NHTSA Complaint #10050849 — 2003 FORD F-150

WITHIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES OF PURCHASE, WE BEGAN NOTICING A SPORADIC GRATING NOISE FROM THE REAR END. MORE DISTUBING IS THE HARD SHIFTING BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS THAT IS ALSO SPORADIC. THE SHIFTING PROBLEM HAPPENS ON LONG TRIPS OF 150 MILES OR MORE. IT WILL USUALLY HAPPEN ABOUT ONCE A DAY BUT OF COURSE WE NEVER KNOW WHEN. THE GRATING NOISE IS LESS FREQUENT AND CAN HAPPEN ANYTIME. OUR VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR A FOURTH VISIT FOR THESE PROBLEMS. FORD HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPLICATE THE GRATING AND HARD SHIFTING WHICH MAKES SENSE BUT AT THE SAME TIME WE ARE STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT HAS NOT PROVIDED NEW TRUCK PERFORMANCE. SINCE THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT, IT WILL PROBABLY LEAD TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE ONCE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE CONSIDERED SELLING IT BUT THAT WOULD BE UNETHICAL SINCE THE NEXT PERSON WOULD EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEMS. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. THERE IS ONE OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINT IN THE DATA BASE. *LA