NHTSA Complaint #10258429 — 2004 FORD EXPLORER

I OWN A 2004 FORD EXPLORER XLT V6. ON 2/9/2009, I LEFT MY WORKPLACE AT ABOUT 6PM AND WITHIN ABOUT 1/4 MILE MY AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION STARTED SLIPPING. I SHIFTED TO 3RD GEAR AND IT DID NOT SLIP. WITHIN ABOUT 1 MILE AFTER SHIFTING TO 3RD, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. WITHIN ABOUT 5 MILES THE VEHICLE TURNED OFF AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL, WHILE I WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH ON A CAUSEWAY! I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT. I TURNED THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY OFF. TURNED THE VEHICLE BACK ON, PUT IT INTO DRIVE AND NO WARNING LIGHTS WERE DISPLAYED. I CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 1 MILE, AND DRIVE STARTED SLIPPING AGAIN. I PUT IT INTO 3RD, OVERDRIVE LIGHT STARTED BLINKING. APPROXIMATELY ANOTHER 5 MILES THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF COMPLETELY AND SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE RIGHT. TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, BACK ON, AND AGAIN PROCEEDED HOME. I MADE IT HOME. I HAVE TWO CHILDREN THAT LUCKILY WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE WITH ME. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE TRANSMISSION RANDOMLY FAILED AND THEN THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUT OFF, WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE STEERING COULD'VE LOCKED AND THE POWER BRAKES COULD'VE DISENGAGED BECAUSE THE CAR WAS OFF. *TR