NHTSA Complaint #10179519 — 2001 FORD ESCAPE

MY OVER DRIVE LIGHT CAME ON SUDDENLY AND CONTINUALLY FLASHED DURING A TEN MINUTE DRIVE HOME. THE RPM NEEDLE SPIKED STRAIGHT UP A FEW TIMES DURING THE DRIVE AND IT SEEMED LIKE I "LOST POWER". DEAN SELLERS FORD DIAGNOSED AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE REQUIRING A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $3600. I HAVE NEVER USED A SERVICE OTHER THAN LAPEER FORD AND DEAN SELLERS. I BOUGHT THE ESCAPE (2001 XLT 4 WH) FROM LAPEER FORD WITH 16,000 MILES ON IT. THE CAR NEVER SHOWED SIGNS OF THIS FAILURE PREVIOUS TO YESTERDAY. DEALERSHIPS. SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT THERE WAS ONE TRANSMISSION RECALL BUT WHEN I PUT IN MY VIN IT WAS FREE OF RECALLS. DEAN SELLERS CHARGED ME $89 TO DIAGNOSE THE CAR. I GOT ANOTHER QUOTE AT AMERICAN TRANSMISSION IN TROY. THEY TOWED MY CAR IN. FORD TEST DROVE MY CAR AND ELECTRONICALLY CHECKED IT. PREVIOUS REPAIRS ALL DONE AT LAPEER FORD AND DEAN SELLERS FORD: NEW TIRE AT 16,000 MILES; NEW IGNITION AT 25,000; CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AT 33,000; PLUG TIRE AT 40,000; NEW WINDSHIELD AT 43,000; 4 NEW TIRES AT 44,000 DUE TO NUMEROUS FLATS (LAPEER GAVE ME 3 FREE); FRONT BRAKES AND WHEEL BEARINGS AT 55,000; TIRE NAIL AT 60,000; NEW BLADES AT 61,000; BELT RECALL AND TIE ROD AND MASTER CYLINDER AT 69,000; CRANK CASE OIL LEAK AND REAR BRAKES AT 74,000; FRONT BRAKES AT 76,000; WASHER PUMP AND MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH AND FUEL FILTER AT 78,000; REAR WIPER AT 85,000; ABS LIGHT MODULE, FRONT BRAKE PADS, ROTOR PADS RIGHT FRONT ABS SENSOR AT 86,000; AIR FILTER AND BATTERY CLEANED AT 89,000; LICENSE PLATE BULB AND BOTH FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS AT 90,000; FRONT LIGHTS KEPT FLASHING, REPLACED DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS CONTROL ASSEMBLY AT 93,000 AND NOW AT 94,000 THE TRANSMISSION. NO ONE AT DEAN SELLERS TODAY TOLD ME THAT I MIGHT NOT MAKE IT HOME! BUT IMMEDIATELY UPON LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP THE TRANSMISSION STALLED ESPECIALLY DURING TURNS. *JB