Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Ford taurus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 10 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle began to accelerate rapidly. The brake pedal was engaged repeatedly and the contact shifted into park in order to stop the vehicle from further accelerating. The failure was recurring. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer and where the…
2010 Ford Taurus cruise control problems
severe 10 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
2crashes
2injuries
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: Multiple owners report unintended acceleration and brake failures at various mileages, some resulting in crashes and injuries; dealers often cannot reproduce or fix the problem. Cruise control and accelerator pedal defects also documented, with limited manufacturer recalls or remedies on record.
Ten complaints detail a pattern of powertrain control failures in the 2010 Taurus. The most common issue is unintended acceleration—the vehicle accelerates with the brake pedal fully pressed, forcing owners to apply extreme pressure, shift to Neutral, or manually pull the accelerator pedal to regain control. This happens across mileage ranges (as early as 300 miles, up to 86,000), and at least two incidents resulted in crashes with reported injuries.
Brake failures accompany several acceleration complaints. One owner reported brakes replaced three times in one year, yet the acceleration problem recurred. Multiple owners took the vehicle to dealerships, but technicians either found nothing wrong or were unable to diagnose the issue. One owner noted Ford recalled the Escape and Fusion for a throttle body issue, suggesting a possible common cause.
A separate complaint documents cruise control that will not disengage when the button is pressed—a safety hazard. Another owner reports the accelerator pedal physically stuck in the down position at 10,000 miles. Engine surge and erratic running behavior appear in at least one narrative.
Manufacturer response has been inconsistent: some owners report Ford was notified; others indicate no acknowledgment. No manufacturer recall is explicitly mentioned in these 10 narratives for the Taurus, despite similar issues affecting other Ford models.
Same Ford Taurus cruise control reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008 · 2011 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended acceleration — vehicle accelerates with brake applied
Vehicle accelerates on its own or fails to decelerate when brake pedal is depressed. Occurs at low to highway speeds. Owners report having to apply extreme brake pressure, shift to Neutral, or physically manipulate the accelerator pedal to regain control. In at least two complaints, unintended acceleration resulted in crashes with injuries.
When: Low mileage (300, 3,200) to higher mileage (86,000); one complaint at 29,000 miles resulted in crash
Symptoms owners cite: Rapid acceleration while brake pedal depressed; Vehicle will not decelerate when brakes applied; Brakes fail to respond without warning; Front end shuddering during acceleration; Recurring surging forward; Engine RPM does not return to idle after accelerator release
Repairs/costs cited: In one complaint, brakes replaced three times within one year; failures recurred. Most complaints either not repaired or undiagnosed by dealers despite service visits. One complaint mentions TAT ECO and braking systems failed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner #4 reported manufacturer was notified. Owner #5 states manufacturer was made aware. Owner #9 mentions Ford recalled Escape and Fusion for throttle body issue, but no explicit recall mentioned for this 2010 Taurus. Most complaints show no manufacturer response or recall action.
Cruise control fails to disengage
Cruise control button does not turn off the system when activated. Occurs after vehicle swerve or evasive maneuver. Safety concern because driver cannot manually override the function during an emergency.
When: 112,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control will not disengage when button pressed; Illumination of stability/traction control warning indicator after evasive maneuver
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired by dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not made aware of the failure.
Accelerator pedal stuck in depressed position
Accelerator pedal becomes mechanically stuck in the down position during driving, preventing normal throttle control. Driver must manually pull the pedal upward with their foot to regain control.
When: 10,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal stuck in depressed position; Inability to reduce engine throttle by normal means
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not taken for diagnosis or repair.
Engine surge or erratic operation
Engine surges forward without driver input or operates erratically with sudden changes in idle or running behavior. One owner reported the vehicle 'started to die' during town driving.
When: Early ownership (complaint indicates recent model year experience)
Symptoms owners cite: Engine surge forward at low speed; Vehicle running erratically; Engine nearly stalling during town driving
Repairs/costs cited: Owner mentioned Ford recalled Escape and Fusion for throttle body issue, suggesting a similar root cause.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner reports Ford acknowledged the issue affects other models (Escape, Fusion) via recall.
Synthesized from 10 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 2010 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 2010 Ford Taurus?
It's a meaningful issue. 10 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 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 24,000 and 86,000 miles, with the median around 58,166. A quarter of owners report trouble before 24,000; a quarter make it past 86,000. 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/2010/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.