NHTSA Complaint #10130666 — 1993 FORD F-150

WHILE SLOWING FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I ATTEMPTED TO DOWNSHIFT. WHEN I PUSHED IN THE CLUTCH PEDAL, IT WENT TO THE FLOOR, HAVING NO EFFECT, LEAVING THE ENGINE ENGAGED WITH THE TRANSMISSION WHILE THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AS I WAS APPROACHING TRAFFIC STOPPED AT A TOLL BOOTH. I WAS ABLE TO FORCE THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL. AND COME SAFELY TO A STOP. UPON INSPECTING THE CLUTCH LINKAGE, I FOUND THAT A PLASTIC RETAINER HAD COME OFF A SHAFT CONNECTING THE CLUTCH PUSH ROD TO THE CLUTCH CROSSOVER SHAFT. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY POOR AND UNSAFE METHOD OF CONNECTING VITAL DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS. SOMEONE OF LESS DRIVING EXPERIENCE OR STRENGTH MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN WHAT TO DO, OR BEEN ABLE TO SAFELY STOP THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE FAILURE OF A CHEAP PLASTIC PART AND AN UNSAFE AND INFERIOR DESIGN. THIS MAY KILL SOMEONE. *JB