NHTSA Complaint #10378692 — 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2004 MERCURY MONTEREY MINIVAN WHICH I PURCHASED NEW. ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND LITERALLY WITHOUT ANY SIGN OF PROBLEMS, I CAME OUT OF WORK AND DISCOVERED THAT MY VAN WOULD START UP FINE BUT WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR (FORWARD, REVERSE ETC.) I HAD THE VAN TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER HAD WENT OUT AND THAT IT WOULD COST ME $1600 TO REPAIR. AFTER THREATENING TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER SHOP I EVENTUALLY GOT THEM TO AGREE TO DROP THE COST TO $1000. I WAS SHOCKED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE SUCH A MAJOR BREAK DOWN WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. AFTER RESEARCHING THE INTERNET I DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM AND THAT IT ALWAYS SEEMS TO OCCUR AROUND THE 50K MILEAGE MARK. IN FACT, I DISCOVERED THAT A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED IN NY FOR THIS VERY ISSUE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND IF APPROPRIATE FORCE FORD TO ISSUE A RECALL. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THESE REPAIRS IF IT IS DISCOVERED THAT FAULTY OR CHEAP PARTS ARE TO BLAME FOR THIS PROBLEM. THANKS. *TR