NHTSA Complaint #714347 — 2000 FORD EXPEDITION

IF THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED TO IGNITION POSITION #3 AS DEFINED IN THE OWNERS MANUAL, (P61), THE GEARSHIFT LEVER MAY BE MOVED OUT OF PARK, WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. POSITION #3 IS SUPPOSED TO SHUT OFF ENGINE AND ALL ACCESSORIES WITHOUT LOCKING THE STEERING WHEEL. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT ALSO UNLOCKS THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK SAFTY MECHANISM THAT IS SUPPOSED TO PREVENT THE GEARSHIFT LEVER FROM BEING MOVED FROM P (PARK). OUR 2 YEAR OLD SON WAS ABLE TO KNOCK THE GEARSHIFT LEVER DOWN 1 POSITION OUT OF PARK(REVERSE) AND THE CAR ROLLED FORWARD, DOWN A HILL AND INTO A POND, WTH HIM IN IT! THE VEHICLE DOOR LOCKS AUTOMATICALLY LOCKED AS THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE. LUCKILY THE PASSANGER WINDOW OPENED WHEN THE VEHICLE WENT INTO THE WATER (MUST HAVE SHORTED OUT) WE WERE ABLE TO RESCUE HIM BEFORE THE VEHICLE SANK (APPROX 1 MIN). WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS REMOVED FROM THE WATER, THE GEARSHIFT LEVER WAS IN REVERSE POSITION AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS IN POSITION #3. WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK IS NOT ACTIVATED WHEN THE IGNITION SWITCH IS IN POSITION #3. IS THERE A VALID REASON FOR THIS, OR IS IT AN OVERSIGHT IN THE DESIGN. I HAVE SINCE TESTED THIS ON A 1997 EXPEDITION AND IT DOES THE SAME THING. HAS THERE BEEN ANY OTHER REPORTED PROBLEMS WITH THIS? WE CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THAT THEY DO NOT DO THEIR OWN SAFETY TESTING AND THAT WE SHOULD CONTACT THE NHTSA. WHAT SHOULD OUR NEXT COURSE OF ACTION BE?