NHTSA Complaint #10462808 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

THIS IS AN UPDATE TO COMPLAINT NO. 10459987. AFTER LOOKING AT THE CAR RECORDS, WE DISCOVERED THAT DURING A SERVICE OF MY TRANSMISSION, FORD FACTORY REQUIRED THE DEALERSHIP TO CUT THE METAL TRANSMISSION LINE AND INSTALLED A RUBBER LINE WITH A FILTER. IF THEY DID NOT INSTALL THE FILTER, THEN THE WARRANTY WOULD HAVE BEEN VOID. AFTER INSTALLING, NO ONE EVER INSPECTED OR REPLACED THE LINE OR FILTER. IT WAS SIMPLY FORGOTTEN. 75,000 MILES LATER THE RUBBER LINE WAS RESTING ON THE EXHAUST, WHICH BURNED A HOLE AND CAUSED TRANSMISSION FLUID TO LEAK AND SPRAY ONTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND CAUGHT FIRE. WE WERE LUCKY IN THAT WE SAW THE SMOKE EARLY AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. I AM CONCERNED THERE ARE MORE CARS OUT THERE WITH THIS RETRO-FIT FILTER ON THE TRANSMISSION THAT NO ONE IS INSPECTING OR MAINTAINING BECAUSE IT IS NOT ON AN OFFICIAL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE. *TT