NHTSA Complaint #10809062 — 2008 FORD TAURUS

MY 2008 TAURUS SEL FELT LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING BETWEEN GEARS WHEN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT. 100 YARDS LATER, ON AN UPHILL STREET, THE CAR WOULD BARELY MOVE AND ROLL BACKWARDS WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKE. I WAS BLOCKING TRAFFIC SO I HAD TO REV THE ENGINE AT MAX RPM TO BARELY MAKE IT OUT OF TRAFFIC AND ONTO THE SHOULDER. WHEN I STARTED THE ENGINE, THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNK COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNK AND A JOLT LIKE SOMEONE JUST REAR-ENDED ME. SAME WHEN SHIFTING INTO N OR L. THE CAR NEEDED TO BE TOWED. THE OBD CODE READER INDICATED A PENDING P720 FAILURE, "OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION". I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY PRETENDED TO BE UNAWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR IS LOCATED INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION, NOT A USER SERVICEABLE PART. EVEN THE MOST METICULOUS MAINTENANCE COULD NOT HAVE AVOIDED THE SENSOR FAILURE WHICH CLEARLY POINTS TO A DESIGN FLAW IN THE SENSOR. MY TAURUS IS 7 YEARS OLD WITH 93,000 MILES. A REQUEST FOR FINANCIAL AID WAS DECLINED BY FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE. ANY CAR WITH A 6F50 TRANSMISSION SHOULD BE RECALLED AS THESE TIME BOMBS ARE A HIGHWAY SAFETY HAZARDS.