NHTSA Complaint #10357981 — 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY

2004 MERCURY MONTEREY - WIFE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY (WITH ONE CHILD AS A PASSENGER) AT 65 MPH. VEHICLE LOST ALL ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. NO GEAR. HAD TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY (DURING RUSH HOUR) WHERE THERE WAS LITTLE TO NO ROOM TO EVEN EXIT THE VEHICLE SAFELY. SHE WAS STUCK IN THE VEHICLE WHILE CARS AND TRUCKS SPED BY RAPIDLY OFTEN COMING CLOSE TO HITTING HER. POLICE WERE CALLED AND ALSO A TOW TRUCK. THE VAN HAD NO MOVEMENT IN ANY GEAR. ONLY HAD PARK AND NEUTRAL. VAN WAS TOWED AND THE PROBLEM WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAILED TORQUE CONVERTER. SPECIFICALLY THE SPLINES INSIDE THE CONVERTER WHERE THE SHAFT COMING OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES. REPAIR COST PLUS TOW IS $2000. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS HURT BUT IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. AFTER SOME RESEARCH THERE IS APPARENTLY A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD ON THIS ISSUE AND A NHTSA INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY (EA09016). *TR