NHTSA Complaint #11474657 — 2017 FORD ESCAPE

I received the following notice of an issue with my transmission: "Summary ON YOUR VEHICLE, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CABLE BUSHING IS DAMAGED OR MISSING." They then stated the following SAFETY RISKS: "A DAMAGED OR MISSING BUSHING COULD PREVENT THE SHIFTER FROM MOVING THE TRANSMISSION INTO THE INTENDED GEAR POSITION AND CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO MOVE IN AN UNEXPECTED DIRECTION. THE TRANSMISSION MAY NOT BE IN THE PARK POSITION, EVEN THOUGH THE SHIFTER POSITION INDICATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED TO PARK. EXITING A VEHICLE WITHOUT THE TRANSMISSION IN THE PARK POSITION AND WITHOUT APPLICATION OF THE PARKING BRAKE MAY ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO ROLL, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY OR CRASH." Ford then stated that parts to remedy the issue would not be available until quarter 4 of 2022, which is three months away. I cannot drive a car that might, in their words, "move in an unexpected direction." I have two small children and do not feel safe driving a vehicle that poses this risk. When I called Ford, I was told that, "They understand the predicament that this puts me in. However, they do not have a remedy at this time and they are keeping track of the timeline for the parts." It is unacceptable to ask car owners to drive a car that is in their words, a safety risk, for three months.