NHTSA Complaint #10086630 — 2001 FORD F-250 SD

1. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN AND IMMEDIATE LOST OF POWER WITH MY FORD F-250 WITH A 4R100 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. 2. TRANSMISSION FAILURE. LUCKILY TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT DUE TO THE OFF HOUR, AND I WAS ABLE TO EGRESS TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY. POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES COULD HAVE BEEN SEVERE AT ANOTHER TIME OR LOCATION. FAILURE OCCURRED WITH NO WARNING WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. 3. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION. THE ASSESSMENT FROM THE DEALER WAS THAT THERE WAS A MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE INTERMITEDIATE ONE WAY CLUTCH (MECHANICAL DIODE STYLE) ON SECOND GEAR WHICH CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO BIND AND SEIZE. THE RECOMMENDED FIX IS EITHER A TOTAL REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION OR REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT FORD HAD ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN (TSB 01-13-5) WHICH ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER SERVICE TECHNICIAN AND THE TSB FORD SWITCHED FROM THE SPRAG ONE-WAY CLUTCH ON 7/27/2000 TO THE MECHANICAL DIODE TYPE CLUTCH UP TILL 3/23/2001. FORD FOUND THAT THE MECHANICAL DIODE TYPE CLUTCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND SWITCHED BACK TO THE SPRAG TYPE CLUTCH IN MARCH OF 2001. FORD SUBSEQUENTLY ISSUED TSB 01-13-5 ON JUNE 26, 2001 WHICH ADVISES REPLACEMENT OF THE MECHANICAL DIODE TYPE CLUTCH WITH THE SPRAG (THE OLD DESIGN). THIS ISSUE APPLIES TO ALL 4R100 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS BUILT IN THE DATE RANGE ABOVE AND INSTALLED IN (PER THE TSB) E-SERIES, EXCURSIONS, EXPEDITIONS, F-150'S, SUPER DUTY F SERIES, F-53 STRIPPED CHASSIS, AND NAVIGATORS. AT THE TIME I WAS IN THE FORD DEALERSHIP ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM WAS ALSO IN THE SHOP. FORD IS AWARE OF THE SITUATION AND REFUSES TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. AS THIS FAILURE OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION AND CAUSES SUDDEN AND INSTANT POWER LOSS THERE IS SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE WITH THESE VEHICLES. HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE TO BE HURT, OR KILLED BEFORE FORD WILL STAND BEHIND THEIR DEFECTIVE DESIGN ? *JB *PH