NHTSA Complaint #10291947 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

2002 FORD EXPLORER AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. VARIOUS PROBLEMS. WHEN I FIRST GOT IT (AT 45K MILES), IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 20-30 SECONDS TO ENGAGE INTO FIRST GEAR AFTER BEING IN REVERSE. WHEN IT DID ENGAGE, IT JUMPED FORWARD WHILE DOING IT. THAT DOES NOT HAPPEN MUCH ANYMORE. IF I HAVE TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES (DOG, KID, DEER RUNS OUT, LIGHT SUDDENLY CHANGES OR SOMEONE CUTS ME OFF, ETC...) THE TRANNY SLIPS OUT OF GEAR INTO NEUTRAL STAYS THERE FOR AN INDEFINITE AMOUNT OF TIME, THEN LURCHES FORWARD 3-4 FEET AS IT KICKS BACK INTO GEAR. THIS HAS NOT CAUSED AN ACCIDENT YET! HAVE SEEN A DEALER FOR BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS - 3 TIMES. WAS NOT ABLE TO EVEN GET THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED, MUCH LESS REPAIRED. AS TIME HAS PASSED, I HAVE LEARNED TO BE CAREFUL AND GINGER WITH THE VEHICLE. I SHIFT SOFTLY AND SLOWLY, I DON'T GUN IT AND DO MY BEST TO ENSURE THERE IS PLENTY OF ROOM BETWEEN ME AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. NOW THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEGUN SLIPPING. I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE ACCOUNTS ONLINE OF PEOPLE HAVING TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WITH THE 02 EXPLORER. I FIRMLY BELIEVE FORD NEEDS TO ISSUE A RECALL. THE LURCHING FORWARD PROBLEM IS HUGE! VERY DANGEROUS! TODAY IT WAS SCARY. I WAS APPROACHING A CROSSWALK AND ONLY DOING 25. HIKERS AND BIKERS NOTORIOUSLY JUST WALK/RIDE THROUGH THE CROSSWALK WITHOUT LOOKING. THERE IS BRUSH THAT BLOCKS THE VIEW OF BIKES IN ONE DIRECTION. TODAY, A BIKE MADE NO EFFORT TO STOP TO LOOK FOR CARS AND BOLTED OUT INTO THE CROSSWALK. I DID NOT SEE HIM COMING FOR THE BRUSH. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES. AS HE WAS IN FRONT OF ME, HE CAUGHT SOME GRAVEL AND SLID AND FELL IN FRONT OF MY CAR. MY CAR LURCHED FORWARD NEARLY HITTING HIM. I CAN'T GET THE PROBLEM FIXED IF THE DEALER CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG. SHORT OF HAVING THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY REBUILT...WHICH IS WHAT I AM GOING TO DO. I REALLY FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF DOING SO. *TR