NHTSA Complaint #10360396 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

MY WIFE AND I AND OUR 8 YEAR OLD TWIN BOYS WERE ON VACATION THIS SUMMER DRIVING THROUGH THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS IN A RAIN STORM. IT WAS AUGUST 13TH, 2010. THERE WAS A HUGE SINGLE LANE TRAFFIC JAM BECAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT. WE PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BECAUSE MY WIFE NEEDED TO GET OUT AND STRETCH. WHEN I PUT THE 2002 FORD EXPLORER BACK INTO DRIVE, THE SHIFT LEVER BROKE OFF IN MY HAND LIKE IT WAS MADE OF BUTTER. NEEDLESS TO SAY, WE WERE IN SHOCK AND SCARED BECAUSE WE WERE STUCK AT THE TOP OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS IN A RAINSTORM. THE FORD WAS STUCK IN DRIVE SO I DECIDED TO DRIVE IT ALL THE WAY TO OUR HOTEL IN RIFE, COLORADO. WE WERE VERY SCARED THE WHOLE WAY. WE MADE IT TO OUR HOTEL. THE LOCAL FORD DEALER COULD NOT GET A PART UNTIL THE FOLLOWING WEEK. A LOCAL MECHANIC RIGGED IT SO WE COULD GET HOME TO CALIFORNIA IN TIME FOR JOBS AND SCHOOL. WE FELT VERY UNSAFE THE WHOLE WAY. WHEN WE GOT HOME TO CALIFORNIA, THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN AND SHIFT LEVER FOR $1,300. I HAVE A 2ND 2002 FORD EXPLORER EDDIE BAUER EDITION. WHEN I GOT HOME FROM WORK TODAY, I PARKED MY FORD EXPLORER IN THE DRIVEWAY, PUT THE SHIFT LEVER INTO DRIVE AND IT BROKE OFF! AGAIN, LIKE IT WAS MADE OF BUTTER. THIS IS EXACTLY TWO MONTHS AFTER THE OTHER ONE BROKE. TODAY IS OCTOBER 13, 2010. I AM VERY CAREFUL WITH MY VEHICLES. MY WIFE AND I ARE BOTH TEACHERS IN OUR MID 40'S. NOW, I AM LEFT WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL WITH THE EXACT SAME DEFECT AND I WILL BE CALLING FORD AND ASKING THEM TO TREAT ME FAIRLY AND REPAIR THIS DEFECT AT THEIR COST. CAN YOU HELP ME? *TR