NHTSA Complaint #10249391 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

VEHICLE PURCHASED IN JULY OF 07 FROM DEALER WITH 75,000K. CURRENTLY HAS 86,000K, AND TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACED. VEHICLE BEGAN SLIPPING A MONTH AGO, AND NOW SLAMS INTO GEAR. I'M AFRAID TO TAKE IT OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY. I WENT TO THE FORD DEALER TO HAVE THE FLUIDS CHECKED, AND THEY REFUSED UNLESS I WOULD PAY FOR THE SERVICE INSPECTION. THESE TRANNY'S ARE MADE SO AS I CANNOT CHECK THEM MYSELF DUE TO THE ENCLOSED CASING. AFTER RESEARCHING, I FOUND OVER 300 INDIVIDUALS ON ONE WEB SITE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. CALLED DEALER ABOUT SERVICE INSPECTION AND THEY WANT $100+ TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK BEFORE THEY WILL EVEN TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY DIRECTLY AND THEY INFORMED ME VIA EMAIL THAT THEY COOPERATE FULLY WITH THE NHTSA DURING INVESTIGATIONS AND I SHOULD TAKE MY VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER TO HAVE IT SERVICED AND HAVE THEM CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO SUGGESTED I SHOULD DEAL DIRECTLY WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. I DO NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH ANYONE. I WANT FORD TO BE MADE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE THOUSANDS OF INDIVIDUALS WHO PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON A PAYMENT PLAN AND ARE NOW STUCK WITH A LEMON THAT THEY CAN NEITHER AFFORD TO FIX OR REPLACE. I TOOK A LOAN ON THIS VEHICLE FOR OVER $10,000, AND THE FORD DEALERSHIP OFFERED ME $3000 TRADE-IN VALUE FOR IT LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER PURCHASE. WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT THE VEHICLE ITSELF. IF THEY KNOW IT ISN'T WORTH ANYTHING, THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. I AM CURRENTLY MAKING A MONTHLY PAYMENT ON A VEHICLE THAT IS NOT ABLE TO BE MOVED FROM MY DRIVE-WAY. AFTER RESEARCHING AND SPEAKING WITH OTHERS WITH THE SAME VEHICLE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL, I HAVE NOT FOUND ONE THAT HAS NOT HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR