NHTSA Complaint #743071 — 2000 FORD EXPLORER

WE LEASED A 2000 FORD EXPLORER ON 9-15-00 ON 9-16-00 IT SHUT OFF GOING DOWN A HILL NO POWER STEERING OR POWER BRAKES CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUKE AND WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. IT HAS SINCE HAPPENED 4 MORE TIMES ALL GOING DOWN HILLS. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 5 TIMES BUT ONLY WORKED ON 2 OF THE 5 TIMES BECAUSE FORD MOTOR CO. DOESN'T KNOW WHAT TO FIX. THEY ALSO SAID IT HAD TO SHUT OFF ON A MECHANIC TO DO ANYTHING . OVERALL THE HAD OUR VEHICLE 23 DAYS , IT DIDN'T SHUT OFF. THEY INSTALLED A FLIGHT INDICATOR ON OUR VEHICLE AND RETURNED IT TO US AND TOLD US TO PUSH THE BUTTON WITHIN 5 SECONDS WHEN IT SHUTS OFF. YOU CAN ONLY DO THIS WITH 2 PEOPLE IN THE CAR. IT SHUT OFF FEB.2,01 I PUSHED THE BUTTON BECAUSE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, THEY PICKED UP THE VEHICLE AND RETURNED IT 3 HOURS LATER AND SAID WE GOT A GOOD READING THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. FORD MOTOR CO. ASKED FOR THE READING AND SAID IT WASN'T A GOOD READING DON'T DO ANYTHING . SO WE STILL HAVE A VEHICLE THAT EVERYONE KNOW SHUT OFF 5 TIMES, WE CAN NOT DO THE LEMON LAW BECAUSE IT HAS ONLY BEEN WORKED ON 2 OUT 5 TIMES ANDWE HAD A RENTAL 23 DAYS AND WE NEED 30 DAYS.WE HAVE A FAMILY THAT DRIVES IN THIS CAR, WE LIVE ON A HILL AND OUT BUSINESS IS ON ABIGGER HILL.I AM SCARED TO DEATH TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE.WE HAVE TALKED TO FORD HOTLINE AND GOT A RUN AROUND WITH THEM AND WE HAVE EMAIL FORD ANDGOT A RAN AROUND FROM THEM. THE DEALERSHIP WILL TAKE OUR VEHICLE BACK BUT WE NEED TO PUT THE DIFFERENCE IN OUR NEW PAYMENT OF WHAT IS OWED.ALL TOGETHER IT IS 8500.00 I DON'T FEEL THIS IS FAIR CONSIDERING THIS IS NOT MY PROBLEM IT IS FORDS.NO ONE WANTS TO HELP US AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD US TO SAVE OUR MONEY FORD HAS WAY MORE ATTORNEYS THAN WE CAN AFFORD TO FIGHT THEM. I HOPE WE CAN GET SOMEWHERE WITH YOUR COMPANY. THANK YOU. *AK