NHTSA Complaint #10888069 — 2003 FORD TAURUS

WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL AT 68 MPH ON A 3 LANE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY WARNING BEGAN TO QUICKLY LOOSE SPEED AND THE ABILITY TO KEEP PACE WITH SURROUNDING TRAFFIC. THE TRANSMISSION BECAME UNRESPONSIVE AND THE VEHICLE LOST THE ABILITY TO ACCELERATE AND FUNCTION IN A SAFE MANNER. I QUICKLY AND UNKNOWINGLY DROPPED BELOW THE SAFE DRIVING SPEED FOR THE HIGHWAY AND POSED A SAFETY RISK TO MYSELF AND OF THE DRIVERS ON THE ROAD AROUND ME. IN THE COURSE OF RAPID DECELERATION I WAS ALMOST STRUCK IN THE REAR BY A VEHICLE THAT WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF MY LOSS OF SPEED, AS I DID NOT APPLY THE BRAKES. AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND AS TO NOT FURTHER ENDANGER THOSE AROUND ME; I TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND RELIED ON EVASIVE DRIVING TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SAFETY OF THE SHOULDER. ONCE OFF THE HIGHWAY, MOTOR RESPONDED BUT NONE OF THE GEARS (REVERSE, OVERDRIVE, 1ST, OR 2ND) WOULD ENGAGE. THE CAR HAD NO WARNING LIGHTS, SERVICE LIGHTS, OR CHECK ENGINE SIGNALS ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THERE ARE NO FLUID LEAKS OR OUTWARD APPEARANCE OF ANY BROKEN COMPONENTS. THIS SUDDEN MALFUNCTION HAS RENDERED MY VEHICLE BARELY FUNCTIONAL AND NOT SAFELY MANEUVERABLE.