general problems of the 2003 Lincoln Aviator

The button on the gear shift lever gets stuck. It may or may not be depressed at any given time. You must have your foot depressed on the brake to allow the car to be put it into gear. The brake sensor is working. After reading many complaints online of this identical problem it sounds like it may be the plastic rod in this assembly. Why plastic would be used is baffling. The cost of repair is around $1200. 00 dollars. Unbelievable. One man said he has replaced this part 3 times. This is a widespread problem with Ford in general. My car has 80,000 miles and has been kept in very good condition. Now this, along with the drivers side window motor going out as well. Another $4000-$600 dollar fix. Quite unhappy about this. I am 60 and cannot be stuck somewhere and not be able to get my car into gear. Thank you. Kim warren.

I was sitting in park. Just had stopped to make a deposit. Put my foot on the brake & my 2003 Aviator would not shift from park. Called the dealer, got their tow service. The tow guy told me to put my feet on the brakes, my brake lights did not come on. He said that's why it will not shift from park. It is not getting the signal that the brakes were mashed. Got it towed. Dealer replaced the shifter, that they said had gone out that was the issue. Out of $1306. 00 & less than one week later, at the store, got in my Aviator. . Can't get out of park. Same issue. . Same tow guy called. . He works to get it out of park with a screw driver. . Towed back to the dealer. No brake lights indicated=no shift from park to. Is the new shifter for $950 now out? not!!! has to be another issue.

I was backing out of my driveway into the street. Once I was in the street, I put the car into drive and stepped on the gas. The car went the opposite direction- reverse. I double checked the gear shift ( in the center of the vehicle), it was "d" for drive. I made sure it was in the d, and stepped slowly on the gas, and it went into reverse. I tried to apply the brakes, but they didn't engage. I quickly stepped on the emergency brake, and that stopped the car. Fortunately, I was in a cul-DE-sac with out other pedestrians or vehicles at the time. It was extremely dangerous to have a car where the shift isn't engaged at all. The vehicle has been always maintained by the Lincoln dealer, and it is being towed to that dealership at this time. It's too dangerous to drive.

I had just got home with my vehicle from the repair shop, had a vacuum hose replaced. I could not get my key out of the ignition. I kept trying & was finally successful at removing the key. Now the gear shifter is stuck in park and will not go into any other gear. I just got it back from the shop & still can't drive it due to getting it in gear. This really does need to be looked into & they need to do a recall. I have seen a lot of complaints about this problem. I have 2 more years to pay it off & then it is gone.