NHTSA Complaint #10406809 — 2005 FORD E-450

THE VEHICLE DOES NOT ALWAYS GO INTO THE CORRECT GEAR, AS INDICATED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. WHEN USING THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT ON THE COLUMN, AND PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO "DRIVE", THE VEHICLE GOES INTO REVERSE. WHEN THE GEAR SHIFT IS MOVED TO "REVERSE", IT DOES NOT ENGAGE AND STAYS IN NEUTRAL. SOMETIMES, THE VEHICLE WILL HOVER IN NEUTRAL THEN SUDDENLY ENGAGE INTO 1ST GEAR WITHOUT MOVING THE GEAR SHIFT. THIS ISSUE WAS BROUGHT TO FORD'S ATTENTION BY US IN 2007 (11000 MILES) AND 2009 (23000 MILES), AND THE FORD DEALERS COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE LINKAGES. THEY STATED THAT THEY ADJUSTED THE INDICATOR SWITCH, BUT THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM HAS NOW RETURNED. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHEN MANEUVERING IN PARKING LOTS OR OTHER AREAS THAT REQUIRE A CHANGE OF DIRECTION. OUR FORD ENGINE IS INSIDE A CLASS C MOTORHOME, SO WE DON'T HAVE MANY ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS FOR MOVING THE VEHICLE WHEN IT DOES NOT GO INTO THE CORRECT GEAR. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE CAR WILL SWITCH GEARS WHILE IN MOTION, CAUSING US TO LOSE CONTROL. *TR