NHTSA Complaint #10078788 — 2004 GMC SIERRA

OUR SON-IN-LAW OWNS A 2004 GMC 4-DOOR PICKUP. IT HAS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. OUR TWO-YEAR OLD GRANDSON WAS IN THE TRUCK WHILE HIS FATHER WAS CLEANING IT. THE KEY WAS IN THE ACCESSORY POSITION SO THEY COULD LISTEN TO THE RADIO. THE CHILD PULLED THE SHIFT LEVER OUT OF PARK AND THE TRUCK RAN AWAY DOWN AN INCLINE. BOTH DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS WERE SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE BY A TREE AND THE TRUCK CONTINUED UNTIL REAR-ENDING ANOTHER TREE. THE CHILD STAYED IN THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNHURT.*AK IN CHECKING THIS TRUCK, OUR 2003 TAHOE, AND OUR 2003 CHEVROLET PICKUP WE FIND THAT ALL OF THEM: 1. THE SHIFT LEVER IS LOCKED WHEN THE KEY IS IN THE LOCKED POSITION 2. THE SHIFT LEVER IS LOCKED WHEN IN THE "RUN" OR IGNITION POSITION AND REQUIRES THE BRAKE TO BE DEPRESSED PRIOR TO SHIFTING. 3. BUT IN THE "ACCESSORY" POSITION THE SHIFT IS COMPLETELY UNLOCKED AND REQUIRES ONLY A VERY SLIGHT PRESSURE TO MOVE IT OUT OF PARK AND RESULT IN A RUNAWAY. I FEEL THERE IS NO REASON FOR THE SHIFT LEVER NOT TO BE LOCKED IN ALL POSITIONS AND, IN FACT, THE FACT IT IS LOCKED IN TWO POSITIONS BUT NOT THE ACCESSORY POSITION RESULTS IN CONFUSION AND A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY. THIS WAS NOT A COMPONENT FAILURE, BUT IS A DESIGN FAILURE THAT APPARENTLY INVOLVES ALL GM TRUCKS AND SUVS OF THIS MODEL.