NHTSA Complaint #10284462 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION THAT IS GOING BAD. ON MY WAY BACK FROM A VACATION TRAVELING SOUTH ON INTERSTATE 5, I NOTICE THAT I'D BURN A HALF A TANK ON GAS FROM LA TO SAN DIEGO (75MILES). I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS A PROBLEM UNTIL MY OVERDRIVE LIGHT ON THE DASH STARTED BLINKING & THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT SOON FOLLOWED. THE RPM AND SPEED DOES NOT MATCH UP AND THERE IS ALWAYS A JERK WHEN THE CAR SHIFTS GEARS. THIS ALL HAPPENED WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. I FEEL THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND AM NOT SURE WHAT I AM GOING TO DO....EXCEPT I KNOW I CANNOT DRIVE IT ANYMORE. I HAVE A WIFE AND TWO YOUNG CHILDREN THAT ARE IN THIS TRUCK ALL THE TIME. NOW IT'S GOING TO COST ME OVER $3,000 TO REPAIR, WHICH IS ALMOST WHAT THE CAR IS WORTH AT THIS POINT. THE SAD PART ABOUT ALL THIS IS FORD KNOWS THAT THIS PROBLEM EXSIST AND IS WILLING TO LET ITS CUSTOMERS TAKE THE RISK OF INJURY IF THE TRANSMISSION GIVES OUT ON A BUSY INTERSTATE. LORD KNOWS WHAT'LL HAPPEN IF SOMEONE DIES IN THAT ACCIDENT. *TR