While driving and approaching an intersection I began to apply brake for red light, the rpms spiked to 4000. The car continued to accelerate on it's own.tried to tap brake again..no change. Put the car in neutral and tapped gas to finally get the rpms to lower to at least 2000 level. This has happened at least 4 other times.

- Portland, OR, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shift from reverse to drive. The vehicle was inspected by a private mechanic who stated that the shift cable had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was 142,854. Updated 12/5/13 the consumer stated the shift cable was replaced.

- Buena Vista, VA, USA

I own a 2004 Ford Taurus ses V6 with an automatic transmission. I drove to work with no warning sounds, smells, or warning lights, and it drove perfectly. I attempted to go to lunch, and the vehicle started just fine, but wouldn't shift into any gears/reverse ect. I have researched online as well as the transmission shops, and this is a known problem. As far as I know so far the Ford freestar has the same issue & a class action was filed & then Ford followed up with a recall. Please do something about this! I have filed a complaint with Ford with no acknowledgement or resolution. I feel sick to be out so much money for a known problem. Of course I do feel lucky I wasn't driving when it happened like many others. Ford shouldn't be able to turn a blind eye to this!

- Neenah, WI, USA

Drove from work to home, parked car. When I went to go start car, it would not go forward or reverse. Had it towed to Ford dealer.upon further investigation with friends they told me Taurus/Sable were known for bad converters, went on internet to investigate information and had huge response to this problem.

- Adrian, MI, USA

I spent 4 hours at night waiting for a tow truck to arrive. All most got hit by a semi trying to get this pos off the road. That was $150 for the tow and now I need to spend more to get this 2004 Taurus running. I am a Ford fan as you can tell by my email address. I even drag race mustangs. I am thinking about going Honda for my daily driver. Problem was a improperly heat treated torque converter spline. Has left 100's if not 1000's of us stranded. Gives out with no warning. Car just stops moving. Car was down for 1 week and cost ended up being just over $1000.

- Douglass, KS, USA

Torque converter failed in driveway October 2012. Almost $1000 in repair costs. 2004 Taurus with only 35,000 miles. The only owner/driver is my retired mother. Car was always well maintained. Very fortunate the failure did not occur on the highway.

- Massapequa Park, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Taurus. While driving approximately 30 mph, the engine RPM reading increased abnormally however, the vehicle would not accelerate. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The mechanic advised the contact that the transmission would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 82,000.

- Norwalk, IA, USA

I was driving on the interstate and the check transmission light came on. I pulled to the side of the road and checked the fluid, it was at the correct level and was clean and smelled good. I pulled back on to the road and it ran ok for about 2 hours. We came up on an accident and stopped, when we went to go forward the car made a big bang, shuddered, then drove ok. I went to the nearest exit and stopped at the light, the car drove away normally to the gas station. At the station I re-checked the fluid, again everything normal. When I went to pull away the car just revved up like it was in neutral. It would not go in to any gear.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

I was accelerating from a stop light, when all of a sudden the engine speed increased and the car slowed down. As the car was slowing down in heavy traffic I attempted to accelerate but all that happened is the engine revved higher. I was in heavy 2 way traffic and was lucky enough to notice a turn off into a parking lot before the car came to a complete stop. I proceeded to try the car in all gears but no movement occurred. It is like it is like the car is stuck in neutral. I had to have it towed to a local garage where it was diagnosed with a known problem with these transmissions. I was told the splines inside the torque converter strip out and fails to spin the shaft that spins the fluid pump. This is a know problem and a recall was issued (11S25) for Ford freestar using the same transmission. I called Ford and was told this car does not fall under the recall even though it is the same transmission.

- Fairport, NY, USA

Driving on the highway, the car just died. The transmission failed. I had to coast to the safety of a parking lot, and I am lucky I made it. I understand that there have been a lot of complaints regarding this transmission in this model year. I also understand from a Ford dealer mechanic that this transmission has been recalled in association with a truck in which the same transmission was used but that it has not been recalled in the Ford Taurus. I feel this should be looked into.

- Marlton, NJ, USA

First incident: Put the car in reverse to back out of a parking space and the car accelerated in reverse to 40 mph until I stepped on the brake. The same night as I was driving on the highway at a speed of 60mph, the car accelerated up to 75mph before I stepped on the brake. Second incident: The car was in park and the engine made a loud noise as if the car was accelerating. When I switched gears and put the car into drive it darted off it stopped when I stepped on the brake. The car reached 55mph.

- West Roxbury, Ma, MA, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving 70 mph, the transmission light illuminated. The contact stopped and had the vehicle diagnosed by a personal mechanic; however no problem was found. As the contact continued to drive, whenever the vehicle accelerated to 70 mph the transmission light would illuminate. The vehicle was taken to another personal mechanic and the contact was informed that the transmission would need to be rebuilt. The vehicle had not been repaired. The VIN was unavailable. The failure and current mileages were 133,000.

- Kansas City, MO, USA

The throttle sticks when slowing down to a stop. It suddenly revs up. Must stomp on the brakes and attempt to throw into neutral. Had been able to stop but 2 days ago rear ended a truck. Damage to my car.

- Algonquin, IL, USA

The throttle sticks when slowing down to a stop, it suddenly revs up. Must then stomp on the brakes and try to throw it into neutral. Usually can catch it however, 2 days ago ended up rear ending someone. The front end of my car is damaged. Ran into a truck which wasn't damaged.

- Algonquin, IL, USA

The transmission went out. Ford Taurus transmissions seem to go out a lot! why is there not a recall on this"?"

- Hattiesburg, MS, USA

The shift will not go into gear have to wait until the car is ready and then the shift will move.

- Laplace, LA, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 to 70 mph, the RPM's increased excessively. The vehicle became resistant to acceleration attempts and was towed to the contact's residence where it was inspected by an independent mechanic. The mechanic advised her that the transmission failed and either the converter or the pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and they offered no assistance. The failure and current mileages were approximately 60,000.

- La Crosse, WI, USA

The car will try to accelerate when coming to a stop as well as when you foot is off the accelerator. In the instances that this has happened my wife or I has shifted the car to neutral at a stop and the engine will rev to 3,000 rpms and stay there. Please note when this happens the car will try to move forward and accelerate in drive even when your foot is on the brake.

- Des Moines, IA, USA

My newly licensed 16 year old son was driving home from school and suddenly the car stopped pulling. It stayed running and he was able to barely coast to the side of the road. It would not go forward or backward and there was no noise or prior indication that there was a problem. After investigating the problem on the internet this is a very common problem. Recall this vehicle immediately before someone gets killed. A class action lawsuit is warranted due to the danger of this problem. I am hoping taking this route will get results. If not I will take other routes to get the attention this matter desperately needs. Local news media as well as BBB and other avenues.

- Ripley, OH, USA

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Taurus. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled without warning. A local mechanic diagnosed that the transmission would need replacing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but denied any assistance with repairs to the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 146,000.

- Lansing, MI, USA