NHTSA Complaint #10167496 — 2001 FORD F-250 SD

I PURCHASED THE FORD, F-250, DIESEL POWER STROKE, 7.3 LITER, AUTO TRANSMISSION IN LATE 2000. ON AUGUST 20, 2006 I WAS TRAVELING NORTHBOUND HIGHWAY 49 IN AUBURN, CALIFORNIA, FROM BELL ROAD. AT THE LIGHT, I PROCEEDED FORWARD AND NOTICED MY VEHICLE REMAINED IN FIRST GEAR, AND WOULD NOT SHIFT. I TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO LET MY FOOT OFF OF THE THROTTLE IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE RPMS. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED HARD INTO 2ND GEAR AND PROCEEDED FORWARD. THIS CONTINUED TO OCCUR UNTIL I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. I TOOK THE TRUCK TO COTTMAN TRANSMISSION IN PLACERVILLE CALIF ON 8-30-06, AS ACCORDING TO FUTURE FORD, WHERE I PURCHASED THE TRUCK, THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. AFTER TEST DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH A REP FROM COTTMAN TRANSMISSION, HE DETERMINED 2ND GEAR WAS LOST AND THERE MIGHT BE OTHER PROBLEMS. HE ALSO STATED THAT REBUILDING 2001 FORD F250 TRANSMISSIONS WAS A COMMON PROCEDURE FOR THEM. HE EXPLAINED ONE OF THE DESIGN PROBLEMS AND FAILURE POINTS ON THE TRANSMISSION. I CALLED OTHER TRANSMISSION SHOPS TO CONFIRM THE REPRESENTATIVELY COMMENTS REGARDING THE 2001 FORDS. ALL CONCUR THAT FORD BUILD AN UNDER PERFORMING TRANSMISSION ON THAT MAKE AND YEAR, AND THAT THIS TRUCK IS A COMMON REBUILD FOR THEM. I BELIEVE THAT THE PERFORMANCE OF DRIVE TRAIN COMPONENTS, SUCH AS TRANSMISSIONS, ARE OF A SAFETY CONCERN. FAILURE OF THESE COMPONENTS WILL HAVE DIFFERENT EFFECTS BASED ON THE DRIVING SITUATION ENCOUNTERED DURING FAILURE. I WAS FORTUNATE NOT TO BE ON A STEEP MOUNTAIN GRADE OR IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. THE RANDOM FAILURE OF VEHICLE PARTS IS UNAVOIDABLE DUE TO DIFFERING REASONS, HOWEVER, THIS TRANSMISSION MADE SINCE 2001 HAS BEEN FAILING IN MOST 2001 FORDS. ON THE DATE OF THIS COMPLAINT, I HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION REBUILD AND HAVE BEEN ADVISED THERE WERE MORE ISSUES THAN SIMPLY 2ND GEAR. $3,000.00 WORTH. I AM RETAINING ALL OF THE FAILED PARTS FOR EVIDENCE. 76471 MILES ON THE TRUCK. *JB