NHTSA Complaint #10413349 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER HAD A "THUNK" NOISE FROM DAY ONE. FORD DEALERSHIP "COULD NOT DUPLICATE" THE COMPLAINT EVEN THOUGH I TOOK IT BACK MULTIPLE TIMES. HAD TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER AT 70K MILES AND NOW AT 135K MILES THE WHOLE TRANSMISSION AND ANOTHER TORQUE CONVERTER FOR RATTLING AGAIN. OD/OFF BLINKING LIGHT AND CHECK TRANSMISSION NOTICE CAME ON WITH ERRATIC SHIFTING AND LOSS OF 2ND AND 5TH GEARS. REPLACEMENT OF TRANS ELIMINATED "THUNK" AND MY $4600. SIMILAR COMPLAINTS WITHOUT ANY ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF FAULTY MATERIALS OR ENGINEERING BY FORD HAS PLAGUED HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF EXPLORER OWNERS. WHERE IS THE EXPECTED INVESTIGATION OF THESE PROBLEMS? WHY DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL ACCIDENTS OR INJURY TO HAVE FAULTY AUTOS RECALLED? WHY ARE SPARK PLUGS EJECTED MORE OF A SAFETY CONCERN THAN TRANSMISSIONS THAT LEAVE DRIVERS WITHOUT PROPER MOVING CAPABILITY ON THE HIGHWAY? WHERE IS THE RECALL FOR THESE UNITS? *KB