NHTSA Complaint #10093024 — 1999 FORD TAURUS

SINCE WE PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IT HAS LURCHED FORWARD WHEN BEING STARTED. THE TRANSMISSION HAS HAD A HARD TIME SHIFTING, REVING THE ENGINE UP, THEN JUMPING INTO GEAR. WE HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES FOR VARIOUS PROBLEMS. RECENTLY THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN MAKING NOISE AND SHIFTING BADLY. ON A TRIP WE FOUND THAT IT WAS LOW ON TRANSMISSION FLUID ALTHOUGH IT HADN'T LEAKED. WE REPLACED THE FLUID AND STARTED DRIVING HOME, CHECKING THE FLUID SEVERAL TIMES. WE LOOKED IN THE REAARVIEW MIRROR AT ONE POINT AND SAW SMOKE COMING OUT THE BACK. FLUID HAD LEAKED ON THE ENGINE AND EXHAUST. WE ALSO DISCOVERED SMALL DROPS OF FLUID ON THE BACK BUMPER OF THE CAR. WHEN WE GOT HOME, WE PARKED THE CAR, STILL NO LEAK WHEN SITTING STILL. I BACKED THE CAR UP TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO BE CHECKED BUT WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WON'T ENGAGE IN ANY FORWARD GEARS. I THEN TRIED GOING BACKWARD AGAIN, NOTHING. I T HAS DIED. I CALLED THE DEALER AND STATED I BELIEVE THIS IS A FORD DEFECT, ESPECIALLY AFTER READING ALL THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE HAD WITH TRANSMISSIONS. I HAVE BEEN TOLD TOO BAD. THEY WILL BE HAPPY TO REPLACE IT AT MY COST. WHY WOULD I WANT ANOTHER BAD TRANSMISSION. *AK