Automatic Transmission Column Shift Problems of Ford Explorer - part 1

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The vehicle had previously been serviced by an independent mechanic who replaced the engine and two engine cylinders. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the gear shifter was unable to shift to the intended gear. Additionally, the vehicle jerked and hesitated during acceleration. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,600.

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The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while parking, the shift selector fractured while attempting to shift from drive to park. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.

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The contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while restarting the vehicle, the gear shifter detached from the steering wheel. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where it was diagnosed with a failure to the steering column that needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and the current mileage was 75,900. . . Updated 04/11/12 the consumer stated when he put the vehicle in reverse, the entire gear shift came out in his hand. Leaving the vehicle in reverse. He was able to turn the ignition switch off. A cast iron bracket was completely broken off in the steering column. Updated 05/31/12.

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The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. While attempting to shift from park to the reverse, the contact noticed that the column shifter had separated from the steering column. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The current and the failure mileage was 228,000. Updated 04/11/lj the hear shifter broke and the key would not come out of the ignition. The serpentine belt was cracked and had to be replaced. Updated 04/20/12.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. While the vehicle was parked the contact stated that the gear shift broke off while switching gears from drive to park. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or a mechanic since the contact was unable to be drive it. The approximate failure mileage was 148,000.

2005 Ford Explorer. Consumer writes in regards to steering column gear shifter problems. The consumer stated on December 10, 2010 the steering column was replaced. Unfortunately, the gear shift broke again for the third time. The consumer stated the entire steering column had to be replaced each time.

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The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. While the vehicle was parked, the contact tried to shift to drive when the gear shift broke off. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 55,242.

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The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer eddie bauer. While driving in reverse 5 mph the gear shift came apart from the column and fell in his lap while the engine was running. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who stated that it would cost $1,500 to replace the steering column. There were no warranties related to the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 77,000. Updated 02/07/11 updated 04/20/11.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the gear shift suddenly broke off. She previously noticed that the shift had been difficult to move. The vehicle had not been inspected or repaired. The manufacturer had not been notified. The current and failure mileages were 114,444.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The ignition was started and the gear selector would not shift out of park. The contact stated the gear shift lever fractured inside of the steering column. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer where they informed the contact that the steering column assembly would need to be replaced. The part was unavailable and the dealer was in the process of locating the part for repair. The vehicle was not. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. While attempting to shift the vehicle from drive to park, the gear shift lever suddenly fractured into the contacts hand. There where no prior warnings of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The current and failure mileage was 136,000.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while attempting to shift from park to reverse, the gear shift lever fractured in her hand. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. There were no prior warnings of the failure. The current and failure mileages were 122,000.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while shifting the vehicle into reverse, the gear shift selector broke off from the steering column. The vehicle was not taken in to be examined and there were no repairs. The failure and current mileages were unavailable.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The vehicle was parked when the gear shift suddenly broke off in the contacts hand and the vehicle became stuck between park and reverse. The vehicle was towed to his residence. The dealer informed the contact that the gear shift lever replacement kit would repair the failure or the steering column would have to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who confirmed that the steering column needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified and did not offer any assistance. The vehicle had not been repaired when the complaint was filed. The VIN was not available. The current and failure mileages were approximately 92,000.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while shifting into reverse, the gear shift broke off. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealership where the dealer repaired the steering column. The current and failure mileages were 89,930.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer. When attempting to shift gears, the column shift lever had fractured. He had to push the vehicle to the side of the road-way. The vehicle was then towed to a dealership, and he was advised that he would have to purchase a new steering column. The manufacturer was notified, and he was advised that they would not provide assistance. The vehicle was taken to a local service station and repaired. After the repair the failure re-occurred, the current mileage was approximately 130,000. The failure mileage was 127,000.

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Explorer. When attempting to shift the gear selector lever, it fractured and caused the ignition to lock. The contact was unable to operate the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to a local repair shop and is in the process of having the component repaired. The cause of the failure was unknown. The failure and current mileages were 71,325 updated 01-26-09 the gear shift lever on the steering column broke. Updated 01/27/09.

Drove into the carwash went to put the car in park and the gearshift got stuck and broke off in reverse, had to back car out of carwash with many cars behind me towed the car to dealership was told the steering column had to be replaced which cost $1,200. 00 after research today I see that alot of Explorer owners have had this happen and I consider this to be a very dangerous defect in the car that Ford should have paid to have fixed and recalled so that this does not happen to others.

Pulled in the drive way went to put the car in park and the shifter feel off called on the part you cant just by the part you have to by the whole column at a price of 600. 00 just for the part now I am a welder and mechanic by trade and have been for 20 years and I have never seen this before the Explorer they make this very important piece out of pot metal this is a very poor quality of metal die cast junk used to make toys there is no reason why I should not be able to by this part other than Ford just wants to make more money and force the public into buying the whole thing this is not right or fair and to me this is a safety issue because when this happens you can not get the car back into the park position .

Started vehicle. Depressed brake and released parking brake. Shifted from park and gear shift, including cover, simply fell off the steering column. Pictures of defect are available. Car had to be towed and estimate is for $1000 to repair gear shift and assembly.

I tried to put my 2002 Ford Explorer XLT, 4wd, 4door in the "p" park position and my lever broke, part # 5l2z-3cs29-a I am a 47 year old stay at home mom that does not abuse my vehicle. I maintain my vehicle on a set schedule.

In order to move the shift lever into the park position, it is necessary to push the lever up, let it return down a short bit, and then put it into park. The lever wants to stop half way. This is a safety hazard because the vehicle may return to reverse without actually being in the park position.

Operator approached the entrance to a parking lot and placed automatic transmission in park. When the operator attempted to shift out of park, the gear lever broke off of steering column, immobilizing the vehicle in the entrance; blocking traffic flow. The vehicle had to be towed. The failed part is a component of the steering column that connects the gear selector lever to the transmission shift cable. The part is die-cast alloy. The part that failed is not sold separately necessitating the replacement of the entire steering column assembly. The msrp of the column assembly is approximately $600. 00.

2002 Ford Explorer. Vehicle parked - went to put in gear and shifter broke off in steering column. This is the 2nd time this has happened in less than 2 years!.

Vehicle is a 2002 Ford Explorer, purchased new. Gear shift broke off at steering column. A small part broke, but dealer says the entire steering column must be replaced because part that broke is attached to steering column. Dealership reports there is a "nationwide" waiting list for the part and is unable to get a part to fix the vehicle. Dealer is "researching" the issue but has no estimate of when part will be available. Several internet sites report similar complaints, with some reporting they were told up to 5 1/2 months to get part.

2004 Explorer (automatic) column gear shift broke when shifted into reverse. Part was not sold separately so had to purchase entire steering column. Estimate cost of new part was approximately $500. Luckily was able to locate used part for half the cost. Replaced only the broken part which has gear shift lever attached.

Our 2004 Ford Explorer has a significantly delayed response when shifting into reverse. Once the transmission engages there is a loud and hard "clunk". This happens every time you put the truck in reverse.

Shifter broke from the steering column when my truck was in park and I went to put it in reverse and it snapped. After only six months and one week it happened again on 03-04-2008.

Went to shift into drive and gearshift lever snapped off. $900. 00 for new steering column.

After coming to a complete stop in a local neighborhood attempted to shift the vehicle into park as my wife exited the vehicle. The shift lever broke inside the steering column with the transmission in reverse. I was able to manually shift the linkage on the side of the transmission using a pair of pliers while the emergency brake was set, and my wife applied the brakes. The vehicle was then driven to the local Ford dealer, where I was informed that the entire steering column would need to be replaced at a cost of $1200. 00. This vehicle was bought new in 2001 and has only 58,000 miles. It has not been abused in any manner. There was no warning whatsoever that there was any type of a problem. Surely, this was a manufacturing defect that Ford will probably deny.

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After backing out of the garage, I put the automatic transmission in park to exit the vehicle, when I returned to the vehicle, I attempted to put the transmission in reverse and the gear shift became completely detached from the steering column. I turned the vehicle off, but could not remove the keys from the ignition. No damage was done because the vehicle was parked. Two weeks before this time I was on the pennsylvania turnpike in bad weather and used the gear shift to shift to a lower gear on the steep downhill, wet and possibly icy road surface. The consequences could have been much different had the gear shift detached from the steering column under those conditions. There was no indication of the gear shift being loose or difficult to move prior to its failure. The vehicle was towed to the shop and the steering column was replaced.

Gear shift lever broke off column, where it attaches to top of shift cable. Was unable to shift vehicle into or out of any gear. Had to have vehicle towed to a dealership for repair which is costing $1300. 00, service department stated they could not replace part that broke, but had to replace the whole column.

On christmas eve 2006 I was shopping for presents. . . Went to may be 5 stores. After last store, I started car and when I went to put it in gear, the gear stick broke off into my hands. Transmission was stuck between park and reverse! there was no way to put it back together as it broke off at the base. Dealer replaced $1000 worth of parts. I feel this could have happened at any time and was lucky vehicle was in park rather than in drive when it happened.

With vehicle stopped, while shifting gear lever under steering wheel from drive to park, the gear lever broke rendering the gear lever handle useless with transmission between park and reverse as indicated by the indicator. A cast cylindrical part linked to gear lever broke. Had vehicle towed to dealer to be repaired.

The contact owns a 2003 Ford Explorer. While driving 10 mph, the contact heard a noise similar to a tire blowout. She pulled the vehicle off the road and discovered that the lug studs for the driver and passenger side rear wheels had sheared off. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and the studs were replaced. The failure occurred twice. The contact attempted to shift into park, but the gear became stuck. She jiggled the gear until it went into park. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000 and current mileage was 60,000.