NHTSA Complaint #10086609 — 2001 FORD F-250 SD

1. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MILES PER HOUR, I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN AND IMMEDIATE LOST OF POWER. THE VEHICLE IS A 2001 FORD F-250 WITH THE 4R100 TRANSMISSION. 2. LUCKILY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO EGRESS TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT. AT ANOTHER LOCATION OR TIME, SEVERE CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE OCCURRED. 3. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION. THE ASSESSMENT FROM THE DEALER WAS THAT THE INTERMEDIATE ONE WAY CLUTCH (MECHANICAL DIODE STYLE) HAD FAILED AND THE TRANSMISSION REQUIRED REBUILDING OR REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2001 MODEL 4R100 TRANSMISSIONS AND MENTIONED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN HAD BEEN ISSUED. I FOUND FORDS TSB-01-13-5 ON THE INTERNET AND DISCUSSED THIS WITH THE DEALERSHIP. THE SITUATION IS THAT IN JULY 2000 THROUGH MARCH 2001 FORD CHANGED THE DESIGN OF THE ONE-WAY CLUTCH FROM THE SPRAG DESIGN (IN SERVICE SINCE 1989 ACCORDING TO THE DEALER) TO THE NEW MECHANICAL DIODE. BY MARCH OF 2001 FORD RECOGNIZED THAT THE NEW DESIGN WAS FAULTY AND REVERTED BACK TO THE ORIGINAL SPRAG DESIGN. THE SERVICE BULLETIN INSTRUCTS DEALERS THAT IN THE EVENT OF A FAILURE, TO REPLACE THE MECHANICAL DIODE WITH THE SPRAG DESIGN. FORD REFUSED TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAULTY DESIGN, PART, OR REPAIRS. IN FACT THE REPRESENTATIVE WAS SOMEWHAT NASTY IN MY OPINION. CLEARLY THIS IS DEFECTIVE ENGINEERING THAT IMPACTS THE DRIVE TRAIN. THERE ARE A MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE. THIS SITUATION APPLIED TO 4R100 TRANSMISSIONS INSTALLED IN 2001 E SERIES, EXCURSIONS, EXPEDITIONS, F-150'S, ALL F SERIES SUPER DUTY'S, AND NAVIGATORS. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE HURT, OR POTENTIALLY KILLED BEFORE FORD WILL ISSUE A RECALL AND STAND BEHIND THEIR DEFECTIVE DESIGN ? LASTLY, THE PURCHASE DATE IS AN ESTIMATE, AS THE VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP. *JB