NHTSA Complaint #567570 — 1994 FORD THUNDERBIRD

THE TRANSMISSION GEARS SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING REFUSED TO SHIFT OUT OF LOW GEAR. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY SLOW DOWN ALMOST TO A HALT WHILE IN TRAFFIC. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE CONSUMER BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED. WHILE IN THE HANDS OF THEIR TRANSMISSION TECHNICIANS, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. CONSUMER SOUGHT OUT A REPUTABLE SPECIALIST WHO INSTALLED A SENSOR WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM BUT ONLY TEMPORARILY. THE MALFUNCTION WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED AT A SECOND ATTEMPT. THE SPRING ACCUMULATOR WAS BROKEN, THE OVERDRIVE BAND WAS BURNED AS WERE THE LOW CLUTCHES. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECOGNIZED THE POOR DESIGN AND CHANGED IT SO CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES PAID FOR REPAIRS. *JG *SCC