NHTSA Complaint #10038737 — 2001 FORD EXCURSION

TOTAL FAILURE OF AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT OUT OF LOWER GEARS, CREATING EXTREMELY UNSAFE DRIVING ENVIRONMENT. VEHICLE TAKEN TO TRANSMISSION SHOP, DIAGNOSED AS HAVING THE "DIRECT DRUM" BREAK APART AND OVERHEAT THE INTERNAL MECHANISM OF TRANSMISSION. OWNER OF SHOP INDICATED THAT MOST VEHICLES HAVE SEVERAL WARNING LIGHTS/SIGNALS TO WARN OF POTENTIAL PROBLEMS LIKE THIS - MY VEHICLE DID NOT EXHIBIT ANY SUCH SIGNS PRIOR TO THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION. THE PART IN QUESTION IS A ALUMINUM CASTING, AS SUCH IT HAS NO MOVING PARTS. THE FACT THAT IT FAILED IS OBVIOUSLY DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DEFECT OR THE IMPROPER SELECTION AND SPECIFICATION OF MATERIAL IN ITS MANUFACTURE. THE FORD DEALER (WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED) INDICATED THAT THE FORD MOTOR CO. WOULD NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE RE-IMPRESSING OF OVER $2000 IN REPAIRS SINCE IT WAS NOT TAKEN TO A FORD DEALER FOR REPAIRS. ALL VEHICLES USING THIS TRANSMISSION SHOULD, IN MY OPINION, BE REQUIRED TO BE INSPECTED AND REPAIRED AT THE MANUFACTURER'S COST. FAILURE OF THIS TYPE AT SPEED COULD HAVE RESULTED IN MAJOR INJURIES OR DEATH. *AK