NHTSA Complaint #10206807 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

PULLING OUT OF A NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY, MY SHIFT ROD CRACKED OFF AND DANGLED, LEAVING THE TRUCK IMMOBILE. NOTHING HAD PRECEDED THIS. DUE TO TOWING FEES, I CONTACTED A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS ABLE TO BRING IT TO HIS SHOP, A MILE AWAY, VS. TO FORD, WHICH WOULD HAVE REQUIRED A $200 FLATBED TOW. THIS PROVIDER TRIED FOR 3 WEEKS TO GET A PART, # 5L2C36529A, TOLD THAT FORD HAD 1300 VEHICLES WITH THIS ISSUE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED ON THE STREET, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. SEVERAL CALLS TO FORD AND LOCAL DEALERSHIPS HAVE BEEN NOT ONLY UNPRODUCTIVE BUT FRUITLESS AND DEMEANING. WE ARE CONCERNED FOR OTHERS THAT HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE, WHICH FORD (WHICH I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN LOYAL TO PRIOR TO NOW) HAS GONE OUT OF ITS WAY TO DENY, ARE GOING TO BE ENDANGERED AND WOULD LIKE A RECALL INVESTIGATION, PLEASE! *TR