NHTSA Complaint #10285042 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

OVERDRIVE LIGHT CAME ON AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE, THEN THE GEARS WOULD NOT SHIFT, WE WERE ON INTERSTATE 70 EASTBOUND BETWEEN WHEELING WV AND WASHINGTON PA TRAVELING AT 65 MPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SLOW WITHOUT WARNING WE WERE NEARLY HIT BY A TRACTOR TRAILER THAT HAD BEEN FOLLOWING US! WE SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO SEE IF THIS HAD HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE AND LO AND BEHOLD HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS WERE LISTED ON NUMEROUS SITES, THE VEHICLE IS NOW AT THE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND BEFORE ITS ALL DONE IT WILL COST AT LEAST $2300 TO REPAIR AS THE TRANSMISSION WENT ALL AT ONCE WITH NO WARNING AT ALL! THERE IS NO WAY FOR THE DIY MECHANIC TO CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AS THE TRANSMISSION IS COMPLETELY SEALED (NO DIPSTICK) SO I GUESS I AM GRATEFUL THAT THE TRUCK DRIVER WAS ABLE TO SWERVE ENOUGH TO NOT HIT US OR FORD WOULD BE DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR DEATHS! *TR