NHTSA Complaint #10267907 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

2002 FORD EXPLORER GEAR SHIFT LEVER BROKE WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PLACE TRUCK IN GEAR. I HAVE HEARD THROUGH BLOGS THAT THIS IS NOW BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM. MY TRUCK WAS PLACED IN PARK WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ON PRIOR TO SHIFTING THE LEVER INTO PARK, WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE TRUCK IN REVERSE THE LEVER SNAPPED AND I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE THE TRUCK NOR REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER SHOWED ME HOW TO PLACE THE TRUCK IN DRIVE MANUALLY UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK IN ORDER TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. THIS IS NOT SAFE CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT ONE IS UNDERNEATH A RUNNING VEHICLE AND THE PROBABLITY OF BEING RAN OVER IS HIGH. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF FORD IS BEING PRESSURED IN RECALLING THIS PART CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT THE PIECE THAT BREAKS IS NOT SOLD INDIVIDUAL, THE CUSTOMER IS OBLIGATED TO BUY A COMPLETE STEERING COLUMN JUST TO OBTAIN THE PIECE THAT BREAKS. *TR