NHTSA Complaint #10509921 — 2000 LEXUS RX300

ON 11/03/12 I PUT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER INTO REVERSE AND BACKED OUT OF A DRIVEWAY INTO THE STREET. I THEN MOVED THE SHIFTER FROM "R", PAST "N" INTO "D" TO MOVE FORWARD, BUT THERE WAS NO ENGAGEMENT INTO ANY GEAR. THE SHIFTER JUST MOVED FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS WITH NO RESISTANCE. THERE WAS PREVIOUS NO INDICATION OF ANY PROBLEM. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. I DIDN'T WANT TO BE HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, SO I GOT OUT OF THE LEXUS AND PUSHED IT BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. ON 11/5/13 I DISASSEMBLED THE DASH AND SHIFTING CONSOLE AND FOUND THAT THE SHIFT CABLE WAS NO LONGER ATTACHED TO THE SHIFTING LEVER. THERE WERE PIECES OF SOME KIND OF PLASTIC RETAINER BROKEN AROUND THE CABLE TERMINATION "LOOP" AND LYING ON THE FLOOR. I STILL HAVE THE BROKEN PARTS. ON 11/5/12 I CALLED LEXUS CORPORATE OFFICE AT 800-255-3987. I EXPLAINED THAT I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED (OR WORSE). I WANTED THIS FIXED, OR AT LEAST THE PART THAT HOLDS THE CABLE ONTO THE SHIFTER. THEY SAID I NEEDED TO HAVE A "REPAIR ORDER #" TO PROCEED. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO LEXUS OF PALM BEACH BY HOLDING THE CABLE ON THE SHIFTER WHEN I NEEDED TO SHIFT. THEIR SERVICE MANAGER INSPECTED, TOOK PICTURES, AND PROVIDED #7200550. I THEN CALLED CORPORATE BACK WITH THAT #. I RECEIVED A 11/20/2012 LETTER FROM LEXUS CORPORATE. THEY WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY PARTS/REPAIRS BASED ON WARRANTY EXPIRATION. ON 1/13 I FINALLY HAD TIME TO EFFECT A D.I.Y REPAIR. I MADE A NYLON SLEEVE FOR INSIDE THE CABLE "LOOP" AND USED A COMMON E-CLIP TO RETAIN THE LOOP ONTO THE SHIFTER LEVER ROD. PLEASE SEE PICTURES AT HTTP://SDRV.MS/10O9RFN FOR DAMAGE AND CORRECTIVE ACTION . HAVE ACCIDENTS/DEATHS ALREADY OCCURRED DUE TO THIS? HOW MANY NEEDLESS $6000 TRANSMISSION REBUILDS HAS LEXUS GOT OUT OF THIS? THIS REPAIR CAN BE DONE IN UNDER 30 MINUTES FOR ABOUT $2 IN PARTS. PLEASE KEEP OTHERS FROM AVOIDABLE HARM. *TR