No recalls or service bulletins addressing these issues appear in the narratives. Multiple owners report Ford claiming no prior knowledge of the problem despite evident internet discussion among owners.
Same Ford Taurus cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended Acceleration While Stopped or at Low Speed
Engine surges or vehicle accelerates without driver input while the vehicle is stopped at a traffic light, parked, or moving slowly. RPMs spike and brakes may require excessive force or fail to hold the vehicle. Occurs with or without cruise control engaged.
When: Throughout ownership; occurs within days to weeks of purchase and recurs intermittently over years. Reported at various mileages from 5 to 146,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Engine revs to 2000–4000+ RPM with foot off accelerator pedal; Vehicle lurches or surges forward despite brake pedal being depressed; Brakes require two-foot pressure or heavy force to hold vehicle; Happens while stopped at lights, stop signs, or in parking lots; Occurs both when engine is cold and when warm
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnostics often fail to replicate or diagnose the issue. One report mentions computer reprogramming; another notes a throttle body replacement that did not resolve recurrence. Event Data Recorder installed incorrectly in one case. Most vehicles not repaired; dealers unable to determine cause.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer initially claimed no prior knowledge of the issue. No recalls or TSBs mentioned in narratives.
Stuck Accelerator Pedal
Accelerator pedal mechanically sticks to the floor or becomes unresponsive, causing the vehicle to accelerate uncontrollably. Drivers must manually pull the pedal up or shift to neutral and shut off the engine to regain control.
When: Reported at mileages ranging from low miles to 55,000 miles. Episodes last seconds to minutes.
Symptoms owners cite: Pedal sticks to floor and does not return when released; Vehicle accelerates rapidly even with foot off pedal; Pedal requires manual pulling or kicking to dislodge; Issue may recur after engine restart
Repairs/costs cited: Physical removal by driver (pulling pedal up) was necessary in at least one case. Dealers unable to diagnose or repair when vehicle is brought in. No mechanical fixes documented.
Throttle Body Malfunction
Throttle body failure results in hesitation when accelerating from a stop followed by abrupt, uncontrolled rapid acceleration. Vehicle responds erratically to accelerator pedal input.
When: Reported at 81,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle hesitates and responds slowly when accelerator pedal pressed to floor; After hesitation, vehicle suddenly accelerates rapidly; Driver nearly loses control due to abrupt acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Throttle body was replaced at dealership (Mouw Ford, Sioux Center, IA); failure recurred after replacement.
Brake and Accelerator Pedal Spacing Issue
Brake and accelerator pedals positioned too close together, causing driver to depress both pedals simultaneously during normal braking, resulting in unintended acceleration.
When: Reported at 45,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Both brake and accelerator pedals depressed at the same time due to proximity; Unintended acceleration while attempting to brake
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not taken to dealer; not repaired. Police report filed for collision with another vehicle.
Speed Sensor Defect Leading to Limp-Safe Mode
Defective speed sensor triggers limp-safe mode, causing vehicle deceleration and illumination of all warning lights on the instrument panel.
When: Reported at 146,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle decelerates unexpectedly while driving at 25 MPH; All warning lights illuminate on instrument panel; Vehicle enters limp-safe mode
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic diagnosed defective speed sensor requiring replacement. Vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was made aware of the failure.
Transmission Failure or Hesitation
Vehicle fails to accelerate when accelerator pedal is depressed, occurring intermittently during highway driving. Diagnosed as transmission issue requiring replacement.
When: Reported at 73,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Failure to accelerate when pedal is depressed at 60 MPH; Intermittent occurrence
Repairs/costs cited: Independent mechanic diagnosed transmission needing replacement. Vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was made aware of the failure.
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
I was pulling out of a parking lot, stopped and on the brakes waiting for an opening in traffic when all of the sudden my car tried to surge me forward, revving up very high. It sounded as if the car may blow up. I had to stomp on the brake pedal with both feet and fight to keep from the car throwing me out into traffic. I put the car in park and it stopped. I immediately went to the nearest…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2008 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 2008 Ford Taurus?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 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 17 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 35,000 and 81,000 miles, with the median around 52,015. A quarter of owners report trouble before 35,000; a quarter make it past 81,000. 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/2008/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.