Automatic Transmission problems of the 2001 Mercury Cougar

My automatic transmission, while driving down the expressway, shut down the o/d now will not shift into 2nd gear until close to 5,000 rpm. The car has only 60,000 miles.

There was no indication that there was a problem with the transmission until one day I went to pull out into an intersection and the car felt like it was in neutral. During that same episode, when at a stop light, the car would not move until it was put in 2 instead of drive. I took it to the dealership and was told that the automatic transmission needed to be replaced. The car only has 48,000 and the cost of the replacement of a new transmission was $3,256 + tax.

After all the problems with my 2001 Cougar I wish I would have made a better choice in what vehicle I bought. The one recall that they had on the fuel pump I had to have that replaced, but I am not sure they really fixed it because it still hesitated when I accelerating . The low coolant light on the dash went on in the winter time when I first started the car. After I driving a bit the light will just turn off. So how the am I suppose to know when there really was a coolant problem if the light just went on. Then, the transmission went out at 94,000 miles with no signs of it going out. I was driving on the highway at 70 mph when I pressed on the gas pedal and nothing happened, like the car was in neutral. I tried different gears and nothing. I was able to coast to the shoulder of the road and had to call a tow truck to bring the car home and cost $300. 00. I had to find a place to bring the car to get a new transmission which was at a Ford dealership. They said it would take about 3 days to have it done, and turned out taking 2 weeks because they didn't know how to put the correct transmission in the box. They sent two wrong transmissions before Ford finally got the correct transmission for the car to the shop. This cost me $3,235. 00. Transmissions failing at 94,000 miles was ridiculous considering all proper maintenance was done when it was needed. There were still other problems with the car, but I could not fit all the words on this form. I did not believe anything was done at all, and customer service from Ford was terrible. The next vehicle I buy most definitely will not be a Ford and probably not an american vehicle either. Word of mouth is very powerfully and people that I talk to about Cougar problems will never be buying a Ford. If only Ford would care a little and not be afraid to spend some money to make their customers a little more pleased with their purchase then maybe people wouldn't look down so much on Ford products.

The transmission "hunts" as if it doesn't know which gear to go into. This mostly occurs during or immediately following the 1-2 shift. It also has harsh shifts. Dealer says they cannot duplicate.