NHTSA Complaint #10154227 — 2004 FORD F-150

I HAVE OWNED A 2004 FORD F-150 FX4 WITH ONLY 14,000 MILES ON IT FOR 3 WEEKS AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP AT FORD FOR 4 DAYS NOW AND THEY CAN'T FIX THE PROBLEM. TRUCK MAKES A RATTLING NOISE FROM UNDER FRONT END WHEN PULLING A HILL OR WHEN YOU REACH 50 MPH. IT ALSO SEEMS TO LOSE POWER OR "BOG DOWN" MOMENTARILY WHEN IT SHIFTS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR. MECHANIC SAYS IT IS A "NIGHTMARE" BECAUSE THEY CAN HEAR THE NOISE AND FEEL THE GEAR SHIFTING PROBLEM, BUT CAN'T FIND WHAT'S WRONG AND DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. WE HAVE ALSO DISCOVERED THAT THIS TRUCK WAS A FORD BUY BACK AND WE ARE THE 3RD, POSSIBLY 4TH, OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE, (STILL INVESTIGATING). WE ARE WONDERING WHY THIS TRUCK HAS CHANGED HANDS SO MANY TIMES WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. WE WILL BE RETURNING THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER TOMORROW AND GETTING OUR 2003 EXPEDITION BACK, WHICH HAS HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY, AND WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT AGAIN, CAUSING US TO TRADE IT IN...WE'LL BE BACK TO SQUARE ONE!!! THANKS FORD! BY THE WAY, THESE ARE NOT THE ONLY 2 INSTANCES WHERE I HAVE HAD A BAD EXPERIENCE WITH FORD PRODUCTS AND/OR SERVICE. I WROTE A DETAILED LETTER TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONCERNING ANOTHER VEHICLE I HAD PURCHASED FROM THEM SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I STATED THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE AND ALSO ABOUT THE POOR SERVICE I RECEIVED FROM THEIR COMPANY...OF COURSE I NEVER GOT A RESPONSE. I COULD GO ON FOREVER. SIX YEARS AND 7 FORD PRODUCTS LATER, I MAY HAVE FINALLY LEARNED MY LESSON. SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING SWITCHING TO THE "OTHER GUYS" FOR A VEHICLE. *JB