2000 Ford ZX2 (Escort)

THE CENTER COUNCIL SHIFTER WILL ALLOW IT TO BE SHIFTED INTO ANY GEAR FROM PARK WHEN THE KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION, AND WHEN THE BRAKE HAS NOT BEEN DEPRESSED. IT OCCURS CONSTANTLY AND WAS FOUND OUT WHEN A CHILD WAS PLAYING WITH IT WHILE IN THE PASSENGER SEAT AND AN ADULT WAS IN THE DRIVER SEAT, IN A PARKING LOT WAITING FOR ANOTHER TO RETURN FROM A STORE. *TR

I BOUGHT MY 2000 ZX2 BRAND NEW IN NOVEMBER OF 1999. I BABY MY CAR AND HAVE KEPT IT WELL MAINTAINED AND SERVICED. I HAVE LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS PRETTY HAPPY WITH MY CAR. HAPPY UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE SOON LIGHT WENT ON AND I STARTED TO NOTICE A DELAY WHEN SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR (I HAVE AN AUTOMATIC). TURNS OUT I NEED MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT (TOOK IT TO AAMCO). A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET TELLS ME I AM NOT ALONE. THERE IS EVEN A GROUP TRYING TO BRING A CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST FORD. SEEMS LIKE THE ESCORT, ZX2 AND FOCUS ALL HAVE FAULTY TRANSAXLES. AAMCO STATED IT LOOKS LIKE A DEFECT IN THE METAL (FORD USED CHEAP METAL THAT EVENTUALLY FAILS FAR BEFORE IT SHOULD). I NEED MY CAR SO I'LL PAY THE $2,500 BILL FOR A CAR WORTH ONLY $4000. THE ONE THING I LEARNED FROM THIS: NEVER BUY FORD AGAIN. CAR WAS REPAIRED IN FEB. OF 2009. FOLLOW UP: JULY 2009, MY CAR IS ONCE AGAIN GOING INTO THE SHOP WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS! *TR

APROX 2 WKS AGO I NOTICED MY DAUGHTERS FRONT LEFT TIRE WAS FLAT SHE TOOK HER CAR TO KRAMER GOODYEAR (PURCHASE POINT) WHERE SHE WAS TOLD TIRE WAS NOT REPAIRABLE, SIDEWALL FAILURE, THIS IS THE SECOND SET OF THE SAME TIRE P1856015 84T RS-A VSB 732413500, APRX MILEAGE 40K , THE FIRST SET ALSO FOUND TO HAVE DEFECTIVE SIDEWALLS WHERE PRORATED ON 8/20/01 THEY ALSO FAILED AT APROX 40K, TREAD IN GOOD SHAPE 50% OR BETTER SIDEWALLS SHOWING EXESSIVE CRACKS AFTER READING 30 OTHER COMPLAINTS THIS SEEM TO BE EXCESSIVE, A HIGH RATE OF SIDEWALL FAILURE. *AK