NHTSA Complaint #10028543 — 1995 FORD TAURUS

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MILES AN HOUR ON A FOUR LANE STATE HIGHWAY, MY 1995 FORD TAURUS 3.0 LITER GL MODEL 4 DOOR SEDAN SUDDENLY DROPPED INTO A LOWER GEAR CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACT AS IF IT HAD HIT A ROCK WALL. WHEREAS I HAD BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND AN IMMEDIATE LOOK IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR REVEALING NO OTHER VEHICLE BEHIND US IT ONLY FRIGHTENED ME. MY WIFE THOUGH WHO WAS SEAT BELTED IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS VIOLENTLY THROWN FORWARD CAUSING TREMENDOUS STRESS ON HER LOWER BACK. AFTER A VISIT TO THE LOCAL HOSPITAL AN MRI SHOWED A RUPTURED LOWER LUMBAR DISC THAT HAS SINCE CAUSED HER LEFT LEG TO BECOME PERMANENTLY PARALYZED. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PHENOMENA WITH LOCAL MECHANICS AND USING THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR OVER A DECADE AND CONTINUED TO USE THIS SAME TRANSMISSION IN SEVERAL OTHER MODELS. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE WAS NEVER A RECALL FOR THIS TRANSMISSION. ANY LIGHT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SHED ON THIS BLATANT DISREGARD FOR OF THE MOTORING PUBLIC WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. SINCERELY, JAMES J. MULLEN. *JB