NHTSA Complaint #10267720 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

I OWN A 2002 FORD EXPLORER, PURCHASED NEW IN 2001. FIRST A FEW YEARS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, MY O/D LIGHT STATED FLASHING. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AS IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE TRANSMISSION WAS OVERHAULED AND HAVEN'T HAD A PROBLEM. IN 2008 I HAD ROUTINE BRAKE REPLACEMENT DONE ON MY VEHICLE AT A LOCAL GARAGE AND WHEN THIS WAS DONE THE TECHNICIAN WORKING ON THE VEHICLE NOTICED THAT MY REAR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN AND NEARLY FELL OUT. I HAD THIS PROBLEM REPLACED WITH NEW SHOCKS AND SPRINGS AND DID NOT THINK SOMETHING LIKE THIS WOULD HAPPEN BECAUSE THE VEHICLE HAD LOW MILEAGE. NOW JUST RECENTLY WITH 61000 MILES ON MY VEHICLE THE O/D LIGHT BEGAN TO FLASH AGAIN, I HAD PROBLEMS SHIFTING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, THEIR WAS A DEFINITE SLIP, AND ALSO NOTICED A FEW DAYS BEFORE THE LIGHT CAME ON THAT THEIR WAS A SHUDDER WHEN UPSHIFTING FROM 4TH TO 5TH GEAR. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY DETERMINED THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. DUE TO THE COST OF THIS BEING OVER $4000.00, I DECIDED TO BRING IT TO A REPUTABLE TRANSMISSION REPAIR FACILITY. I DID GET A LOWER QUOTE AND AUTHORIZED THE REPAIR. I SPOKE TO THE OWNER OF THE BUSINESS AND HE ADVISED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REMANUFACTURED AND THEY ALSO FOUND WATER OR COOLANT IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE OWNER ALSO ADVISED ME OF THE FACT THAT THEIR IS A VENT FOR THE TRANSMISSION AND IT WAS PLUGGED WITH SOME SORT OF PLUG WHICH SHOULD NOT BE THEIR. *TR