NHTSA Complaint #10222631 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY SLAM INTO THE GEAR AFTER SOME TIME HAS LAPSED, OR OTHER TIMES IT WON'T MOVE INTO ANY GEAR AND FREEZES IN A NEUTRAL STATE, EVEN WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER IS MOVED INTO DRIVE OR ANY OTHER GEAR, FOR THAT MATTER. THESE EVENTS HAVE OCCURRED AT LEAST SEVERAL TIMES IN THE 1 MONTH PERIOD WE HAVE OWNED IT. PURCHASED IT FROM A DEALER ON 2/24/08 WITH 53,000K MILES ON IT. IT IS CURRENTLY IN A FORD DEALER (1 WEEK SO FAR) FOR SERVICE, BUT THEY SAY THEY CAN NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. IF I PICK UP THE VEHICLE NOW THE USED VEHICLE WARRANTY THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE WILL EXPIRE AND WILL NOT COVER THE PROBLEM WHEN IT DOES COMPLETELY FAIL. AFTER READING ALL THE PROBLEMS THESE TRANSMISSIONS HAVE, IT IS INEVITABLE IT WON'T BE LONG BEFORE THAT HAPPENS. HOPEFULLY, IT WON'T BE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC OR WORSE YET, WHEN DRIVING WITH MY GRANDKIDS SOMEWHERE. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE, AS THE TOTAL FAILURE OFTEN HAPPEN WITH NO WARNING. THE VEHICLE OTHERWISE DRIVES GREAT. *TR