I just had my oil change a few days ago. A few hours later, I was idling on the freeway (bad traffic) and when it was time to move, the car died. I restarted it, and it revved -but it would not go. I was able to move it to the side of the road, and had to tow it. I honestly thought I ran out of gas (I was trying to get to a gas station but it showed I had 22 miles (approx) left before it got to empty) and when I filled it up, it started and ran okay. I was really embarrassed.

Today while I was idle, waiting for the car in front of me to pass the security gate at work, the car died again. The engine light did not come on. I turned it off, and restarted...the engine revved and when I turned the shift to drive, the car would only go in reverse. It was as if my car was in neutral! I nearly crashed into the cars behind me because I was not expecting the car to be going in reverse when I had it shifted to "drive." I have no idea what the issue is, but obviously it has something to do with the transmission.

I am appalled at how DANGEROUS this issue is - it is clearly a safety issue, especially since there were no warning lights. Also, I should add I had a diagnostic test done a month ago, and nothing of this sort ever came up on the report. I find it absurd that a transmission (or something related to the transmission) would just go out with no warning like this. I recently had a new belt installed as well as a new ignition coil.

This may be far fetched, but I am noticing a pattern in this thread of this happening right after an oil change has been done. Coincidence?

From the amount of complaints on the 2004 Taurus, I see I'm not the only one with a transmission problem. Car has been serviced by a Ford dealership since we purchased this vehicle new in 2004. 23,000 mile on the odometer as of June 4, 2011. Went on a trip to L.A. (CA), stopped for gas in Barstow, CA. On a slight incline, maybe 2 degrees, tried to back up and it was like the car was in neutral. Put it drive (after car in front moved) and seemed fine.. drove great no trans slip at all in drive.

Stopped to eat a few mile down the road, went to back out of a parking space.. had to call a tow truck, no reverse at all. Ford dealer said nothing wrong with the trans. Only slips in reverse when car warms up. Think we need a class action lawsuit against Ford on this. Drive is okay, does not slip at all when warm, just reverse.