NHTSA Complaint #10298439 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY ON A BUSY EXPRESSWAY IN CHICAGO,MY TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO FLASH WARNING LIGHTS,"CHECK TRANSMISSION",O/D OFF LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED ON.TRANSMISSION ALSO STARTED TO SURGE AND SLOW DOWN.I REACHED A SPOT WHERE I COULD PULL OVER AND CHECKED THE OWNERS MANUAL. THE MANUAL SAID TO SEE THE FORD DEALER,IN WHICH I DID.THEY ACTED AS IF THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID "HE WOULD HAVE TO HOOK IT UP TO A COMPUTER TO SEE WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS"($200.00)THE TOLD ME I NEEDED A"NEW TRANSMISSION.($2,500.00).THROUGH RESEARCH ONLINE"AUTOBEEF" WEBSITE I FOUND THAT FORD MOTOR CO. HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM FOR YEARS! I CALLED OTHER FORD DEALERS TO FIND OUT WHAT THEY WOULD SAY. THEY ALL WANTED ME TO BRING IT IN AND PUT IT ON THEIR COMPUTERS. (AROUND$200.00)I'M GLAD I WAS DRIVING INSTEAD OF MY WIFE! I WONDER HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE FORD TO ADMIT THAT THEY HAVE A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION? THEY CONTINUE TO ACT LIKE YOU'RE THE FIRST PERSON TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND CHARGE YOU A COUPLE HUNDRED DOLLARS TO CHECK IT OUT."REAL GOOD SCAM". *TR