NHTSA Complaint #10168721 — 2004 FORD EXPLORER

I AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION ON MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER (44,000 MILES). I WAS HAVING MY AC FIXED AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHEN THEY INFORMED ME THERE WAS AN OIL ADDITIVE THAT NEEDED TO BE PUT INTO MY TRANSMISSION TO PREVENT HESITATION AND SLIPPING DUE TO A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM. 6 MONTHS LATER I BEGAN EXPERIENCING HARSH ENGAGEMENT WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE AS WELL SLIPPING IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN SPEEDING UP AND SLOWING DOWN. I BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP (WORLD FORD) WHERE THE WORK WAS DONE AND THEY EXPLAINED I MIGHT NEED TO INSTALL A SOLENOID INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND THAT WOULD COST ME $900.00. KNOWING THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM FROM THE MANUFACTURER I CONTACTED FORD CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND EXPLAINED EVERYTHING. FORD CORPORATE RAN ME AROUND FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS (HANGING UP THE PHONE, PLACING ME ON HOLD FOR A LONG TIME AND PROMISING TO CALL ME BACK BUT IT NEVER HAPPENS). I HAVE DONE QUITE A BIT OF RESEARCH ON THIS MATTER ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I FOUND OUT THAT DURING THE MANUFACTURING OF MY VEHICLE AN IMPROPERLY FORMULATED TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS USED IN THE TRANSMISSION. I ALSO SPOKE TO SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM AND I WAS TOLD THE $900.00 SOLENOID DOES NOT HELP THE PROBLEM AT ALL. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT ACTIONS I CAN TAKE TO GET MY CAR REPAIRED. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR ALL YOUR HELP. *NM