Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Ford Taurus owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 1999 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the service engine soon light illuminated on the instrument panel. A mechanic replaced the oxygen sensor; however, the light still illuminated. The contact was informed that there was a misfire on the #6 cylinder. In addition, there was a lot of smoke when the vehicle was started. He took the vehicle to a mechanic and they stated that the possible cause of the failure was antifreeze entering the motor. The mechanic also suggested that there was a potential issue with the head gasket, which would cost between $1,500-$2,500 to repair. Also, the vehicle would not decelerate if the contact removed her foot from the accelerator pedal; therefore, he would have to apply the brakes instead. The mechanic informed him that the vehicle would coast due to the cruise control. …
May 2016 I was driving my car and it felt like the transmission was slipping and the speedometer was all out of whack, the RPM's were going higher as I stepped on the gas pedal. I had the transmission replaced, the car has had more problems and was broke down for almost the remainder of the year. Dec. 2016 had a new starter, power steering pulley, and serpentine belt replaced. Car ran great for 3 days then the speedometer wasn't working and felt like the transmission is slipping or completely going out. I can't afford to repair this car I just finished paying off the $900 transmission job, plus I am still paying on the car! I am a single mother on disability with no money for repairs or another car. Please help.
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while in reverse, the vehicle suddenly accelerated backward and crashed into a fence. The contact suffered injuries to the back and right leg. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The dealer drove the vehicle and the vehicle suddenly accelerated again. The dealer discovered a dirty throttle body and had it cleaned. Since the repair, the vehicle did not experience any failures. The failure mileage was 58,000. ..updated 03/21/12 the consumer stated her vehicle sat on the dealerships parking lot for 21 days and Ford did not send an investigator. Updated 03/23/12
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking space at approximately 2 MPH the vehicle suddenly accelerated without any warning. The contact applied the brakes, but the vehicle failed to stop. The vehicle crashed into a pillar on the side of a building. The driver sustained minor injuries to her neck and shoulders. The police were contacted and a report was available. The vehicle was later towed to the contacts home and was not inspected by a dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure and current mileage was approximately 98,000.
Was driving and all of a sudden the speedometer started jumping around, when I stepped on the gas the RPM's reved up high. I stopped at the stop sign and the car accelerated by itself into the intersection I came close to hitting another car! I have had the vehicle speed sensor replaced twice already and the transmission replaced . As I was driving it home the car hesitated in the intersection then jerked you can feel the pulsing of the car as it accelerates and deaccelerates. It is a safety hazzard
While driving the car at a low speed, deer ran out in front of me and I brake to stop and at that time the car surged and accelerated at a high speed which caused me to lose control of the car and hit a tree head on. I pressed the brakes as hard as I could and the speed would not decelerate. I suffered a large head injury that required 54 staples to close the wound. I spent over a week in the hospital, including an icu stay. This car is dangerous and is causing injuries and possible deaths.
Vehicle's engine accelerated to 3000 RPM's resulting in vehicle hitting a brick wall. When the consumer attempted to place the gear in park, the engine accelerated, it was impossible to stop the high RPM rate the engine had attained. The vehicle jumped an eight inch curb crossed a sidewalk and a grassy area of twenty feet and violently hit a brick wall. The consumer was unable to place the gear into park, turn the engine off or pull the key out of the ignition.
Dt: the contact heard an explosion outside his home on December 14, 2005 at approximately midnight. He came out of the house to find his 1999 Ford Taurus on fire while parked. The fire appeared to be localized in the front engine compartment. The police were not notified, but the fire department extinguished the fire. Based on the events it believed that the fire was result of a defective vehicle speed control. Updated 1/25/2006 -
Vehicle hesitated to accelerate when the gas pedal was depressed from a stop position. Intermittently this failure occurred while driving. On one occasion, when this failure occurred, it resulted in consumer's vehicle being rear ended. Dealership serviced the vehicle several times, and performed a diagnostic test, in which no failure code was found. But the failure recurred.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Ford Taurus. While the vehicle was parked in the garage, it caught fire. The fire spread quickly throughout the garage. The fire department extinguished the fire and stated that the fire could have originated with the cruise control module, which is common in some Ford SUV's. The current and failure mileages were 84,000.
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. A dash insulator retainer clip was not fully assembled to the accelerator cable dash fitting. The clip can disengage from the accelerator cable and fall into the accelerator pedal arm pivot area.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles to ensure proper installation of the accelerator cable clip, and re-install if needed.
Acceleration complaints in other Taurus years
Frequently asked questions
How common are acceleration problems on the 1999 Ford Taurus?
NHTSA has 109 complaints about the speed control & acceleration of the 1999 Ford Taurus, 12% of the model year's 874 complaints. The component named most often is accelerator pedal (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Ford Taurus acceleration problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 98V-204 (vehicle speed control, Sep 1, 1998). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1999 Ford Taurus acceleration problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 15 crashes, 3 fires and 22 injuries and 4 deaths to speed control & acceleration problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.