NHTSA Complaint #10340893 — 2004 FORD TAURUS

WAS DRIVING ALONG MISSOURI HWY 92 AT ABOUT 35 MPH IN MY 2004 FORD TAURUS WHEN I TURNED OFF AND THE CAR SEEMED TO SLIP OUT OF GEAR. DEPRESSED ACCELERATOR AND THE TACHOMETER REVVED BUT CAR DECELERATED AND BEGAN ROLLING BACKWARDS BACK INTO THE HIGHWAY (I WAS ON AN INCLINE). NO DASHBOARD WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON NOR WAS THERE ANY UNUSUAL AUTO NOISES. WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE BEFORE IT ROLLED COMPLETELY INTO THE HIGHWAY. SHIFTED THROUGH ALL GEARS AND IT WOULD NOT ENGAGE IN ANY GEAR. THE DEALERSHIP GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $172.00 IN WHICH TO RUN A 27 POINT INSPECTION OR I WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE TRANSMISSION FOR FURTHER EVALUATION AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1500.00 SAYING IT WAS LIKELY THE TORQUE CONVERTER. IN LIGHT OF THE RECENT TOYOTA ACCELERATION PROBLEMS I FIND IT AMAZING THAT ANOTHER CAR DEALERSHIP HAS NO REGARD FOR THEIR PRODUCT! I PURCHASED THIS CAR FROM A FLEET DEALER WITH LESS THAN 6,000 MILES ON IT. I HAVE HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE ON IT FOR UPKEEP AND NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS. HAD MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER BEEN DRIVING THIS, I AM CERTAIN IT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH DIRE CONSEQUENCES. I HAVE FOUND A WEBSITE WITH AT LEAST 80 COMPLAINTS OF THE SAME NATURE, AND SEVERAL SERVICE STATIONS WHICH I HAVE CONTACTED WHICH HAVE INFORMED ME THIS HAPPENS FREQUENTLY WITH THE TAURUS'S. *TR