NHTSA Complaint #10410920 — 2003 FORD TAURUS

MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING A 2003 FORD TAURUS ON JULY 7, 2011. THE VEHICLE STOPPED MOVING. THE ENGINE WAS WORKING, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. CAR WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR FACILITY WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS TORN UP AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACE OR REBUILT. THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE HAPPENED WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS INDICATIONS OF THE CAR HAVING TRANSMISSION TROUBLE. I UNDERSTAND THAT OTHER 2003 FORD TAURUS VEHICLES HAVE ALSO HAD THIS PROBLEM. IF THIS FAILURE HAD HAPPENED ON A BUSY INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. AS IT WAS, SHE ALMOST HAD A WRECK, BECAUSE THE CAR WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THEN SUDDENLY THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT HAVE ANY POWER TO THE WHEELS TO MOVE. SHE WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED BY A CAR BEHIND HER DUE TO THIS PRODUCT FAILURE. FORD NEEDS TO RECTIFY THIS DEFECT. I AM HAVING TO COME OUT OF POCKET FOR A LOT OF MONEY TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT APPARENTLY IS INHERENT TO THIS MODEL. I WOULD LIKE FOR FORD TO REIMBURSE MY EXPENSES. *TR