transaxle into neutral

ford taurus transaxle shifts into neutral anytime when coming to a
stop and selector is in overdrive position.. must recycle selector lever
back into neutral and then into drive positon to get back inot gear.
could this be caused by old fluid ?? thanks ...

:( That's the forward piston... probably with a crack in it. It's a design flaw in the AXOD transmission. They eventually replaced the Aluminum piston with a steel one. The part isn't too expensive. It's the labor of removing the transaxle from the car that kills you.

That's the forward piston... probably with a crack in it. It's a design flaw in the AXOD transmission.
the cracked fwd piston will usually give you slippage in all fwd ranges after the atf gets hot.
what year is this taurus?

Transman! I may also have the problem you describe. I bought a '96 Taurus LX with the Duratec v6 and AOD transmission on Saturday. I left the dealership on the way to Wyoming. I drove 1500 miles with out a prob. I was impressed at its hill climbing power. Never once had to shift out of OD for a hill. When I pulled into the Hotel in Casper I hit a gutter in the entrance sorta hard(not just bone jarring though). Since that moment its been slipping like crazy. I'm not sure I should try leaving the hotel with it now. Could it be this forward piston? Is it something I could change through the pan? Or should I take it to one of the shops up here?

I have a similar problem with my 93 Taurus. When I press the gas after the light change from red to green, sometime, the transmission is at netural. I can hear the engine rev up but the car did not move. I need to put it in Reverse and then to D again to get it moving. It did not happen all the time and dealership could not find the problem.

I have the computer scanned as there is no code. Does it mean that my Vechile Speed Speed and Transmission temperature sensor are OK? Otherwise, there should be some code in the computer. Am I correct? Any suggestion?

One more thing. When the car is cold, the problem did not occur. It only happens after the car is being driven for say 30 minutes. Once it happens, it occurs frequently. However, when the car is cool down and start the next day, it can run fine without a problem.

i agree about the ford taurus problem but i work for both and gm is the worsth about building bad stuff and customer satifaction
they beta test by selling you a car.
and chrysler build junk . good engineering poor materials.
I work for some junk yards and the aod aot transmission are weak also.
i just bougth a 94 taurus with a bad trans . i am having my regrets.
i am a retired tech autobody an early years mechanic since 1959.
we have a saying about poroblem car .{5 gallons of gas an a match or c4 and a detenator