NHTSA Complaint #10474786 — 2001 FORD ESCAPE

ON JUNE 7, 2012, I WAS SEVERELY INJURED IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THE GEAR SHIFT MALFUNCTION IN MY 2001 FORD ESCAPE. AS I PUT MY VEHICLE IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, THEN INTO DRIVE, THE GEAR SHIFT BROKE OFF, COMPLETELY SEPARATING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. I WAS IN SHOCK AFTER REALIZING I WAS ACTUALLY HOLDING THE GEAR SHIFT IN MY HAND AND IT WASN'T ATTACHED TO ANYTHING. I TRIED SCREWING THE STICK BACK IN ITS PLACE AND PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK. DISTRAUGHT, I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO ASK FOR HELP. BUT NO ONE WAS AROUND. WHILE REENTERING THE VEHICLE, IT BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARD. MY LEFT FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE RUNNING BOARD AND I WAS DRAGGED ON THE PAVEMENT UNTIL THE VEHICLE HIT THE CURB. UPON IMPACT, I LOST MY GRIP ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND FELL ON MY BACK TO THE GROUND. THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE ROLLED ONTO MY LEFT LEG AT THE KNEE PINNING ME UNDER THE VEHICLE. EMERGENCY TEAMS WERE SUMMONED AFTER MY CRIES FOR HELP WERE HEARD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT USED THE JAWS OF LIFE TO FREE ME FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. A SPLINT WAS APPLIED TO MY LEFT LEG. I WAS TRANSPORTED BY AMBULANCE TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR TREATMENT. UNABLE TO WALK, I WAS ALSO GIVEN CRUTCHES UPON LEAVING THE HOSPITAL, TREATED BY AN ORTHOPAEDIC SURGEON AND UNDERWENT PHYSICAL THERAPY. ON JUNE 8, 2012, MY ESCAPE WAS ACCEPTED AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE REPORTED THAT THE PLASTIC PART ON THE GEAR SHIFT CONNECTING A CABLE TO THE TRANSMISSION HAD BROKEN. IN THE PAST, I REPORTED POPPING NOISE IN THE STEERING AND SQUEAKING WHEN TURNING WHEEL. AT THAT TIME, THE GEAR ASSEMBLY STEERING WAS REPLACED. THE POPPING NOISE IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAPPENED AGAIN SHORTLY BEFORE THE GEAR SHIFT SEPARATED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN ON JUNE 7, 2012.