NHTSA Complaint #10334279 — 2003 FORD TAURUS

I WAS COMING HOME FROM WORK AND HAD JUST STARTED UP AN INCLINE AFTER STOPPING AT A STOPLIGHT AT ONE OF THE BUSIEST INTERSECTIONS IN ST.LOUIS (HWY 64 & LINDBERGH). AS I TRIED TO ACCELERATE, I HEARD AN AWFUL NOISE AND REALIZED I DIDN'T HAVE ANY POWER. THERE WERE NO WARNING SIGNS....JUST GONE! LUCKILY, I WAS ABLE TO IMMEDIATELY PULL OFF/COAST INTO A NEARBY MALL'S PARKING LOT (PLAZA FRONTENAC). WHEN I GOT TO A STOP, I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, THEN PROCEEDED TO TRY ALL THE GEARS ON THE GEARSHIFT. NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM....THEY ALL SEEMED LIKE NEUTRAL. I KEPT THE CAR RUNNING, CHECKED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID, AND NOTICED SOME GREY/BLACK IN WITH THE PINK (JUST ON THE EDGES). ONCE MY HUSBAND GOT THERE, HE VERIFIED HE THOUGHT THE GREY WAS FROM METAL SHAVINGS FROM THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD THIS HAPPEN TO MY 1997 DODGE AVENGER (TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT AT 37K ON BUSY HIGHWAY AT RUSH HOUR), SO I KNEW THE SIGNS. AFTER HAVING AAA TOW MY CAR TO A TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOP, WE WAITED FOR THE VERDICT. IT WILL BE AT LEAST $1600 TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. THIS WILL INCLUDE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE SHOP SAYS THEY WILL ALSO REPLACE SOME OF THE OTHER WEAK PARTS THE TAURUS IS KNOWN FOR IN THEIR TRANSMISSIONS. THE CAR IS A 2003 FORD TAURUS SES WITH 115K ON IT. I'VE HAD IT SINCE BRAND NEW AND CAN'T BELIEVE ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS ONLINE, ESPECIALLY IN REGARDS TO THE 2003 TAURUS. WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL?!? I DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE THE CAR OR MY INSURANCE INFO.ON ME TO SUPPLY THE VIN NUMBER.... *TR