NHTSA Complaint #10102309 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2003 FORD EXPLORER. I HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY TRANSMISSION ENGAGING PROPERLY AND THE TRANSMISSION MAKING A LOUD NOISE WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS HOT OR COLD. THE TRANSMISSION DID THIS INTERMITENTLY FOR A WEEK OR SO UNTIL I TOOK IT INTO A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. I DROVE IT FOR ANOTHER WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE WOULD LURCH IN MID-ACCELERATION AT ANY SPEED AND WOULD LUNGE WHEN COMING TO A STOP LEAVING ME NEVER KNOWING WHEN I MIGHT STOP ON THE FREEWAY OR RUN INTO THE BACK OF SOMEBODY. THE NEXT TIME I TOOK IT IN THEY SAID IT WAS THE CLUTCH PACK THAT FAILED AND THE REPAIR COST ME $1,131.00. THE REPAIR CONSISTED OF REMOVING THE TRANSMISSION, OPENING IT UP AND REPLACING THE PARTS AND THEN RE-INSTALLING THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE READ A SERVICE BULLETIN RECENTLY FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY SAYING THAT THESE PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN 2004 FORD EXPLORERS AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS. THEY ARE SAYING THAT THEY WILL BE FIXED FOR FREE. I HAVE A 2003 FORD EXPLORER AND I AM NOT AWARE OF THE TWO MODEL YEARS BEING MECHANICALLY DISSIMILAR. I WANT IT KNOWN THAT THE 2003 EXPLORERS ARE SUFFERING THE SAME PROBLEMS, WHICH IS WHY I AM REGISTERING THE COMPLAINT.*AK