Ford Falcon 2008: Oil in transmission fluid

I read the complaints about oil cooler failures on Falcons with some interest (CarsGuide, February 14, 2014) as I have a 2009 FG XR8 ute with the same problem. My transmission is full of water and the engine has transmission fluid in it, and it makes a noise shifting from second to third. I was quoted about $8000 from a transmission specialist and about $11,000 from a Ford dealership where the car is currently sitting and has been for about six months. Ford has offered to pay for the new transmission, but I will still be about $4000 out of pocket, so I have decided to take it further. It is a well-known problem, and there should have been a recall.