NHTSA Complaint #10354770 — 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER

MY HUSBAND HAS A 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER & WE WERE DROPPING HIS NIECE OFF AT HOME, PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, PUT THE CAR IN PARK & SHE GOT OUT. WHEN HE TRIED TO PUT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, WE HEARD A SNAP, & THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS HANGING DOWN. HE PULLED THE RUBBER COVERING OFF & FOUND THAT A METAL PIECE RIGHT INSIDE THE GEARS SHIFT ASSEMBLY COMPLETELY BROKE OFF. WE HAD NO WAY OF PUTTING THE CAR IN GEAR SO WE HAD TO CALL A TOW TRUCK TO TOW US HOME & THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR THE PAST 3 DAYS. WE HAVE HAD TO RENT A CAR WHILE WE ARE TRYING TO GET IT REPAIRED & JUST FOUND OUT TODAY THAT FORD WANTS US TO BUY A WHOLE NEW STEERING COLUMN ASSEMBLY FOR $1,300! SO ON TOP OF THE RENTAL CAR FEE WE ARE PAYING, WE NEED TO FIND ANOTHER $1,300 TO FIX HIS CAR. I HAVE BEEN LOOKING ONLINE TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM, & THE FORUMS I'VE COME ACROSS HAVE ALL HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM, & THE PICTURES ARE EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED TO OUR CAR ALSO! I THINK THIS IS A DEFECT FOR THE FORD/MERCURY VEHICLES THAT NEED TO BE INSPECTED. SEEMS THE METAL USED IN THAT PARTICULAR PART IS EITHER TOO WEAK OR MAYBE HAS BEEN COMPROMISED IN SOME WAY. I DON'T KNOW! *TR