NHTSA Complaint #10810804 — 2002 FORD EXPLORER

I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND I NO MORE THAN PULLED THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER BACK AND IT BROKE OFF. I COULD NOT SHIFT AT ALL. THE KEYS GOT STUCK IN THE IGNITION, TOO. I HAD TO LEAVE MY CAR THERE OVER NIGHT UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MORNING WHEN THE TOW COMPANY CAME. I ALSO COULD NOT LOCK MY DOORS, AND IT WAS LOADED WITH WORKING EQUIPMENT. ( I CANNOT EVEN IMAGINE IF IT BROKE AFTER I HAD PUT IT IN REVERSE OR DRIVE, AND BEEN STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, OR IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN A REMOTE PLACE. ) AS YOU CAN SEE BY MY PICTURE IT WAS ACTUALLY THE METAL, POSSIBLY ALUMINUM BUT NOT 100% SURE .. METALS SHOULD NOT JUST BREAK.. THIS IS DEFINITELY A DEFECT . I ALSO NOTED ON JUST ONE WEBSITE OVER 151 COMPLAINTS FOR THIS EXACT SAME THING ON THE EXACT SAME YEAR AND MODEL VEHICLE.