Pennsylvania owners of Ford Tauruses are most likely not happy to hear about investigations that have been undertaken by U.S. safety regulators into a potential product defect. The model years in question are 2005 and 2006. Though an investigation into the safety of a vehicle can lead to a recall, as of yet, none has been issued by the federal safety agency, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The issue that serves as a catalyst for the investigation is multiple complaints of sticky accelerators. In total, around 360,000 vehicles could be affected. The problem seems to manifest itself in difficulty with getting the vehicle to brake properly. So far, it is reported that the NHTSA has received 14 complaints of the problem.

Though so far no injuries or crashes have occurred, one person behind the wheel of a Taurus said that they were unable to stop the car at a red light which resulted in them entering the intersection against the light. Other drivers were reportedly forced to shift the vehicle into neutral or turn it off to get the car to stop.

When it comes to motor vehicles, equipment failures can cause injuries to people multiple ways. In addition to injuries inflicted directly on a person by a part of the automobile itself, problems with the way it operates can cause it to fail to appropriately respond which could, in turn, lead to a car accident.

When someone is injured due to a product defect, in addition to being angry, they may also feel that they do not know where to turn. In some cases, the injured party may be able to recoup financial compensation for the injuries sustained via a products liability lawsuit. Because these type of cases are often complex, it is important to consult an attorney in a timely manner.

Source: USA Today, "Ford Taurus probed by feds for sticky throttles," March 12, 2012