NHTSA Complaint #10550481 — 2013 SCION FR-S

THIS IS INTENDED TO REPORT A PROBLEM, NOT A ONE-TIME INCIDENT. THE SHIFT KNOB OF MY FR-S IS LOOSE ENOUGH TO ROTATE WHILE SHIFTING GEARS. I HAVE READ SEVERAL OTHER REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE ON ONLINE FORUMS DEDICATED TO THIS VEHICLE. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT DUE TO PARTIAL MISALLOCATION OF FORCE FROM THE OPERATOR'S INTENDED SHIFTING DIRECTION INTO UNWANTED ROTATION OF THE GEAR KNOB. MISSING A GEAR, OR DELAYING OR CONFUSING THE ACTION MECHANICALLY CAN BE A HAZARD. FOR EXAMPLE, IT CAN BE CRITICAL TO MAKE A FAST AND CORRECT GEAR SHIFT WHILE MERGING INTO A TRAFFIC STREAM OR WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN AGAINST OPPOSING TRAFFIC. THE LOOSENESS OF THE SHIFT KNOB, WHICH IN THIS CASE CAN ROTATE 5-15 DEGREES DURING A SHIFT ADDS AN UNWANTED AND ENTIRELY UNNECESSARY VARIABLE DURING OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. SCION/TOYOTA'S RESPONSE IS THAT THE ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT IS "NORMAL". A POINT WITH WHICH I THINK NO SELF-RESPECTING AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEER WOULD CONCUR. NOTE: PROPER SHIFTING TECHNIQUE DOES NOT REQUIRE SIGNIFICANT ROTATING FORCE TO BE APPLIED TO THE SHIFT KNOB. NEVERTHELESS IT IS INEVITABLE THAT SOME DIFFERENTIAL FORCE BE APPLIED TO ONE SIDE OF THE KNOB WHILE SHIFTING THROUGH THE GEAR PATTERN. THEREFORE THE KNOB SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO RESIST THOSE FORCES IN ORDER TO DIRECT THE THRUST IN THE DIRECTION INTENDED BY THE OPERATOR. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE FR-S SHIFT KNOB AND INTEGRATED CAP DISCOURAGES TIGHTENING OF THE SHIFT KNOB ON ITS THREADS AS THAT WILL CAUSE THE CAP TO LIFT OUT OF THE BODY OF THE SHIFT KNOB. *TR