Car-and-Safety.com
Ford Explorer Steering Safety Report | Aug 09, 2013
Reported on Aug 09, 2013
| WHILE MOVING THE SHIFT LEVER FROM PARK TO REVERSE, THE LEVER BROKE AWAY FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND COULD NOT BE RETURNED TO PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN REVERSE, ENGINE RUNNING, AND BRAKE APPLIED. WITH THE BRAKE APPLIED, THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF, STILL IN REVERSE. THE KEY COULD NOT BE REMOVED UNTIL A SMALL WIRE CONTACT INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS SHORTED TO THE METAL IN THE COLUMN. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE DRAGGED ONTO A TOW VEHICLE AND TAKEN TO AIKINS FORD IN WINDER, GEORGIA. I WAS TOLD THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED AND THE PART PLUS LABOR WOULD BE APPROXIMATELY $1500. AIKINS ORDERED THE PART AND IS STILL WAITING AFTER DISCOVERING THAT THERE WERE 221 STEERING COLUMNS ON BACK ORDER WITH THE AFTER MARKET MANUFACTURER LICENSED TO PROVIDE THE PART. THE DESIGN OF THE SHIFT LEVER INCLUDED A POT METAL DISK HOUSING THAT REQUIRES THE SPRING BEHIND IT TO BE ACTUATE BY PULLING THE LEVER FORWARD TO CHANGE THE GEAR STATUS. THE HOUSING SNAPPED IN HALF, LEAVING THE LEVER DANGLING BY A SMALL WIRE. ONLY THE FACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING AVERTED CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER OF AN ACCIDENT. I HAVE REQUESTED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN PART BE RETURNED TO ME AND HAVE VERY GOOD PHOTOS OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ACTUAL SEPARATION AT THE BREAK IN THE COLUMN. I WILL FURNISH EITHER TO YOUR DEPARTMENT IF AND WHEN I GET MY EXPLORER BACK. NOW 56 DAYS AND STILL WAITING. I BELIEVE THAT IT WAS DESIGN FLAW TO ALLOW A PART THAT REQUIRES UNIFORM STRENGTH TO BE A MOLDED PIECE OF POT METAL AND SOMEONE MAY GET HURT, IF NOT ALREADY IN THE 221 INCIDENTS THAT FORD IS AWARE OF. *TR | |
| Make: | Ford |
| Model: | Explorer |
| Manufactured by: | Ford Motor Company |
| Year: | 2002 |
| Was a crash reported? | N |
| Was an injury reported? | 0 person(s) were injured. |
| Was a death reported? | 0 person(s) died. |
| Was a fire reported? | N |
| Location: | WINDER GA |
| Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): | 1FMZU62E42U |
| Mileage: | 91000 miles. |
| Speed: | 0 MPH |
| Number of cylinders: | 6 |
| Vehicle type: | |
| Vehicle fuel: | GAS |
| Was a police report filed? | N |
| Tire size: | |
| Dealer name and location: | |
| Previous Report:Steering | Next Report:Electrical System Software |