NHTSA Complaint #11080100 — 2005 FORD TAURUS

THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL FORWARD MOTION WHILE IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 70 MPH, ENGINE RUNNING AND TRANSMISSION IN DRIVE. THE CAUSE IS A STRIPPED OUT TORQUE CONVERTER INPUT SPLINE. THE TRANSMISSION PUMP DRIVE ROD IS TOO WEAK AND THE GEAR TEETH TOO FINE THAT THE TEETH ON IT GET STRIPPED INSIDE THE CONVERTER QUITE EASILY AND WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSES LOSS OF TRANSMISSION PUMP PRESSURE AND RESULTANT LOSS OF FORWARD PROPULSION. IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC, THIS COULD RESULT IN A FATAL ACCIDENT, PARTICULARLY FROM THE REAR AND IF AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW BECAUSE THE TEETH ON THE TORQUE CONVERTER INPUT SHAFT (WHICH POWERS THE TRANSMISSION PUMP), ARE PRONE TO STRIP. IF THE TRANSMISSION PUMP IS NOT BEING DRIVEN (WHICH WILL HAPPEN IF THE INPUT SHAFT STRIPS INSIDE THE TORQUE CONVERTER WHILE BEING DRIVEN), THE TRANSMISSION WILL LOSE ALL ABILITY TO PROPEL THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE COMPLAINTS ALL OVER THE INTERNET OF OWNERS OF FORD TAURUS'S WITH THE VERY SAME PROBLEM. WHAT IS ODD IS THAT FORD DID ISSUE A RECALL ON SOME FORD FREESTAR MINIVANS WITH THE VERY SAME TRANSMISSION AND DESIGN FLAW, BUT THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE FORD TAURUS'S WITH VERY SAME TRANSMISSION AND DESIGN FLAW. FORD REFUSES TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE FREE OR ISSUE A RECALL. PLEASE FORCE FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO RECALL ALL FORD TAURUSES WITH THIS DESIGN FLAW. MANY YEARS AGO FORD WAS FOUND GUILTY OF INTENTIONALLY BUILDING DEFECTIVE FORD PINTOS, WHICH RESULTED IN SEVERAL DEATH WITH EXPLODING GAS TANKS WHEN THESE VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. PLEASE DON'T LET FORD MOTOR COMPANY GET AWAY WITH ANOTHER DESIGN FLAW THAT COULD RESULT IN MORE ACCIDENTS WITH FATALITIES.