NHTSA Complaint #10254712 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

2002 FORD EXPLORER TRANSMISSION FLEW INTO 4X4 LOW AUTOMATIC WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH. THE 4X4 MODULE PART HAD BEEN REPLACED ONCE ALREADY,AND IS THE CULPRIT OF THROWING IT INTO AN UNSAFE POSITION. THE ISSUE KEEPS COMING UP, AND THE DEALER HAS HAD NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPLACING THE "KNOWN FORD PROBLEM" IN OVER 7 YEARS. THIS ISSUE IS EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR, BUT THE PROBLEM IS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE AND THE PASSENGERS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. IT CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO FIRST SLOW DOWN BY THE PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS OF THE TRANSFER CASE, AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO BE OUT OF CONTROL AND FLIP. IT'S SO PRESENT ON THE INTERNET NOW, I WONDER WHY NO ONE HAS GOTTEN FORD TO FACE THE ISSUE, EVEN THE DEALERS KNOW, BUT GET NO RESPONSE BACK FROM PARENT FORD. THE VEHICLE MENTIONED IS WELL CARED FOR, AS WELL AS ONLY IN THE LOW 80,000 MILE AREA PRESENTLY. THIS HAPPENED AROUND 38,000, 43,000, 58,000, 63,000, AND NOW AT 84,000. EVEN THE DEALER AGREES THAT THE 4 WHEEL AUTO FEATURE, (WHICH IS THE IDLE STATE OF THE TRANSAXLE) CANNOT BE STARTED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS FIRED UP. THIS CAUSES NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH OTHER COMPONENTS RELIABLE TO THE MODULE. THE MODULE, IS BUILT BY MOTOROLA AND I'VE BEEN ADVISED THAT THE ANY NEW OWNER OF AN EXPLORER IN THE DATE RANGE SHOULD HAVE IT REPLACED OR INSPECTED DUE TO IT NOT BEING ABLE TO HANDLE TYPICAL SURGE SPIKES FROM THE VEHICLES POWER SYSTEMS. THE REPLACEMENTS SHOULD HAVE IT. BUT THAT DOESN'T HELP WITH THE ADVISE IF IT ALREADY OCCURS. WHICH IT HAS BEEN. NOW I'VE GOT A $45,000 PAPERWEIGHT IN MY DRIVEWAY AGAIN. CORRECTIONS ARE MADE, BUT RESULTS ARE ALWAYS THE SAME. FORD NEEDS TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE PUBLICLY BEFORE OTHERS ARE IN ACCIDENTS OR FATALITIES OCCUR. *TR