NHTSA Complaint #10585092 — 2003 FORD TAURUS

OUR DAUGHTER HAD PLANNED TO COME HOME FOR A FAMILY GATHERING ON EASTER SUNDAY AND INDICATED SHE WAS LEAVING DEKALB, IL AND WOULD BE TAKING THE INTERSTATE 88 TOLL WAY TO DIXON. SHORTLY AFTER SHE HAD CALLED, SHE PHONED AGAIN TO SAY THAT HER CAR SUDDENLY WENT OUT OF GEAR AS SHE WAS DRIVING TO GET ON THE TOLL WAY. THE CAR ENGINE RACED HAS THE CAR STARTED TO SLOW DOWN. FORTUNATELY, SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST OFF ON TO A SIDE ROAD AND STOP THE CAR. ACCORDING TO THE WEB SITE WWW.CARCOMPLAINT.COM, 292 COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN SUBMITTED SINCE 2012 FOR THIS SAME TRANSMISSION FAILURE. TO MY SURPRISE, FURTHER RESEARCH SHOWED THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL. THIS APPEARS TO BE A FAULTY TRANSMISSION DESIGN ISSUE WHICH COULD EASILY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH. THANKFULLY OUR DAUGHTER'S CAR HAD NOT LOST THE TRANSMISSION WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. SHE COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN TAIL ENDED AND SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED. THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM PRESENTS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM AND WARRANTS A MANUFACTURER RECALL. OUR DAUGHTER FEARS THAT IF THE TRANSMISSION IS REPLACED OR REQUIRES A MAJOR PART, IT WILL LIKELY CONTAIN THE SAME FLAW AS THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION. SHE SAYS SHE DOES NOT FEEL SHE CAN EVER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE INTERSTATE OR CHICAGO FREEWAYS WHERE SHE VISITS HER FRIEND. FORD NEEDS TO FURNISH A RELIABLE AND SAFE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION BY ORDER OF THE NATIONAL SAFETY ADMINISTRATION. THE HIGH POTENTIAL FOR INJURY OR DEATH DICTATES IMMEDIATE ACTION. *TR