NHTSA Complaint #10251833 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

I PUT THE DATE OF INCIDENT AS THE DATE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. I PUT THIS DATE AS SUCH BECAUSE EVER SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE, WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT RUN AROUNDS BY THE SERVICE PROVIDERS AND CONSTANT REPAIRS EVERY 3-7 MONTHS SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST MAJOR REPAIR OCCURRED WHEN I HAD OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 18 MONTHS, AT 35,998. IT HAD AN $1800 TRANSMISSION JOB. SUBSEQUENT REPAIRS HAVE BEEN FOCUSED TRANSMISSION ISSUES (ALWAYS SOMETHING SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS), ENGINE FUNCTION, AND OTHER MECHANICAL ISSUES. AN EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS PURCHASED, BUT DUE TO THE PARAMETERS OF THE WARRANTY, ALL ISSUES WERE NOT FIXED BECAUSE THEY "WERE NOT ABLE TO BE DUPLICATED", (I.E. AN INTERMITTENT TRANSMISSION ISSUE THAT HAD BEEN OCCURRING FOR 30,000 MILES). NOW THAT WE ARE OUT OF OUR WARRANTY VEHICLE, WE HAVE AN OVERPRICED VEHICLE THAT IS STILL OWED ON THAT WILL CONTINUE TO NEED SIGNIFICANT REPAIRS. THE MOST RECENT ISSUE IS THE HEATING ELEMENT, INCLUDING THE ACTUATOR AND BLEND DOOR FUNCTION. THIS FAULTY PIECE WILL FAIL IN THE COLD POSITION. THIS CAUSES A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE YOU ARE FACED WITH A REPAIR THAT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE AFFORD (SINCE THEY CAN RUN UP TO $1200) AND HAVING HEAT IN THE WINTER. WITH THE CURRENT AUTO INDUSTRY HAVING THE ISSUES THEY ARE, THEY NEED TO BEGIN TO MAKE QUALITY VEHICLES THAT AREN'T MADE TO BREAK JUST TO GET MORE MONEY OUT OF CUSTOMERS. TO HAVE CONTINUED CUSTOMERS, A COMPANY MUST HAVE A CONSISTENT PRODUCT THAT PEOPLE CAN TRUST. THE CURRENT AMERICAN AUTO INDUSTRY DOES NOT HAVE THAT. *TR