Component
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
832 NHTSA complaints about vehicle speed control:cables issues across 38 makes and 225 models.
The vehicle speed control:cables is one of the standardized component categories NHTSA uses to classify consumer safety complaints. Across the public complaint database, it accounts for 832 filings from 38 manufacturers and 225 distinct vehicle models, a footprint large enough that defect engineers can isolate part-family patterns across different platforms that share the same supplier or the same federal motor vehicle safety standard.
Among filings citing this component, owners have reported 88 crashes, 10 fires, 51 injuries, and 5 fatalities. The most complained-about vehicle in this category is the FORD ESCAPE with 47 filings, followed by FORD TAURUS and FORD EXPLORER. These severity counters are what separates a nuisance complaint trend from a pattern NHTSA is likely to escalate into a Preliminary Evaluation.
Component-level analysis is how the Office of Defects Investigation spots cross-manufacturer supplier issues — the same airbag inflator, the same takata-style ignition switch, the same brake hose material — before they become industry-wide recalls. When you see a single component accumulating large complaint volume across several unrelated nameplates, that is usually a signature of a shared supplier or a shared federal standard being stressed by real-world conditions. Use the affected-vehicles table below to see whether the pattern is concentrated on a handful of models or distributed evenly, and cross-reference each model's full recall and investigation history before drawing conclusions about any one nameplate.
Most Affected Vehicles
| # | Vehicle | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | FORD ESCAPE | 47 |
| 2 | FORD TAURUS | 37 |
| 3 | FORD EXPLORER | 32 |
| 4 | SUZUKI GRAND VITARA | 28 |
| 5 | MAZDA TRIBUTE | 27 |
| 6 | FORD FOCUS | 26 |
| 7 | PONTIAC GRAND PRIX | 21 |
| 8 | DODGE RAM | 21 |
| 9 | OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS | 19 |
| 10 | DODGE RAM 2500 | 17 |
| 11 | MERCURY SABLE | 16 |
| 12 | HONDA CIVIC | 16 |
| 13 | FREIGHTLINER FL-70 | 16 |
| 14 | FORD CONTOUR | 15 |
| 15 | FORD RANGER | 13 |
| 16 | FORD F-150 | 12 |
| 17 | NISSAN ALTIMA | 11 |
| 18 | KIA SEDONA | 11 |
| 19 | CHRYSLER SEBRING | 10 |
| 20 | FORD WINDSTAR | 9 |
| 21 | JEEP CHEROKEE | 8 |
| 22 | FORD CROWN VICTORIA | 8 |
| 23 | CHEVROLET ASTRO | 8 |
| 24 | PLYMOUTH VOYAGER | 7 |
| 25 | MERCURY COUGAR | 7 |
| 26 | CHRYSLER SEBRING CONVERTIBLE | 7 |
| 27 | CHEVROLET S10 | 7 |
| 28 | CHEVROLET CAVALIER | 7 |
| 29 | MERCURY MYSTIQUE | 6 |
| 30 | MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS | 6 |
Recent Complaints
The contact owns a 2018 Hyundai Tuscan. The contact stated that while her daughter was operating the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle inadvertently decelerated to 3
The contact owns a 2019 Jaguar F-Pace. The contact stated that while driving forward into a parking space and depressing the brake pedal to stop, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended accelerati
The contact's associate owns a 2001 Ford F-150. The contact stated while his associate was driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle experienced a braking failure. The ABS warning light was illuminate
The contact owns a 2018 Mazda CX-5. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds with the cruise control and the auto distance features activated, the vehicle would not accelerate while dep
CABLE TO GAS PEDAL BROKEN -- CANNOT BE DRIVEN.
THE ACCELERATOR CABLE APPEARS TO HAVE GONE OUT. THE GAS PEDAL GOES DIRECTLY TO THE FLOOR AND THE ENGINE IS AT 6RPM'S. CALLED FORD AND EVEN THOUGH THEY HAD NEARLY 500K CARS RECALLED DURING THE EXACT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 SUZUKI XL-7. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCEL
ON JUNE 25, 2013 @ 11:00AM I CALLED MAZDA CORPORATION (REFERENCE CALL NUMBER:[XXX]) ABOUT RECALLS ASSOCIATED WITH MY MAZDA TRIBUTE 2003 AND WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALLS WERE NOT ASSIGNED TO THE VIN NUMBE
2002 MAZDA TRIBUTE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ACCIDENT SHE HAD IN 2004 DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TGW NOT KNOWING THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE, SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, AND CONSE
EMAIL REFERRAL FROM CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY ON BEHALF OF CONSUMER RE: NHTSA RECALL 12V357 / PE12-09. REFERRAL ASSOCIATED AN APRIL 2011 INCIDENT WITH THE RECALL AND INCLUDED A POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT AND
2001 FORD ESCAPE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SAFETY RECALL NOTICE. RECALL # 12V353000. *TGW THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE PARTS WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME WITH THE BRAKES DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT INSPE
2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. CONSUMER STATES BRAKE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING A CRASH AND VEHICLE FIRE *TGW RECALL # 12V357000 WAS REFERENCED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MERCURY SABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ACCELERATING INDEPENDENTLY UP TO 50 MPH. THE CONTACT HAD NOT ENGAGED THE ACCELERATOR PED
THE FIRST 2 TO 4 TIMES THE ACCELERATOR IS USED (NOT PUSHED HARD), THE CABLE STICKS. WE HAVE TO PUSH HARDER ON THE PEDAL, THEN IT SUDDENLY RELEASES. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO JUMP IN THE DIRECTION C
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 MAZDA TRIBUTE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS ABNORMALLY DEPRESSED INTO THE FLOORBOARD AND BECAME STUCK, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT REMOVED HIS FOOT FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE ERRONEOUSLY ACCELERATED. THE FAILURE R
DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT AROUND 65 MILES PER HOUR THE CAR STARTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. I WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE, SO I PULLED THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. IN NEUTRAL THE C
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD MUSTANG. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED. THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD READ EMPTY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FULL OF GASOLINE. IN ADDITION, THE SPEEDOMETER AND T
ABSOLUTELY FRIGHTENING! THIS AFTERNOON A PASSENGER AND I PULLED OUT ONTO THE MAIN THOROUGHFARE WHEN MY CAR (2005 TAURUS) INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED AND BEGAN RUNNING/SPINNING AT A HIGH RPM. THE EXPER
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Data Sources
Vehicle complaint data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints database. Includes consumer-reported safety issues filed with NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Severity counts cross-reference NHTSA FARS (Fatality Analysis Reporting System) for fatal incidents where a corresponding FARS record exists.
Component categories are standardized by NHTSA. Crash-test ratings where shown are drawn from the NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Complaint counts, crash reports, fire reports, and fatality data reflect consumer-submitted reports and may not represent all incidents.
Disclaimer: This data is for informational purposes only and should not be used as the sole basis for vehicle purchase decisions. NHTSA complaint data is self-reported by consumers and has not been verified or investigated. A high complaint count does not necessarily indicate a defect. Always consult a qualified mechanic and check official NHTSA recall notices before making safety-related decisions.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.