2002 Ford Taurus transmission problems

POWER TRAIN

I THE OWNER OF A 2002 FORD TAURUS,THE TRAN IS CRAP,SECOND TIME REPLACEMENT,WHAT R U GOING TO DO ABOUT A RECALL.WILL NOT MOVE AT ALL.TRANS GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NHTSA complaint #10846445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

DRIVING OUT OF TOWN THE VEHICLE SHOWED NO SIGNS OF ANY PROBLEMS INCLUDING NO DASHBOARD LIGHTS OR WARNINGS DISPLAYING ANY NEED OF MAINTANANCE. WHILE TURNING ONTO ANOTHER STREET AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED THEN PRESSING ACCELERATOR TO GO, THE DRIVETRAIN SUDDENLY STOPPED PULLING AND THE CAR STOPPED . THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AT IDLE SPEED BUT THE RPMS WERE FLUCTUATING UP AND DOWN THEN STABILIZED AT ABOUT 1,200 RPMS. THERE WERE NO SIGHNS OF ANY FLUID LEAKS OR PINCHED LINES. JUST A SUDDEN STOP, LEAVING ME AND MY FAMILY STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE. THE EXPENSES OF HIRING A WRECKER TO TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE NEAREST SHOP, AND THE ACTUAL REPAIR EXPENSE WAS WELL OVER OUR FAMILY BUDGET AND HAS CAUSED US A GREAT DEAL OF UNNECESSARY HARDSHIPS IN OUR DAILY LIVES.

NHTSA complaint #10749151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT HESITATED TO SWITCH INTO THE REVERSE POSITION. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED AND THE TRANSMISSION FILTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000. MA 10/25/15

NHTSA complaint #10745201 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE SPLINE AND TORQUE CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

NHTSA complaint #10715796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN 2002 AFTER PREVIOUSLY OWNING SEVERAL FORD VEHICLES. ON JULY 20, 2012, I ATTENDED A FAMILY FUNERAL A LITTLE OVER TWO HOURS AWAY FROM MY HOME. WHILE RETURNING HOME VIA I-75 IN MIDDLE GEORGIA, THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED. WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY INCREASED TO OVER 6000 RPM. I IMMEDIATELY LET OFF THE GAS AND LOOKED IN THE REAR VIEW TO SEE WHITE SMOKE BOILING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR. AFTER SAFELY GETTING THE CAR OFF THE INTERSTATE, I RAISED THE HOOD TO SEE TRANSMISSION FLUID ALL OVER THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE. IT'S SIMPLY A MIRACLE THE CAR DID NOT CATCH FIRE. I WAITED FOR TWO HOURS IN 100 DEGREE HEAT BEFORE A TOW TRUCK ARRIVED. AFTER BEING TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME AND I QUOTE, "WE SEE A LOT OF TAURUS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS LIKE THIS AT AROUND 120,000 MILES." IF THIS IS SO, WHY CAN'T FORD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM? I REALIZE THE CAR HAS SOME AGE ON IT, BUT THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD LAST MUCH LONGER THAN THIS. SINCE DAY ONE, I HAVE "BABIED" THIS CAR AND HAVE NEVER ONCE ABUSED IT IN ANY WAY. I HAVE NEVER DRIVEN IT RECKLESSLY AND HAVE ALWAYS SERVICED IT ON REGULAR INTERVALS. THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN MY SHOP FOR OVER 3 YEARS BECAUSE WE CAN'T AFFORD TO GET IT REPAIRED. I WISH FORD WOULD MAN UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR ME AND MANY OTHERS. HOWEVER, I CERTAINLY WON'T HOLD MY BREATH. "HAVE YOU DRIVEN A FORD LATELY?" I HAVEN'T.

NHTSA complaint #10681510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,700. UPDATED 9/12/14

NHTSA complaint #10619507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR EVEN THOUGH THE SHIFT LEVER FEELS AS IF IT IS SHIFTING. WHEN LEVER IS IN D OR R, ENGINE JUST REVS. IN N THE CAR CAN BE PUSHED. IN P THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE PUSHED.

NHTSA complaint #10503707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

CAR WAS RUNNING GOOD I PARKED THE CAR WHEN I CAME BACK THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT ENGAGE IN REVERSE OR DRIVE.

NHTSA complaint #10467183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

SUDDEN AND COMPLETE LOSS OF TRANSMISSION POWER - NO SECONDARY ACTIONS CAUSED THE PROBLEM, NOR WAS THERE ANY INDICATION OF A PROBLEM. NO LEAKS, NO TRANSMISSION SLIPPING, NO OTHER INDICATORS OF A PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10444295 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TRANSMISSION FAILED ON INSTERSTATE. NO WARNING WHATSOEVER.

NHTSA complaint #10438692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 78,000.

NHTSA complaint #10438044 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

MY 2002 FORD TAURUS STOPPED PULLING WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREE WAY. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND FORD WILL NOT HELP WITH ANY OF THE REPAIR COSTS.

NHTSA complaint #10427942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, CAUSING HER TO LOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING 53 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE DIAGNOSTICS STATED THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS THE SAME.

NHTSA complaint #10414015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK MY TRANSMISSION FAILED. AFTER HAVING THE CAR TOWED TO THE MECHANIC, I WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. IT ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE, I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS ISSUES WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER FAILING DUE TO A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. I HAVE NOT HAD IT REPAIRED AS OF YET.

NHTSA complaint #10403775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE ON 2002 FORD TAURUS. BASED ON MECHANICS COMMENTS, DISCUSSION WITH OTHER TAURUS OWNERS AND INTERNET RESEARCH THERE IS SUFFICIENT ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE ASSUMPTION THAT THERE IS A DESIGN DEFECT IN THE TRANSMISSION IN THE AND OTHER FORD VEHICLES. I HAD RECENTLY HAD THE TRANSMISSION SERVICED. I NOTICED A PERFORMANCE ISSUE FOLLOWING THE SERVICE. THE PCM PRODUCED AN ERROR CODE THREE WEEKS FOLLOWING THE SERVICE. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE DIRECTLY TO THE MECHANICS THE ERROR CODE INDICATED THAT 3RD GEAR IN THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THE ONLY FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM IS TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10402431 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WITHOUT NOTICE, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND IN ANY GEAR AND THE ENGINE JUST REVVED. I WAS ON A ROAD THAT WAS NOT BUSY AND ABLE TO COAST OFF OF THE ROAD TO A SAFE LOCATION. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON MY WAY HOME ON THE INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR INSTEAD, I MAY HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED IN AN ACCIDENT SINCE THE CAR JUST SLOWED DOWN WITHOUT ANY WARNING OR INDICATION THAT IT WAS ABOUT TO QUIT. I WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT STRIPPED TORQUE CONVERTER IS COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10396941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I HAVE A 2002 FORD TAURUS AND WAS DRIVING/ACCELERATING DOWN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN NOTHING WAS HAPPENING. THE CAR WAS LIKE IN NEUTRAL EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN DRIVE. THE CAR ROLLED A BIT TO THE SIDE WITH THE IMPULSE IT HAD, BUT HAD TO PUSH IT TO THE SIDE. THE TRANSMISSION'S DRIVE AND REVERSE WERE IN NEUTRAL. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. SEEMS TO HAVE HAPPENED TO MANY OTHER OWNERS THAT THE TRANSMISSION GOES INTO NEUTRAL. THE CORRECTIONS I HAVE BEEN TOLD IS TO (1) CHANGE THE TORQUE CONVERTER OR (2) REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION. WELL OVER $1,750 IN REPAIR AND LABOR COSTS (MINIMUM).

NHTSA complaint #10357374 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A FOUR LANE FREEWAY AND WAS PASSING SOMEONE IN THE LEFT LANE WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR JUST REVVED UP AND LOST ALL ACCELERATION. NO WARNING SIGNS OR ANYTHING. IT WAS A BUSY DAY ON THE ROAD AND I COULD HAVE GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT TRYING TO GET OFF THE ROAD. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT, BUT THAT WAS NOT AN EASY TASK. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AS I WAS ACCELERATING THROUGH A BUSY INTERSECTION OR SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCE IT COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY. I CHECKED ONLINE FOR PEOPLE WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND I FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND HOW MUCH OF A PROBLEM IT WAS FOR PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT AS FORTUNATE AS ME WHO HAVE COME CLOSE TO LIFE THREATENING INCIDENTS. I'M WONDERING WHY SOMETHING HAS NOT BEEN DONE TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE WITH THIS CAR. IT MAKES ME VERY UPSET TO SEE THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO ALLEVIATE THIS LIFE THREATENING ISSUE. NOW THE CAR WILL NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR. I MAKES ME FURTHER UPSET TO KNOW THAT SOMEONE ONLINE INDICATES THAT "THE PROBLEM STEMS FROM A BAD HEAT TREATMENT ON THE TORQUE CONVERTER STAMPED STEEL PART" FROM HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/FORD/TAURUS/2003/TRANSMISSION/TRANSMISSION_FAILED.SHTML (SEE COMPLAINT #69 SUBMITTED BY [XXX] ). IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE CONSUMERS SHOULD NOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR BAD MANUFACTURING PRACTICES. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10339113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 10-15 MPH THE FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURED AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE. THE TIRE AND SPRING COMBINATION ALSO FRACTURED THE STABILIZER BAR LINK AND PUNCTURED THE AXLE BOOT. THE CONTACT DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER BUT MADE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS HIMSELF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT WOULD PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA complaint #10323810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR JUST STOPPED ACCELERATING AND WOULD NOT GO BACK INTO GEAR. THIS LEFT ME IN THE MIDDLE OF AN OFF RAMP. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST AND THE MECHANIC SAYS I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10286105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

THE CAR HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY FOR ABOUT A MONTH WAITING TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION. WHEN IT WAS BACKED OUT, THE TIRE GAVE OUT. THINKING IT WAS SIMPLY A FLAT I TRIED TO CHANGE THE TIRE TO REALIZE THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE COIL SPRING HAD BROKEN. HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED YET.

NHTSA complaint #10273012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD TAURUS. WHILE PULLING OUT OF A GROCERY STORE PARKING LOT AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST 50 FEET DOWN THE HILL TO HER HOUSE, WHICH WAS NEAR THE STORE SHE HAD JUST LEFT. ONCE SHE WAS NEAR HER HOME, THE CONTACT'S SON HELPED PUSH THE VEHICLE INTO HER PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL RUNNING, BUT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO RUSSELL'S EXXON, WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE GEARS IN THE TRANSMISSION HAD FALLEN APART. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 68,000. UPDATE 09/10/08 *CW UPDATED 09/16/08.

NHTSA complaint #10233482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2002 FORD TAURUS WITH 78000 FAILURE MILEAGE HE DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT WORK. THERE WAS RECALL 04V106000 ON THE SAME YEAR/MAKE AND MODEL, BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL. ALSO, THE CONTACT HAD PROBLEMS WITH TAKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK. AS OF 3/39/07 THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #10186450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR BRAKE SWITCH AND STOP LAMP DID NOT WORK WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND SOMETIMES DID NOT TURN OFF MECHANICALLY. ALSO, THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED FOR MANY HOURS. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED ONCE. THE PROBLEM WAS LINKED TO THE GEAR SHIFT. THE CONTACT COULD NOT SHIFT THE GEAR FROM PARKING TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE NEEDED TO BE TURNED OFF AND TURNED BACK ON IN ORDER TO SHIFT THE GEAR TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS.

NHTSA complaint #10166580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILURE - CAR JERKED & DRIVE FAILED WHEN PROCEEDING FROM A GREEN LIGHT, (SEE ODI # 10155047). WHEN TRANSMISSION WAS BEING REPLACED, IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THE NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH HAD MELTED AND ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, I HAD ASKED THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN HOW THAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED & THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN FOUND IT TO BE VERY ODD, AND THAT IT WAS VERY RARE TO EVEN HAVE HAPPENED.

NHTSA complaint #10155271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I TRIED TO DRIVE FORWARD; THE CAR THEN JERKED AND THE DRIVE GEAR(S) BECAME COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO MY HOME. ON 4/10/2006 I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID "SORRY, YOUR WARRANTY IS OVER, BUT WE CAN LOOK AT IT FOR YOU" THEY THEN GAVE ME THE 800 NUMBER TO CALL FOR FORD. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED 12/31/2002, IT WAS A DEMO WITH 7,838 MILES. IT CURRENTLY HAS ONLY 55,000 MILES. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDS REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $1600.00 (PLUS) WHICH IS ENTIRELY MY EXPENSE WITH NO ASSISTANCE FROM FORD OR THE DEALERSHIP. A CALL WAS MADE TO THE CONSUMER LINE AT FORD, 1-800-392-3673, AND THEY REGISTERED THE COMPLAINT AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO CORRECT OR ASSIST WITH THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10155047 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

FORD ISSUED A RECALL ON ITS 2002 FORD TAURAUS VEHICLES FOR UPDATING THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS. AFTER THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS WERE UPDATED I WAS TOLD THAT I NEED TO PURCHASE A NEW OXYGEN SENSOR TO KEEP THE LIGHT FROM COMING ON AGAIN. I ASKED IF THIS WAS A PART OF THE RECALL AND THE DEALERSHIP STATED NO THAT IS WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT. WELL THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED ON MY FATHER-IN-LAWS 2002 FORD ESCAPE. I TOOK IT IN AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. I ASKED AGAIN IF IT WAS PART OF THE RECALL AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT IT WASNT. I THINK THEY ARE WRONG. WELL ABOUT A MONTH LATER THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING ON ITS ON AND JUMPING OUT OF GEAR. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AND ACCIDENT BUT THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS IN FRONT OF US AT THE TIME. THEN THE BATTERY ON IT DRAINED DOWN SO FAR THAT THE BIG JUMP BOX AT THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T EVEN FIX IT AND WE HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW BATTERY. I'M NOT SURE OF THE EXACT DATE OF THE INCIDENTS.

NHTSA complaint #10129518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. WHEN EXITING THE FREEWAY THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD AND INCREASED IN SPEED. THE OWNER PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKES, YET THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO GO FORWARD. THE OWNER HAD TO TURN THE ENGINE OFF IN ORDER TO COME TO A STOP. *AK THE TRANSMISSION EXPERIENCED SHIFTING SLIPPAGE, A SLIGHT LEAK WAS FOUND IN THE BELL HOUSING AREA. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REMOVED AND THE CONVERTER FRONT HUB SEAL WAS LEAKING. THE SEAL WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH THE VALVE BODY PAN. THE ALARM WOULD SOUND WHEN NO ONE WAS NEAR THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED UNLESS THE ALARM WAS RESET. *SC

NHTSA complaint #10117793 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION , 2002 TAURUS, APPROXIMATELY 22,000 MILES IS CLUNKING AND BANGING WHEN YOU SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE, DRIVE TO REVERSE, REVERSE TO DRIVE AND EVEN WHEN YOU PUT IT IN NEUTRAL. WE HAVE BEEN TELLING THE DEALER SINCE WE OWNED THIS CAR THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS CLUNKING AT TIMES AND WE KEEP BEING TOLD THAT IT IS NORMAL OR ITS THE PARKING PAWL. IT USED TO TAKE ABOUT A SECOND AFTER YOU STOPPED TO DOWNSHIFT INTO FIRST. WE BROUGHT IT IN ON 02-18-02 AND WERE TOLD THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM AND THAT THIS IS NORMAL. WE KEPT BRINGING IT UP WHEN WE BROUGHT IT IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL. WE BROUGHT IT BACK ON 02-25-04 AND TOLD THEM THAT IT HAD A HARD UP SHIFT INTO SECOND AND WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND DRIVE TO REVERSE ETC. IT BANGS AND YOU CAN FEEL IT JERK THE CAR. THEY REPROGRAMMED THE PCM AND REPLACED 2 MOTOR MOUNTS BECAUSE THEY WERE BAD. THE UP SHIFTING WHILE DRIVING AND THE HESITATION DOWN SHIFTING WHEN STOPPING HAS SEEMED TO IMPROVE. WE TOOK IT IN ON 09-1-04 AND ASKED SERVICE WRITER IF WE COULD HAVE A MECHANIC TAKE A DRIVE AND LISTEN TO IT. HE SAID WAIT A MINUTE. HE CAME BACK WITH WHO HE SAID WAS HIS SERVICE MANAGER. HIS SERVICE MANAGER TOLD US THAT HE OWNS A TAURUS AND THEY DO THIS. AFTER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET ABOUT TRANSMISSIONS THEY SHOULD HAVE A SMOOTH SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE AND DRIVE TO REVERSE ETC. THIS TRANSMISSION IS SMOOTH AT TIMES AND CLUNKS AND BANGS AT OTHER TIMES. WE WANTED TO HAVE A MECHANIC TAKE A DRIVE WITH US AND WE WOULD SHOW HIM WHAT IT WAS DOING. IT CLUNKS AND BANGS AFTER IT WARMS UP AND WE TOLD THIS TO MIKE AND HIS SERVICE MANAGER. WHAT MADE THE MOTOR MOUNTS GO BAD? WILL THIS TRANSMISSION FAIL ON US UNEXPECTEDLY OR HURT THE MOTOR MOUNTS ETC? I CALLED THE SERVICE WRITER ON 9/7, HE KEPT TELLING ME IT WAS NORMAL. WE WANT TO SELL THE CAR BUT DONT BELIEVE THIS IS NORMAL. IF THIS IS NORMAL AND SAFE, THEN WE WANT FORD TO PROVIDE IN WRITING. IT IS GETTING WORSE!

NHTSA complaint #10090940 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.