NHTSA Complaint #10456542 — 2003 FORD TAURUS

AS I ACCELERATED AFTER STOPPING AT A STOP SIGN , THERE WAS A NOISE, THE CAR COASTED A SHORT DISTANCE AND STOPPED. I COULD NOT PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. I HAD NO WARNING OF THIS FAILURE, NO SLIPPAGE OR NOISES, AND HAD I BEEN IN TRAFFIC, I WOULD SURELY HAVE BEEN HIT IN THE REAR BY ANY CAR BEHIND ME. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE TAURUS AND SHUDDER TO THINK HOW MANY ACCIDENTS MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY SIMILAR FAILURES. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE AND HAVE RELIGIOUSLY FOLLOWED FORD'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SERVICE. I REALIZE THIS IS A 2003 VEHICLE, BUT WITH ONLY 52,000 MILES I DID NOT EXPECT THIS FAILURE. I RECEIVED ESTIMATES UP TO $2600 TO REPAIR, BUT WAS TOLD BY ONE KNOWLEDGEABLE AND HONEST MECHANIC, THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS USUALLY THE CAUSE OF TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN A CAR WITH LOW MILEAGE, DISMANTLING PROVED THE CONVERTER TO BE THE PROBLEM. BY REBUILDING MY TRANSMISSION I SAVED A SUBSTANTIAL SUM, BUT THIS INFORMATION IS NOT EASILY AVAILABLE TO CONSUMERS; LEADING MANY TO SPEND MORE MONEY THAN NECESSARY TO REPAIR. ALTHOUGH WELL PAST ANY WARRANTY, I DO FEEL THE TRANSMISSION WAS INFERIOR. THIS REPAIR MIGHT HAVE BEEN COVERED IF I WERE A HIGH MILEAGE DRIVER. *TR