NHTSA Complaint #728043 — 1995 FORD TAURUS

TRANSMISSION EXHIBITED A 'CLUNKING' NOISE WHILE CRUISING ON INTERSTATE, THEN WHITE SMOKE SEEN COMING FROM BACK AND UNDERSIDE OF CAR AS ENGINE STARTS TO WHINE. PULLED OVER TO CHECK PROBLEM AS SOON AS NOTED SINCE NO WARNING LAMPS LIGHTED INSIDE VEHICLE. ONCE PULLED ONTO SHOULDER, BURNT TRANSMISSION FLUID BURST UNDER CAR. ALL OTHER FLUID LEVELS WERE CHECKED AND FOUND ACCEPTABLE. WHEN COOLED DOWN, CAR WOULD NOT ENGAGE ANY GEAR. NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO NEAREST FORD GARAGE AND TOLD TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACING DUE TO INTERNAL FAILURE. NO EXTERNAL TRAUMA NOTED. TRANSMISSION COST OVER $2000 AND FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE WOULD NOT OFFER ANY REIMBURSEMENT. ROUTINE TRANSMISSION MAINTENANCE PERFORMED AT 42300 MILES. PERSONALLY, I FEEL THAT A WELL-MAINTAINED TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST LONGER THAN 49000 MILES.