NHTSA Complaint #10235367 — 2004 FORD EXPLORER

I PURCHASED A 2004 FORD EXPLORER IN NOVEMBER 2006 WITH 16,000 MILES. AT APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES, I NOTICED THAT IT SHIFTED HARD GOING INTO 3RD GEAR AS I ACCELERATED. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD REV UP, THEN SHIFT WITH A THUD. I DO NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE HARD. THIS WAS NOTICED DURING NORMAL IN TOWN DRIVING. THIS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY. AT 38,000 MILES I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED (AS MY EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS ABOUT TO EXPIRE). I EXPLAINED THE SHIFTING AND ACCELERATION PROBLEM IN DETAIL. THEY REPORTED THAT THIS WAS WITHIN THE SPECS FOR THIS TRUCK. THAT IT WAS NORMAL ACCELERATION. IT IS NOW 54,000 MILES. THE PROBLEMS HAVE GOTTEN WORSE. IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL, THEN CLUNKS AND GRABS THE NEXT GEAR. THERE IS ALSO A DELAY AND CLUNK WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. I'VE JUST TAKEN IT IN AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED. THE SHOP REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO PARTICULATE OR DEBRIS IN THE PAN, SO IT IS PROBABLY SOMETHING INTERNAL. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AND THEY ARE SAYING I NEED A NEW/REBUILT TRANSMISSION. *TR