Ford Taurus Is Investigated for Sticky Throttles, and BMW 7 Series Is Recalled for Faulty Doors

Ford Motor 2001 Ford Taurus.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating whether about 310,000 Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable models from the 2000-3 model years should be recalled because the vehicles' throttles might stick, according to a report (PDF) posted on Friday to the agency's Web site.

BMW, meanwhile, announced a recall of nearly 7,500 of its 7 Series sedans from the 2005-7 model years because doors - though appearing to be closed - may unexpectedly open. The automaker conducted a recall for this problem in Japan in 2007.

Earlier this year, BMW agreed to pay a $3 million fine to N.H.T.S.A. for not promptly carrying out recalls in 2010. The automaker, however, did not ad mit wrongdoing.

The agency said its investigation of the Tauruses was prompted by 50 complaints from owners about unintended acceleration involving the 3-liter, 4-valve Duratec V-6 engine, but not the 2-valve version, which uses a different design.

There were no reports of accidents.

The agency said it suspected a fractured speed-control cable collar could result “in throttles stuck at approximately 26 percent open.”

One owner noted that the car continued to accelerate after he took his foot off of the gas pedal. “On topping the hill we were traveling over 70 miles per hour,” he wrote. The speed was alleviated by shifting into neutral and stopping on level ground.

“On restart the engine immediately revved to over 6,000 r.p.m. and a transaxle warning icon appeared,” the owner added.

He said a mechanic “knew the problem immediately. Broken plastic tabs had allowed the cruise control cable sh eath to slip out of the throttle connector.” The mechanic concluded the throttle was held open.

BMW Group 2005 BMW 7 Series.

BMW said (PDF) it would recall 7 Series sedans with either the Comfort Access or Soft Close Automatic options.

The automaker said “software functionality and the geometric design of the control cam” may prevent the door from latching and “an external influence, such as an irregular road surface or an inadvertent interior contact with the door, could lead to an unexpected opening.”

In its report, BMW said the Japanese safety agency asked about two claims of unintentional door openings in 2007, and the automaker “concluded that the issue was not safety related.” Instead, BMW decided to update the software on models sold in Japan.

The agency, however, insisted this was not adequate, and BMW agreed to a recall.

Early in 2008, BMW introduced that same software change in the United States, which, combined with the action in Japan, prompted a query from N.H.T.S.A. BMW said in its recall filing this month that it did not receive any record of owner complaints from N.H.T.S.A. until August 2012, when the agency presented the automaker with nine complaints saying the doors unexpectedly opened.

That led to BMW's decision to conduct the recall, even though the automaker said it routinely upgraded the software when those vehicles came in for service. BMW said 70 to 80 percent of affected vehicles were already fixed and that it was not aware of any accidents or injuries related to the problem.

BMW described the recall as voluntary, but once an automaker is aware of a safety problem it must inform the agency within five bu siness days of its plan for a recall or face a civil penalty.