NHTSA Complaint #11073567 — 2005 FORD TAURUS

MY 2005 FORD TAURUS HAS A STRIPPED TORQUE CONVERTER SPLINE AFTER I INSPECTED IT CLOSELY. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW BECAUSE IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL OF THIS VEHICLE. IT IS ALSO COMMON IN OTHER SIMILAR FORD MODELS. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD BECAUSE THE TORQUE CONVERTER SPLINE CAN STRIP OUT WITHOUT WARNING, LEAVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT ANY POWER TO THE DRIVE WHEELS. THIS CAN BE ESPECIALLY HAZARD IN AN INTERSECTION WHEN A LIGHT TURNS RED, ON AT HIGH SPEED ON A HIGHWAY, WHICH WOULD RISK A HIGH-SPEED REAR END COLLISION. FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR THIS COMMON DEFECT. THERE ARE MANY INSTANCES OF THIS SAME FAILURE ON THE INTERNET BY OTHER OWNERS.THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER TO THE WHEELS AS I WAS IN AN INTERSECTION MAKING A LEFT TURN AT LOW SPEED ON A CITY STREET. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND THE TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE. VERY LUCKILY, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP CLEAR OF TRAFFIC. HOWEVER, THE OUTCOME COULD HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT.