NHTSA Complaint #10288566 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

2002 FORD EXPLORER V6 4X4, HAD SHIFTING ISSUES OCCURRED RANDOMLY AT FIRST WHEN ACCELERATING FROM STOP AT LIGHTS OR PULLING INTO INTERSECTION. THE FIRST DAY OR SO IT HAPPENED SPORADICALLY SO WENT TO 2 DIFFERENT MECHANICS BOTH STATED DO NOT NEED REPAIRED AND SHOWS NO CODES. THIS HAS BEEN VERY FRUSTRATING SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN DEC. 2001 AND HAVE TAKEN GOOD CARE WITH ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN EVEN MORE WORRISOME DRIVING WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR. AFTER SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS AND ALMOST ACCIDENTS, THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING. NEW MECHANIC LOOKED IT OVER, DROVE IT AND SUGGESTED I TAKE TO A TRANSMISSION PLACE. AS I DROVE IT TO TRANSMISSION SHOP, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED. MECHANIC STATED TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REBUILT/REPLACED-THIRD GEAR BAND IS BROKEN. HE ALSO INFORMED ME THAT MANY FORD 2002 EXPLORERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. EACH TIME IT OCCURRED THERE WAS HESITATION WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS, RPM'S INCREASE BUT SLOW OR NO ACCELERATION. FROM ALL INFO I HAVE SEEN IN MY RESEARCH AND BASED ON EXPERIENCED MECHANICS I SPOKE TO THERE WERE DESIGN FLAWS IN THESE 2002 VEHICLE TRANSMISSIONS (ONLY USED BY FORD FOR LESS THAN TWO YEARS). THERE WAS NO WARNING, THE PROBLEM JUST STARTED HAPPENING. I HAVE HAD MANY OTHER COSTLY REPAIR PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE--THIS BEING THE MOST DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE. I AM A SINGLE MOM-GRANDMOM AND CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS $2500-$3000 PROBLEM. WHAT DO I DO NOW?! *TR