NHTSA Complaint #724295 — 1996 FORD EXPLORER

I PURCHASED MY 1996 FORD EXPLORER, IN NOVEMBER OF 1998. WHEN I PURCHASED IT, THE MILEAGE WAS AT 23,000 MILES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWO OR THREE TIMES FOR MINOR REPAIR WORK WHILE IT WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. IT CURRENTLY HAS APRROX. 54,000 MILES ON IT AND I AM EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. IT IS SLIPPING IN FIRST AND SECOND GEAR, AND IS ON THE VERGE OF NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. AFTER DOING SOME CHECKING I FOUND THAT IT IS GOING TO COST ME AT LEAST $2,400.00 FOR THE REPAIRS TO THE TRANSMISSION. I NORMALLY DO NOT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS WITH HAVING TO TAKE CARE OF VEHICLE REPAIRS BECAUSE I DEPEND ON MY VEHICLES , FOR BOTH MYSELF AND MY FAMILY. HOWEVER, IT IS MY CONSIDERED OPINION THAT A NEARLY NEW VEHICLE SUCH AS THIS ONE WITH THE LOW AMOUNT OF MILEAGE THAT IT HAS, SHOULD NOT BE HAVING PROBLEMS LIKE IT IS CURRENTLY HAVING WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE FOR THIS MATTER TO BE INVESTIGATED SO THAT I CAN DETERMINE IF I AM ABLE TO RECEIVE ANY ASSISTANCE BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY, OR TO DETERMINE IF THERE ARE ADDITONAL CONSUMERS THAT ARE HAVING THE SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM THAT I AM HAVING AND JUST SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW HOW TO RESOLVE THIS MATTER. THANK YOU FOR ANY ASSISTANCE THAT YOU MAY BE ABLE TO OFFER ME CONCERNING THIS MATTER. *AK