NHTSA Complaint #11445569 — 2015 FORD ESCAPE

The transmission shift cable fell off the transmission shift lever in the engine compartment. The plastic bushing that holds the shift cable in place is worn out or defective. Ford has a replacement part (#DG9Z-7K340-A) and a new cover cap to protect the bushing now. Wondering why this is not a safety recall. The linkage fell off while my wife was parking the vehicle in sub-zero weather. She had the shifter in park, but the vehicle was actually in neutral or reverse. The vehicles engine could be started or stopped, would not drive, but could roll. Luckily it was on level ground when it happened. Ford has the same problem on earlier year models but not on our model year. The Ford dealer told me that there were no recalls or TSBs for my VIN model.