NHTSA Complaint #10210892 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

I WAS LEAVING WORK..CRANKED MY CAR AND WENT TO SHIFT FROM PARK INTO REVERSE AND THE GEAR SHIFT LEAVER "BROKE" LOOSE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. IT WAS JUST "FLOPPING AROUND". I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY SENT A TOW TRUCK SINCE I COULDN'T SHIFT INTO GEAR AND DRIVE IT. I ALSO COULD NOT GET THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SINCE THE CAR COULDN'T TELL IT WAS IN PARK. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SAID IN 20 YEARS HE HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. THIS MORNING THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MY DEALERSHIP SAID "YOU SURE EXERTED A LOT OF FORCE ON THE SHIFT HANDLE BECAUSE YOU BROKE THE STEERING COLUMN". I EXERTED NO FORCE...IT WAS VERY EASY. AND MY COMMENT TO THE SERVICE COORDINATOR WAS "I'M A 60 YEAR OLD WOMAN...I COULDN'T POSSIBLE EXERT ENOUGH FORCE TO BREAK THE STEERING COLUMN!". THEY ARE NOW TELLING ME IT WILL COST IN EXCESS OF $1700.00 TO FIX IT AND THEY CAN'T TELL ME HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE BECAUSE "WE DON'T STOCK STEERING COLUMNS, AND SINCE YOU USED ENOUGH FORCE TO BREAK IT, WE HAVE TO HAVE ONE SHIPPED IN. WHEN WE KNOW HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE TO GET THE PART, WE'LL TELL YOU WHEN YOU CAN GET YOUR CAR BACK." *TR