NHTSA Complaint #10424539 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER XLT, MY TRANSMISSION JUST RECENTLY WENT OUT. IT HAS ABOUT 142,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, TO GET IT FIXED, THEY TOOK IT APART, AND TOLD ME IT WAS COSTING $3,786.60 TO GET IT FIXED/REBUILT! AS OF RIGHT NOW MY TRUCK IS STILL IN THE SHOP, IT HAS BEEN THERE FOR 2 WEEKS NOW. THERE IS NO WAY CAN AFFORD TO PAY THAT, I"M JUST A STUDENT. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND IT TURNS OUT THAT THERE IS THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM; TRANSMISSIONS GO OUT AND THE MAJORITY ON THE 2002 MODEL. THEY REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION, ONLY FOR IT TO GO OUT AGAIN. SOME PEOPLE HAVE REPLACED/REBUILT THEIR TRANSMISSIONS 4 OR 5 TIMES. I ALSO READ THAT THESE TRUCKS CAN STOP AT ANY MOMENT; ANYWHERE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IF ON THE FREEWAY. I DON'T SEE WHY FORD, DIDN'T RECALL THIS TRUCK OR THIS TRANSMISSION. THEY NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE NO IDEA, WHAT I AM GOING TO DO TO GET MY TRUCK FIXED.. OR MAYBE EVEN REPLACED. *TR