NHTSA Complaint #10809495 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

THE O/D LIGHT HAS STARTED FLASHING AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT IS NOT SHIFTING WHEN IT SHOULD BE, GOING UP TO 5000 RPMS, I HAVE TO TAKE MY FOOT OFF THE PEDAL TO TRY AND GET IT TO SHIFT INTO 3RD. SOMETIMES IT WORKS, OTHER TIMES NOT SO MUCH. AFTER DOING A THOROUGH SEARCH, I HAVE FOUND A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS IDENTICAL TO MINE, MOST WITH SIMILAR MILEAGE (MINE IS AT 162,000), WITH THE PROBLEM BEING EITHER THE SOLENOID PACK OR THE O/D SERVO. SOME ARE LUCKY AND HAVE THIS REPLACED FIRST, BUT OTHERS END UP HAVING TO REBUILD/REPLACE THE TRANNY. THAT IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX FOR WHAT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, TOO EXPENSIVE FOR MOST PEOPLE WHO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT IS THIS OLD.I AM A SINGLE MOTHER OF TWO SMALL CHILDREN, I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO FIX THIS OR BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE.