NHTSA Complaint #11164734 — 2017 FORD EXPLORER

I WAS TRAVELING ON A HIGHWAY IN THE RIGHT LANE AT 55 MPH, WITH TRACTOR TRAILERS TO MY LEFT AND BEHIND ME. I CHANGED THE RADIO STATION AND A WARNING SUDDENLY APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD STATING "TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK". I FELT THE CAR BECOMING SLUGGISH AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD, BUT HAD NO TURN SIGNAL TO WARN THE TRUCK BEHIND ME. HE NARROWLY MISSED ME AS I PULLED OFF. WHEN I CAME TO A STOP I REALIZED THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, AS IF I HAD HIT THE IGNITION SWITCH. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND SWITCHED ON THE IGNITION. I COULD NOT BELIEVE I HAD INADVERTENTLY TURNED THE CAR OFF, BUT ASSUMED I MUST HAVE, WHILE CHANGING THE RADIO. YESTERDAY, JAN 32, 2018, MY VEHICLE LOST A SERPENTINE BELT AND I LOST POWER. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER ASKED IF I SAW A WARNING THAT SAID "TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK" BEFORE I LOST POWER. HE SAID HE HAD BEEN HEARING THAT FROM MANY FORD EXPLORER DRIVERS LATELY - THAT THEIR VEHICLE SUDDENLY STOPS RUNNING, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE USING THE RADIO. I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, BUT I BELIEVE THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN, AS I AM NOW FINDING OTHERS REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE IN ONLINE FORD FORUMS.