NHTSA Complaint #10485024 — 2004 FORD EXPLORER

WHILE PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE IN THE PARKING LOT THE GEAR SHIFT COMPLETELY SNAPPED OFF AND THE CAR WAS STUCK IN REVERSE. THE KEYS WERE STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND I COULDN'T TURN THE CAR OFF. I HAD TO PUT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE ON AND CALL FOR HELP ON MY CELL PHONE. WHEN HELP ARRIVED AFTER A COUPLE OF HOURS THEY WERE ABLE TO MANUEVER WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE GEAR SHIFT ENOUGH TO PUT THE CAR BACK IN PARK AND TURN THE CAR OFF. I CALLED THE FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE DIVISION AND SPOKE WITH A REPRESENTATIVE NAMED [XXX], HE PRECEDED TO TELL ME THAT FORD HAS NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM AND THAT HE COULDN'T HELP ME. HE SAID THERE ARE CURRENTLY NO RECALLS AVAILABLE FOR THIS PART. I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND HUNDREDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINT ON FORDS AND ADVISED [XXX] AND AGAIN HE SAID FORD HAS NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A PROBLEM. I AM RELIEVED THAT IT HAPPENED IN A PARKING LOT AND IT DIDN'T CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES AND THEIR SHODDY WORKMANSHIP AND TAKE THE NECESSARY STEPS TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR