NHTSA Complaint #10114746 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

THREE MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING MY 02 EXPLORER, AND AT 39000 MILES, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING JUST A BIT. A WEEK LATER, THIRD GEAR COULD NOT ENGAGE AT ALL, AND I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE TO THE REPAIR SHOP IN SECOND GEAR, WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON, AND WITH SCHOOL-AGE CHILDREN IN THE CAR. MY REPAIR PERSON DROVE THE CAR FOR ABOUT 15 SECONDS AND KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. HE KNEW BECAUSE HE HAD JUST FIXED THE SAME PROBLEM LAST MONTH ON AN 02 EXPLORER WITH LESS MILES THAN MINE. HE STATED THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT WITH THE ADVENT OF EXTENDED WARRANTIES, THEY WOULD NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. I DID NOT PURCHASE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY BECAUSE WHO WOULD EXPECT THAT A TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE REBUILT AT 39000 MILES (INCIDENTALLY 3000 MILES PAST MY WARRANTY COVERAGE). LUCKILY NO ONE WAS INJURED BECAUSE I PARKED THE TRUCK ALMOST IMMEDIATELY. BUT NOW I AM FACED WITH THE COST OF REBUILDING THIRD GEAR INTO MY TRUCK, WITH NO ONE ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILTY FOR THE DEFECT.*AK