NHTSA Complaint #10510453 — 2005 FORD 500

THE TRANSMISSION ON THIS VEHICLE FORD 500 2005 DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY. AS I WAS DRIVING AND TRYING TO SWITCH LANES ON 35W IN MINNEAPOLIS THE TRANSMISSION JUST JERKED AND NO ABLE TO GO TO A HIGHER SPEED AN ACCELERATE ACCORDINGLY CAUSING VEHICLE BEHIND MINE TO ALMOST HIT MEAT APROXI.65-70 MILES . THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO AVOID HITTING ME FROM BEHIND. WE WERE LUCKY THAT DID NOT OCCUR OTHER WAYS IT COULD HAVE CREATED A PILE UP ON THE FREEWAY. I HAVE REPORTED THIS SITUATION TO FORD DEALERS BUT NO AVAILABLE RESPONSE.LATER ON I WENT TO A PRIVATE CAR SERVICE IN MY TOWN OF MN AND WAS EXPLAINED THAT FORD KNOWS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM,IT APPEARS THAT THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING BENDS UP WITH INCREASED TEMPERATURE AND CAUSES THIS FAILURE. I HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS SITUATION DOES NOT OCCUR DURING WINTER MONTHS. IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN AND FORD HAS NOT RESPONDED TO THIS ISSUE, I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE 4 -5 YEARS AGO, BUT NOT WANTING TO SELL IT TO AVOID SOMEONE ELSE TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT SPECIFICALLY IF CHILDREN ARE INVOLVED. THE REPAIR IS EXPENSIVE AND I HAVE DRIVEN OTHER FORD AND MERCURY OF ABOUT SAME YEARS AND FIND OUT EXACT PROBLEMS. FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE AND PAY OR HELP PAY FOR THE COST OF FIXING PLEASE HELP SOLVE THIS SITUATION. *TR