NHTSA Complaint #10441575 — 2003 FORD EXPLORER

I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS TO REPORT MY TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING, AND DISCOVERING THAT MANY PEOPLE WERE REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE ON THE WEB: FLASHING OVERDRIVE LIGHT, CONSTANT ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT, AND MY TRANSMISSION WAS STICKING AND NOT SHIFTING PROPERLY. I TOLD THE REPRESENTATIVE ABOUT MY ISSUE AND IMMEDIATELY THEY SAID I DID NOT HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. I TOLD THEM I DID HAVE THE EXTENDED WHICH WAS UP TO 100000 MILES, BUT I WAS BARELY OVER BY 3000 MILES. I EXPLAINED THAT A LOT OF OTHER PEOPLE WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THE SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. THE AGENT SOUNDED LIKE HE WAS READING FROM A SCRIPT, INCLUDING HIS SUPERVISOR SAYING I WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, SORRY, AND GO TO THE DEALER YOU BOUGHT THE CAR FROM. WHEN IT WAS CLEAR HE WAS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING, I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH A SUPERVISOR, BUT IT WAS CLEAR THAT SHE WAS NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING EITHER. ALL I WAS ASKING FOR WAS A GOODWILL REPAIR DISCOUNT, AND THEY REFUSED. I GREW UP WITH FORDS; FAIRLANE, FALCON, GALAXY, MAVERICK, LTD, TAURUS, EXPEDITION, T-BIRD, AND EXPLORER. I AM NOT GOING TO SAY I WILL NEVER DRIVE ANOTHER FORD, BUT I NO LONGER FEEL LOYAL TO THE BRAND. HONDA'S AND TOYOTA'S TRANSMISSIONS LAST LONGER AND THEY STAND BY THEIR PRODUCT. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED ABOUT THIER LACK OF CUSTOMER SERVICE AND INDIFFERENCE WITH MY PROBLEM. THIS IS GOING TO COST $2500 FOR A REBUILD OR $3500 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. *KB