NHTSA Complaint #10409708 — 2003 FORD TAURUS

I WAS LOOKING ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE WITH REGARD TO ANOTHER ISSUE THAT I HAD HEARD ABOUT WITH THE 2003 TAURUS (FRONT END COLLAPSE) WHEN I CAME ACROSS THIS TRANSMISSION ISSUE. DRIVING IN HIGHWAY PASSING LANE, THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN TO LOSE MOMENTUM. SPEEDOMETER RAPIDLY BEGAN TO DROP WHILE RPM'S WENT BALLISTIC, THEN DROPPED. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I QUICKLY REALIZED THE CAR WAS COMING TO A STOP THAT I COULD NOT CONTROL REGARDLESS OF HOW HARD I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR. I WAS BARELY ABLE TO PULL OVER 3 LANES OF TRAFFIC TO MAKE IT INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE, WHERE IT CAME TO A COMPLETE HALT AND COULD NOT BE MOVED. NOT ONLY DID I HAVE AN ISSUE WITH MY 2003 TAURUS AT 71K MILES, WE ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION ON OUR 2001 FORD F-150 AT 110K MILES & 2005 FORD FOCUS AT 80K MILES, AT A COST OF $8300.00. ALL OF THESE VEHICLES WERE PURCHASED NEW AND DRIVEN BY THE SAME DRIVER. GIVEN THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS POSTED ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE, I WOULD THINK EITHER FORD OR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMINISTRATION WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND PERFORM AN IN DEPTH INVESTIGATION WHY SO MANY FORD TRANSMISSIONS ARE FAILING AND ISSUE A NOTIFICATION OF THESE SERIOUS ISSUES WITH THIS CAR AND THE STEPS TO REMEDIATE THOSE ISSUES BEFORE THE ISSUE CAUSES SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.