NHTSA Complaint #10070098 — 1997 FORD TAURUS

I AM SENDING A COPY OF A LETTER I SENT TO VARIOUS NEWS STATIONS AND AGENCIES. IT?S IN REGARD TO A PROBLEM THAT AROSE CONCERNING MY FORD CAR. I PURCHASED A 1997 FORD TAURUS IN MARCH 1997 FROM SPRINGFIELD FORD IN DELAWARE COUNTY. THE CAR CAME WITH A 3-YEAR/36,000 MILE WARRANTY. IN MARCH OF 2000 I PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THREE MORE YEARS AT THE COST OF $1,000. IN JULY 2000, WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND HAD TO BE OVERHAULED. IF I "DIDN'T" PURCHASE THE WARRANTY IT WOULD HAVE COST ME IN EXCESS OF $2,000. WELL, THE EXTENDED WARRANTY RAN OUT ON 3-31-03. ON 5-21-03 THE TRANSMISSION WENT AGAIN. IT IS GOING TO COST $2,800 TO REPLACE. THE CAR IS SIX YEARS OLD AND HAS LESS THEN 50,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL CERTIFIED MECHANICS THAT ALL AGREE THAT THIS SHOULDN'T HAVE HAPPEN. EITHER FORD CO. HAS A BAD TRANSMISSION FOR THIS TYPE TAURUS OR THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER FIXED RIGHT THE FIRST TIME. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD H.Q. THEY HADN?T HEARD OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. AND SPRINGFIELD FORD SAID THERE?S NOTHING THEY CAN DO, EVEN AFTER I MENTIONED WE HAVE BOUGHT THREE CARS IN SIX YEARS FROM THEM, IT REALLY DIDN'T MATTER. IN CONCLUSION, I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT I HAVE FIVE KIDS AT HOME AND REALLY DON?T HAVE $2,800 LYING AROUND. IF THIS IS THE WAY ONE OF AMERICA?S BIGGEST CORPORATIONS STANDS BEHIND THEIR PRODUCTS, WELL NOW I KNOW WHY PEOPLE ARE BUYING IMPORTED CARS AND FROM NOW ON MYSELF AND MY FAMILY WILL BE ONE OF THEM. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME, ANY HELP OR FEEDBACK YOU COULD GIVE ME A CALL WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. SINCERELY, [XXX] PHONE # HOME- [XXX]\T# WORK- [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR