NHTSA Complaint #10269279 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER ON MY 2002 FORD EXPLORER FROM PARK TO REVERSE, THE ENTIRE SHIFT LEVEL FELL OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE CAST POT METAL PLUNGER ASSEMBLY THAT ENGAGED THE SHIFTING LEVER HAD A UNIFORM CRACK AND THE ENTIRE TOP OF THE ASSEMBLY HAD BROKEN OFF. A REVIEW OF THE INTERNET, SPECIFICALLY WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM SHOWED THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM WITH THE FORD EXPLORER SERIES. FORD HAS ACCEPTED NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS INHERENTLY DANGEROUS SAFETY DEFECT, HAS ISSUED NO RECALL, AND WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE FAULTY OR DEFECTIVE WORKMANSHIP AND/OR CASTING. WHAT IS PROBABLY A $40 TO $50 SUB-ASSEMBLY PART CANNOT BE REPLACED EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKS AS THOUGH IT COULD. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN MUST BE REPLACED AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $1700.00. PLEASE REVIEW THE WEBSITE I HAVE LISTED AND YOU'LL SEE THAT I AM NOT ALONE AND THAT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM, BUT AN OVERALL SYMPTOM OF AN ISSUE THAT EXISTS IN VARIOUS YEAR MODELS OF THE FORD EXPLORER. A COMPONENT OF A STEERING SYSTEM THAT CAN EXPERIENCE SUCH FATIGUE UNDER NORMAL OPERATING CONDITIONS AND WHICH WILL COMPLETELY BREAK OFF IN ONES HANDS IS SIMPLY A TRAGEDY WAITING TO HAPPEN. PLEASE HELP US THE CONSUMER OUT --- INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM AND HOLD FORD MOTOR COMPANY RESPONSIBLE. WE AVERAGE CITIZENS CANNOT FIGHT AND WIN AGAINST A MAJOR CORPORATION BUT IF YOU FAIL TO INVESTIGATE THIS PROBLEM ON OUR BEHALF THEN YOUR CONCERNS FOR DRIVER SAFETY ARE NO MORE VALID THAN FORD'S CLAIM THAT "QUALITY GOES IN BEFORE THE NAME GOES ON". THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE FORD DEALERSHIP THAT HAS MY CAR SAID THAT HE "HAS NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS", BUT AT THE SAME TIME ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE HAD HEARD ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND THAT FORD WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. HELP ---- THIS IS NOT RIGHT !!!!! *TR