I don't think any auto company would get many complaints if their auto trannies lasted 170K before toasting... I have been driving since dirt was invented and I always use the O/D lock out to go up and down hills (not at 80mph). With our small engines and almost 4,000 lbs of weight you need to let the engine rev and breathe, lugging kills small engines. The # 1 trannie failure in fords is the O/D bands burning out because of drivers not locking it out in city driving. (The fords are geared higher, but at lower speeds the same principal applies.) My buddy has a 4WD drive train shop and I have watched them change a lot of them. JMHO.. Mojave