NHTSA Complaint #10133089 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

MY WIFE WAS UNLOADING TWO GRANDSONS FROM OUR 2002 FORD EXPLORER. SHE HAD REMOVED THE YOUNGEST ONE WHEN THE FOUR YEAR OLD GOT INTO THE DRIVER'S SEAT ON HIS KNEES AND PRETENDED TO DRIVE. THE IGINITION WAS OFF AND TRANSMISSION IN PARK. HE PULLED ON THE SHIFT LEVER, THE AUTOMOBILE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS. MY WIFE OPENED THE DRIVERS DOOR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IT BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS FASTER AND THE OPEN DOOR STRUCK HER KNOCKING HER TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE STRUCK TWO TREES SHHORTLY AFTER THAT CAUSING $5675.77 IN DAMAGES TO THE VEHICLE. I CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY 0N AUGUST 5, 2005AND SPOKE TO TIFFANY EXPLAINING THAT THE "BRAKE-SHIFT INTERLOCK' HAD FAILED CAUSING THE INCIDENT DESCRIBED ABOVE. HER QUESTION TO ME WAS, "WHAT DO YOU WANT FORD MOTOR COMPANY TO DO ABOUT THIS." I REPLIED THAT I WANTED COMPENSATION FOR DAMAGES AND THE DEFECT CORRECTED. SHE SAID THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY WOULD NOT INVESTIGATE THIS DEFECT, NOR MAKE ANY COMPENSATION FOR DAMAGES AND THAT I SHOULD HANDLE EVERYTHING THROUGH MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I CALLED AGAIN ON AUGUST,09,05 AND SPOKE TO DAMIAN WHO GAVE ME THE SAME REPLY AS YIFFANY.*JB