NHTSA Complaint #11208532 — 2001 FORD F-150

MY VEHICLE HAS AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. I PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND THE GEAR SHIFTER WENT "FLOPPY," BECAME EXCESSIVELY LOOSE AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO ANY OTHER GEAR POSITION. I HAD TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF AND SET THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN PLACE RIGHT THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. IT TURNS OUT TWO 27MM TORX BOLTS HAD COME LOOSE ON THE STEERING COLUMN SHIFTER ASSEMBLY INSIDE THE DASHBOARD (A NUT HOLDING ONE OF THE BOLTS HAD ACTUALLY BROKEN INTO TWO PIECES). SEE ATTACHED PICTURES. AS I RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM, I LEARNED THAT HUNDREDS, PERHAPS THOUSANDS HAD REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE (THAT AND BUSHINGS BREAKING OR SLIPPING OUT ON THE STEERING COLUMN CAUSING A SIMILAR ISSUE), ON F-150'S, F-250'S, F-350'S, WINDSTAR VANS, AND OTHER FORD VEHICLES. THIS HAD THE POTENTIAL TO BE A TRAGIC PROBLEM. C'MON, FORD, TAKE SOME OWNERSHIP AND DO RIGHT BY YOUR CUSTOMERS HERE--FIX THIS PROBLEM UNDER RECALL!