NHTSA Complaint #10290985 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

2002 FORD EXPLORER. SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT MY EXPLORER AFTER ABOUT 40,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE SLIPPING OF THE TRANSMISSION EVERY TIME I DRIVE IT. THE SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR HAPPENS AT ALL TIMES WHEN I ACCELERATE AT SPEEDS UNDER 50 MPH. WHAT IS DANGEROUS ABOUT THIS IS WHEN IT HAPPENS AT A TIME THAT I WANT TO GET INTO TRAFFIC WHILE CROSSING THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC LANE AND THE TRANSMISSION WON'T GO BACK INTO GEAR TO ALLOW ME TO COMPLETE THE ROAD CROSSING WHILE CARS HAVE TO APPLY THEIR BRAKES TO STOP FOR ME. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FINALLY GOES INTO GEAR, IT DOES SO WITH A BIG CLANK. I HAVE PERSONALLY MET A NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO OWN THIS SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE AND EVERY SINGLE ON COMPLAINS OF THE SAME SYMPTOMS AND HAVE HAD CLOSE CALLS IN TRAFFIC DUE TO THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. SOME OF THESE PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE TRANSMISSION WORKED ON AND HAVE PAID ANYWHERE FROM $1700.00 TO OVER $2500.00 FOR REPAIRS AND THE PROBLEMS RETURN. I HAVE DONE SEARCHES ON THE WEB REGARDING THIS PROBLEM AND IN EVERY SITE THAT HAS BLOGS DEDICATED TO PEOPLE WHO ARE VICTIMS OF THIS PROBLEM, THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS. FROM WHAT I'VE HEARD THIS WAS AN EXPERIMENTAL TRANSMISSION THAT WAS BOUGHT BY FORD FROM AN OUTSIDE MANUFACTURER, IN ORDER FOR FORD TO SAVE MONEY AND NOW WE, THE CONSUMER HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS PROBLEM. I FEEL THAT IT IS NEGLIGENT AND IRRESPONSIBLE OF FORD TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO DRIVE THEIR VEHICLES WITH THIS TYPE OF DANGEROUS TRANSMISSIONS. PEOPLE CAN CAUSE ACCIDENTS AND INJURE PASSENGERS OR CAUSE PEDESTRIANS TO BE HURT OR KILLED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE, PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND CONSIDER DECLARING A RECALL OF THIS TRANSMISSION. PLEASE DON'T WAIT FOR PEOPLE TO GET HURT BEFORE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION. *TR