NHTSA Complaint #10464537 — 2004 FORD EXPLORER

THE TRANSMISSIONS FOR FORD EXPLORERS HAVE ABOUT A 10% FAILURE RATE. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT THE CAR MAY NOT ACCELERATE WHEN NEEDED. THE TRANSMISSION ACTS AS THOUGH IT IS IN NEUTRAL WHEN SHIFTING FROM SECOND TO THIRD GEARS. THE SYMPTOM ALSO APPEARS DURING NORMAL ACCELERATION (MERGING ONTO HIGHWAYS, TRYING TO PASS OTHER VEHICLES). THE DANGER IS THAT YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF OTHER VEHICLES. WE HAVE NOT BEEN HIT, BUT WE NO LONGER DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. WE EXPECT A TOTAL FAILURE AT ANY MOMENT, AND DO NOT WANT TO BE IN A SITUATION WHERE THE VEHICLE WILL NEED TO BE TOWED FOR A LARGE NUMBER OF MILES. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE, AND UNRELIABLE. FORD SHOULD FIX THIS PRODUCT, MUCH LIKE HONDA DID FOR THEIR 2003 ACURA TL. *TR