The Ford 500 LTD / AWD has a transmission designed by BMW. The car was sold to me as having an engine AND a revolutionary transmission which could last 200,000 miles. According to a Ford transmission expert, when Ford engineered this trans to go into the F500, a part was improperly machined. Hence, a bearing which only comes into play in PARK & NEUTRAL becomes fouled, and makes a sort of grinding noise in Park and neutral. I am told this is also going to score the main shaft of the transmission. I was also told the repair -- parts only would be over $4,000, and who knows how much the labor will be. The other forward speeds and reverse seem to be okay. I plan to drive the F500 as is for a while, and in the meantime do the best I can to get Ford to cough up some dough to fix its faulty tranny. I am a four time Ford buyer: A Focus for my wife, a Focus for my daughter, and previously a Taurus (for me), then the Ford 500 (for me). I am hoping Ford will come to the rescue of a good customer. We just paid off my wife's car, and my car will be paid at the end of August 2009. I will be looking for two cars soon. If Ford wants my business, they will come to my aid on this problem.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
The Ford 500 LTD / AWD has a transmission designed by BMW. The car was sold to me as having an engine AND a revolutionary transmission which could last 200,000 miles. According to a Ford transmission expert, when Ford engineered this trans to go into the F500, a part was improperly machined. Hence, a bearing which only comes into play in PARK & NEUTRAL becomes fouled, and makes a sort of grinding noise in Park and neutral. I am told this is also going to score the main shaft of the transmission. I was also told the repair -- parts only would be over $4,000, and who knows how much the labor will be. The other forward speeds and reverse seem to be okay. I plan to drive the F500 as is for a while, and in the meantime do the best I can to get Ford to cough up some dough to fix its faulty tranny. I am a four time Ford buyer: A Focus for my wife, a Focus for my daughter, and previously a Taurus (for me), then the Ford 500 (for me). I am hoping Ford will come to the rescue of a good customer. We just paid off my wife's car, and my car will be paid at the end of August 2009. I will be looking for two cars soon. If Ford wants my business, they will come to my aid on this problem.
- Robert E., Elmwood Park,, NJ, Afghanistan