NHTSA Complaint #10245466 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

IN LATE JANUARY, 2008 SOMETHING STRUCK THE RADIATOR AND TRANSMISSION COOLER OF MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT AN OBJECT HAD PENETRATED BOTH OF THESE CAUSING COOLANT AND TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKAGE. THE ENGINE LOCKED UP AND THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. MY LOCAL FORD DEALER REPLACED MY ENGINE AND SOME PARTS IN MY TRANSMISSION. SINCE THEN MY TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES HAVING TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE DEALER. WHEN THE FAILURES OCCUR, THE VEHICLE WILL RAPIDLY SLOW TO A STOP IN MID TRAFFIC. I HAVE BEEN ALMOST STRUCK IN THE REAR EACH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE FORD DEALER THAT REPAIRED MY TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF $2000 WILL DO NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM ESPECIALLY NOW THAT TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE HAS OCCURRED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THOUSANDS OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS A DEPUTY SHERIFF FOR 16 YEARS. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND A SEVERE TRAFFIC HAZARD. PLEASE HELP ALL MOTORISTS BY FORCING FORD TO RECALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND REPLACE THEM. *TR