Complaint 665328

Complaint Summary

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Owner Narrative

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD E15. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A PINGING SOUND IN THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATED TO 50 MPH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING OIL. ON JANUARY 23 2007, A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER REBUILT THE CYLINDER HEADS. FOR ONE YEAR, TWO MONTHS, AND NINETEEN DAYS, THE PINGING NOISE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO ASSIST HER WITH THE REPAIR, ALTHOUGH THE WARRANTY WAS VALID. A SECOND DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE ON APRIL 10, 2008 AND STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION SEAL WAS LEAKING, THERE WERE OIL LEAKS PRESENT IN THREE PLACES ON THE OIL GASKETS, THE TIMING WAS OFF, AND THERE WAS CONDENSATION ON THE OIL CAP. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURES. THE SECOND DEALER CHARGED THE CONTACT $107 TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THEY WERE WAITING ON A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER PRIOR TO REPAIRING THE VEHICLE UNDER WARRANTY. THE CONTACT FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. THE VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE CRUISE CONTROL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 142,865 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 161,100.

Owner-submitted narrative on file with NHTSA. Complaint narratives are self-reported and have not been verified.