NHTSA Complaint #10130260 — 2004 FORD EXPLORER

TRANSMISSION SHIFT LAG- 2004 FORD EXPLORER I PRESENTED MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER [XXX] TO A LOCAL DEALER 2/28/05 FOR THE RECALL INVOLVING A CHANGE OF TRANSMISSION FLUID. THIS HAS NOT ALLEVIATED WHAT I HAVE NOTICED IS A CHRONIC AND POSSIBLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE, THERE IS OFTEN A NOTICEABLE SHIFT LAG OF A FEW SECONDS BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION ACTUALLY ENGAGES. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENT OCCURRED YESTERDAY, 7/26/05, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED NOSE DOWN ON A HILL, REQUIRING ME TO BACK UP TO LEAVE A PARKING SPOT IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH, WELL KNOWN FOR ITS HILLY TERRAIN. BECAUSE OF THE TRANSMISSION LAG, I ALMOST DRIFTED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME BEFORE THE VEHICLE FINALLY WENT INTO REVERSE. I HAVEN'T NOTICED THIS IN ANY FORWARD GEARS WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT THIS IS THE THIRD AND MOST NOTICEABLE EVENT TO DATE. HAD A PEDESTRIAN WALKED IN FRONT OF ME, THERE MAY HAVE BEEN AN INJURY, OR EVEN A FATALITY. AFTER THIS EVENT, I AM RETURNING THE VEHICLE ASAP TO THE DEALER. I WILL ONLY USE REVERSE AT THIS TIME WITH MY LEFT FOOT ON THE BRAKE UNTIL I FEEL THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGE. UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)