NHTSA Complaint #10362266 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD ISSUES SHIFTING GEARS AND WHEN SHE WOULD TURN CORNERS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SHIFT OUT OF GEAR. OTHER TIMES, SHE HAD ISSUES SHIFTING INTO DRIVE AND MOVING FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO RELATED RECALLS. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN 2008 AT A REPAIR SHOP. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. WHEN THE CONTACT PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK (WITH THE ENGINE ON) AND WENT INTO A STORE, THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND HIT A BUILDING AND THEN MOVED BACK AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT A COMPONENT OF THE STEERING COLUMN WOULD NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO LOCK INTO GEAR. THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, AFTER THE REPAIR, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. UPDATED 10/21/11*LJ