NHTSA Complaint #10138598 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

I OWN A FORD EXPLORER 2003 V6 TRUCK I HAVE HAD FORD VEHICLES FOR THE LAST 15 YEARS. MY ISSUE IS WITH FORD SERVICE AND THE TRUCKS TRANSMISSION. I WAS IN THE SERVICE BAY ON AUGUST 17 FOR ROUTINE RECALL STUFF AND ADDED SOME BASIC SERVICES TO MY VISIT. OIL CHANGE, FLUSH AND TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGE/CHECK WAS IN ORDER. $500 LATER I AM OUT THE DOOR. 25 DAYS AFTER THE INITIAL VISIT I AM BACK AT FORD WITH CONCERNS ABOUT MY TRANSMISSION. IT SEEMS TO BE WHINING AND REVVING HIGH WHILE CHANGING INTO 2ND AND OR 5TH GEAR. THE FLUID ALL OVER MY DRIVEWAY CERTAINLY DIDN'T GIVE ME A COMFORTABLE FEELING. FORD SERVICE CONFIRMED A PROBLEM BUT COULD NOT DIAGNOSE IT UNLESS THEY TORE IT APART. I WAS INSTRUCTED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE END OF THE MONTH BECAUSE THE TRANS MECHANIC WOULD BE ON VACATION THROUGH END OF MONTH. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR MY TRUCK TO "ONCE AGAIN" VISIT THE FORD SERVICE FOR AN OVERNIGHT VISIT. ON SEPTEMBER 29TH. DROPPED IT OFF AND NEVER GOT A CALL FOR THREE DAYS. ON OCTOBER 3 END OF BUSINESS DAY, I CALLED. THEY SEEMED TO HAVE FORGOTTEN MY VEHICLE AND WOULD WORK ON IT THE NEXT DAY. TUESDAY I GET A CALL IN THE MID MORNING STATING THAT I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION OR A REBUILT ONE . PRICING RANGES FROM $2600 TO $3400. THEY COULDN'T TELL MY WHY OR ANY MORE SPECIFICS ON HOW AN ENGINE WITH 47K NEEDS A NEW TRANSMISSION. ESPECIALLY SINCE IT WAS RECENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR ROUTINE TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE LESS THAN 30 DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN...I HAVE HAD MANY FORDS FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN A TRANSMISSION GO UP UNDER 50K MILES. WHETHER THE SERVICE GUYS DIDN'T TIGHTEN UP SOMETHING RIGHT OR FORD HAS AN INFERIOR PRODUCT; I FEEL THAT I SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS ISSUE. PLEASE ADVISE. *NM