NHTSA Complaint #10670705 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

I AM AN OWNER OF A 2002 FORD EXPLORER. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE TRANSMISSION WILL INTERMITTENTLY DISENGAGE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HAVE TO BE PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHIFT INTO PARK, THEN BACK TO DRIVE. I HAVE CONSULTED WITH MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES ON THE ISSUE. I HAVE BEEN REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE FORD EXPLORER / MERCURY MOUNTAINEER TRANSMISSION. FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS FAILING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS BEING A SAFETY CONCERN. MY MOTHER OWNS A 2005 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER WITH THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. THE PREVIOUS OWNER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION SHORTLY BEFORE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW TRANSMISSION FROM FORD. I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN ACCIDENTS BECAUSE THEIR EXPLORER/MOUNTAINEER TRANSMISSION DISENGAGES? THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA REFERRED ME TO THIS WEBSITE BEING THAT THE SERVICE MANAGE BELIEVES THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL THROUGH FORD. I WOULD HAVE TO AGREE WITH THE DEALERSHIP. WHY HAS FORD OR THE NHTSA NOT REQUIRED THE MANUFACTURE TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE? DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE IN CAR ACCIDENTS BEFORE THIS IS RECTIFIED? IT IS NOT SAFE TO PASS A VEHICLE SINCE THE TRANSMISSION RANDOMLY CUTS OUT WITHOUT WARNING. *TR