NHTSA Complaint #10536348 — 2006 FORD EXPLORER

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT EXPLORER FROM PARK TO REVERSE THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE FOR 5 TO 10 SECONDS WHEN IT FINALLY DID ENGAGE THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE THAT SOUNDED AS IF THE TRANSMISSION FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED WITH GREAT FORCE. THE HAS OCCURRED ON MANY OCCASIONS AND IS POSSES A DANGER TO MYSELF AND FAMILY AND ANY ONE WHO MAY BE PARKED OR STANDING TO CLOSE. I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE IN TO MY LOCAL FORD SERVICE CENTER AND THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TWICE WHILE UNDER WARRANTY: FIRST TIME THEY STATED THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING AND THE SECOND TIME THEY REPLACED THE SHIFTING MECHANISM. IN NOVEMBER OF 2012 THE ENGINE WOULD NOT ENGAGE AT ALL AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT IS WAS THE GEAR SHIFTER AGAIN, THIS TIME I PAID $500 TO HAVE IT REPAIRED. THE CAR WORKED CORRECTLY FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS AND I THOUGH IT WAS FINALLY FIXED, HOWEVER IT IS ONCE AGAIN DOING THE SAME THING. IT DELAYS 5-10 SECONDS BETWEEN SHIFTING, DROPS INTO GEAR VERY HARD AND LUNGES FORWARD. FORD IS NOW TELLING ME I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT THE FANTASTIC PRICE OF AN ESTIMATED $2500. GIVEN ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION I THINK FORD NEEDS TO REPLACE THEM AT THEIR COST BEFORE WE START SEEING AN INCREASE IN TRANSMISSION FAILURE CRASHES, INJURIES, AND POSSIBLY FATALITIES. *TR