NHTSA Complaint #10240830 — 2002 FORD WINDSTAR

MY 2002 FORD WINDSTAR VAN IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITHOUT FIRST PRESSING AND HOLDING THE BRAKE. MY 2 YR OLD SON WAS ABLE TO SHIFT IT OUT OF PARK BY SIMPLY PULLING ON THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER. THIS RESULTED IN THE CAR ROLLING DOWN A HILL AND SMASHING INTO A TREE WITH MY SON INSIDE. HE WAS NOT HURT. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS ACCORDING TO MY INSURANCE CO. THE CAR WAS IN PARK AND THE ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH FORD MOTOR CO BUT I ONLY GET GENERIC RESPONSES. MY INSURANCE CO IS HOLDING THE VEHICLE UNTIL A REP FROM FORD HAS A CHANCE TO EXAMINE THE SHIFT LOCK MECHANISM BUT THEY SEEM UNINTERESTED. I HAVE SEEN ON LINE WHERE THERE ARE TWO OTHER SIMILAR CASES REGARDING FORD WINDSTAR VANS AND I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR