NHTSA Complaint #10428138 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

[XXX] GOT BEHIND THE WHEEL OF HER 2002 FORD EXPLORER, INTENDING TO PICK UP HER SON FROM SCHOOL. WHEN SHE TRIED TO SHIFT THE CAR INTO REVERSE, SHE SAYS THE ENTIRE GEAR SELECTOR BROKE OFF AND FELL IN HER LAP. IT TURNS OUT SHE'S NOT ALONE. TEAM 4 INVESTIGATOR JIM PARSONS REPORTED THAT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRANSPORTATION SAFETY ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN INVESTIGATING SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AROUND THE COUNTRY -- SOME OF WHICH INVOLVED VEHICLES SLIPPING INTO GEAR AND CRASHING -- FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS. NHTSA'S OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION SAYS IT HAS IDENTIFIED 200 ALLEGED INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT AFTER CONSUMERS BELIEVED THEY HAD SHIFTED THE SUVS INTO PARK, RESULTING IN 85 ALLEGED CRASHES AND 32 ALLEGED INJURIES. EARLIER THIS YEAR, NHTSA UPGRADED ITS INVESTIGATION TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS FOR 2002-2005 FORD EXPLORERS AND MERCURY MOUNTAINEERS. [XXX] SAYS FORD TOLD HER SHE WOULD NEED TO REPLACE HER ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN TO FIX THE BROKEN GEAR SELECTOR AT A COST OF MORE THAN $1,500. INSTEAD, SHE WORKED WITH HER LOCAL MECHANIC TO FIND AN AFTER-MARKET REPLACEMENT PART THAT RETAILS FOR $30. SO FAR, FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL ON THE GEAR SELECTOR. MORE INFORMATION: NHTSA WEBSITE DETAILS ON EXPLORER INVESTIGATION (TYPE IN ACTION NUMBER EA09013) READ MORE: HTTP://WWW.WTAE.COM/NEWS/29353127/DETAIL.HTML#IXZZ1ZYUBPJEG INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR