NHTSA Complaint #10107877 — 2001 FORD F-150

VEHICLE IS 2001 F150 SUPERCREW 4X4 PURCHASED NEW IN 2001. VEHICLE HAS 81,500 MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN USED FOR TOWING OR HAULING HEAVY LOADS. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE RIGHT AWAY IN FORWARD GEARS. THERE IS A DELAY OF SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE ENGAGEMENT. WORKS ALRIGHT IN REVERSE AND ONCE VEHICLE STARTS MOVING. SEEMS TO BE SIMILAR TO PROBLEM NOTED IN TSB 01-11-7. BROUGHT TO STATELINE FORD IN PHILLIPSBURG, NJ TO INVESTIGATE. WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS INTERNAL PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION AND THAT REPLACEMENT IS RECOMMENDED. ASKED IF THIS WAS NORMAL FOR THIS TRANSMISSION TO FAIL AT 81,000 MILES AND I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT. CALLED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS CENTER TO EXPLAIN PROBLEM AND SEE IF FORD WOULD PARTICIPATE IN PART OF COST FOR REPLACEMENT. WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT. CALLED DEALER TO SEE IF THIS COULD BE DISCUSSED WITH FIELD REP AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T. *NM