NHTSA Complaint #10627112 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

I PURCHASED THIS TO USE AS A SECOND VEHICLE FOR CAMPING TRIPS SO THE MILEAGE ON IT IS VERY LOW FOR ITS AGE. SUDDENLY ONE DAY OF NORMAL LOCAL DRIVING, THE O/D LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO RUN VERY ROUGH. IT COULDN'T SEEM TO ACCELERATE AND RPMS WERE HIGH. I HAD TO DRIVE HOME WITH EMERGENCY FLASHERS ON SINCE THE CAR FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO DIE ANY MOMENT. SINCE O/D FLASHING MEANS SOMETHING WITH TRANSMISSION, I TOOK IT TO TWO DIFFERENT TRANSMISSION REPAIR SHOPS WHO BOTH DIAGNOSED A BAD TRANSMISSION THAT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT ABOUT $3,500. I WAS SHOCKED THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION WITH ONLY 43000 MILES ON VEHICLE DESPITE ITS AGE. BOTH SHOPS INFORMED ME THAT THE 2002 FORD EXPLORERS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR BAD TRANSMISSIONS. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO REQUEST ASSISTANCE WITH THIS REPAIR. THEY WOULD NOT HELP ME IN ANY WAY. THE VEHICLE IS NOT DRIVABLE AND I AM NOT IN A FINANCIAL POSITION TO TAKE ON SUCH AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR FOR A SECOND VEHICLE. RIGHT NOW IT IS SITTING UNUSED IN MY DRIVEWAY WHILE COSTING ME TO KEEP IT INSURED. CAN'T BELIEVE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SINCE I THOUGHT I WAS BUYING A REPUTABLE PRODUCT. FORD ABANDONED ME WHEN THEIR PRODUCT FAILED. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD PRODUCT AGAIN. THE LEAST FORD COULD HAVE DONE WAS ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR MISTAKES AND NOT CHEAT THE PUBLIC. OTHER ISSUES I AM HAVING IS FLAKING PEELING PAINT AND A CRACK THROUGH THE FORD EMBLEM ON THE REAR DOOR PANEL. *TR