NHTSA Complaint #10149710 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT. WENT TO PLACE THE CAR IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE AND THE SHIFTER BROKE OFF. FORTUNATELY THE CAR WAS STILL IN PARK, BUT WOULD HAVE BEEN DISASTEROUS IF THE CAR HAD GONE INTO REVERSE. WE WERE FINALLY ABLE TO TURN OFF THE IGNITION, BUT COULD NOT GET THE KEY OUT. HAD TO LOCK THE CAR AND LEAVE IT UNTIL THE NEXT MORNING WHEN THE FORD DEALERSHIP OPENED. TOWED THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WERE TOLD THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $961. I ASKED THEM TO CONTACT FORD AS IT WAS OBVIOUSLY A VEHICLE DEFECT. THEY RESPONDED THAT I WOULD NEED TO CALL FORD MYSELF. SPOKE WITH A REP. OF FORD, AND THEY CALLED THE LOCAL SERVICE MANAGER, THEN TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. THE PROBLEM WAS OURS TO FIX AT OUR COST. *JB