NHTSA Complaint #10201254 — 2004 FORD EXPLORER

ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 24, 2007, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO BACK OUT OF A DRIVEWAY. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, STARTED MY 2004 FORD EXPLORER AND BEGAN SHIFTING THE GEAR OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE WHEN THE SHIFT BROKE. I COULD NOT DO ANYTHING, THE ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN OVER OR ANYTHING. SINCE IT WAS LATE FRIDAY, I LEFT THE SUV PARKED UNTIL SATURDAY, THE NEXT MORNING, WHEN I HAD IT TOWED TO DOUG STANLEY FORD IN DESOTO, TEXAS, WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. A SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER A NEEDED PART TO REPAIR THE SUV. HE SAID HE THOUGHT THEY'D RECEIVE THE PART BY MONDAY OR TUESDAY. ON MONDAY, HE TOLD ME THEY WOULDN'T GET IT UNTIL NOVEMBER 12. HE SAID THAT HE'D CALLED ALL AROUND AND HAD TO GET THE PART FROM THE MANUFACTURER. I CHECKED ONLINE AND OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM. I AM THANKFUL I WASN'T SOMEWHERE FAR FROM HOME WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I HAVE A NEW BABY AND NEED RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A DEALERSHIP NEEDING 2 MONTHS TO GET A PART. I TRULY THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT THAT COULD EVENTUALLY GET SOMEONE HURT.