NHTSA Complaint #10182792 — 2004 FORD EXPLORER

AUTO-TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE THEN LUNGES ONCE TRANSMISSION IS ENGAGED. WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE THERE IS A LOUD CLUNKING SOUND. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS HARD SOMETIMES WHILE IN DRIVE. FORD SERVICE SAID THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. THIS BEGAN HAPPENING AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES. VEHICLE NOW HAS ALMOST 36,000 MILES AND PROBLEM HAS GOTTEN MUCH WORSE. ENGINE DIES WHEN TRAVELING LOW SPEEDS AND USING THE CRUISE CONTROL. EACH TIME I TRY TO USE THE CRUISE CONTROL WHEN TRAVELING 40 MPH OR LESS THE ENGINE DIES. THIS CREATES A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN YOUR DRIVING ALONG THEN SUDDENLY YOU LOSE POWER TO THE STEERING AND BRAKES BECAUSE THE ENGINE HAS DIED! THE SEATS ARE ALSO PROBLEMATIC. THE 2 BACK SEATS FOLD DOWN. BOTH OF THE RELEASE MECHANISMS HAVE BEEN REPLACED AND ONE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. BOTH HANDLES HAVE BROKEN OFF TWICE. THE LEATHER ON THE DRIVERS SEAT HAS CRACKED AND WORN PREMATURELY. THE LUMBAR SUPPORT KNOB ON THE DRIVERS SEAT FELL OFF BUT I DIDN'T NOTICE WHEN IT HAPPENED SO IT WAS LOST AND FORD WILL NOT REPLACE IT WITHOUT THE DEFECTIVE PART. ALSO THE HANDLE THAT IS USED TO ADJUST THE BACK OF THE SEAT HAS FALLEN OFF. I AM A 53 YEAR OLD WOMEN AND 98% I AM THE ONLY ONE USING THIS VEHICLE. I DO NOT ROUTINELY HAUL KIDS OR OTHER CARGO AROUND IN THIS VEHICLE SO YOU WOULD THINK THE SEATS WOULD BE HOLDING UP MUCH BETTER. *JB