NHTSA Complaint #10402435 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

AFTER STARTING THE CAR (LEAVING MY SON'S BASEBALL GAME WITH MY 2 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER IN CAR!), I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND THE GEAR SHIFT BROKE OFF IN MY HANDS. THE KEY WAS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND COULD NOT BE REMOVED. IT REQUIRED A SPECIAL TOW TRUCK TO GET THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY QUOTED ME $1600 TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN. IF YOU SEARCH ONLINE THERE ARE LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS. WHY HAS A RECALL NOT BEEN ISSUED? THIS IS RIDICULOUS, AND EXTREMELY UNSAFE. WHAT IF YOU WERE GOING IN REVERSE AND TRIED TO SHIFT TO DRIVE AND THE GEAR SHIFT BROKE OFF? YOU COULD CASE MAJOR ACCIDENTS. NOT TO MENTION GETTING STRANDED WITH SMALL CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND NO WAY TO REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION! FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED - THIS PART THAT BROKE IS MADE OF CHEAP POT METAL, AND FORD DOES NOT MANUFACTURE OR SELL A REPLACEMENT PART FOR THE SMALL PIECE THAT BROKE, INSTEAD THEY MAKE YOU BUY A $1200 STEERING COLUMN! SHAME ON FORD! *TR