steering problem
9.5
really awfulTypical Repair Cost:
$804.00
Average Mileage:
93,783 miles
Number of complaints:
16 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (9 reports)
- had to replace entire steering column (7 reports)
Helpful Websites About 2002 Ford Explorer gear shift broke off
2008Jul 09
Explorer XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 124,000 miles
Getting ready to leave the Doctor office- car turned over nicely and then IT happened when I pulled back on the gear shift to attempted put the car into reverse- the Damn thing came off in my hand--hanging from the few wires of the cruise control like an umbilical cord--what the---?? And all I could do is smile....and say life could be worse, like when the thing is paid of...NEXT MONTH!!!!!!!!!!
Had it towed to a friends shop and this was first for him!! He installed a used column and $350.00 later, she was mine again...:)
2008May 06
Explorer XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 87,200 miles
this was bull $*!+ it just snapped off going from park to drive
the dealership took 5 days to come up with a solution they even contacted ford in Detroit the solution to replace the steering column parts $731 + tax + labor
the ford mechanic said this is the 3rd ford explorer he had seen and had seen one mercury mountaineer
i have a friend who is a boat mechanic so we found a column for $159 and swaped it out
it took 4 hours
i will never buy a ford again this one is going up for sale just as soon as i can find a new car
2008Apr 13
Explorer XLT V8
- Automatic transmission
- 110,000 miles
The gear shift lever broke away from the steering column when I tried to put it in park from drive. It just snapped very easy.
2008Mar 27
Explorer XLT V6
- Automatic transmission
- 83,000 miles
I went to have lunch with my son at school today and was having a pretty good day. Funny how just yesterday some friends of mine and I were standing near my car discussing performance and general likes and dislikes about vehicles. I stated that I have been very happy minus having to replace the brakes and rotors. Figured all was good so far.
After finishing lunch with my son I got in my car to return to work. I started the car and began to put the car in drive when at Neutral the whole shifter lever came off in my hand. I sat there with a look on my face that could be described as stunned. I seriously did not know what had just happened. It was like someone was playing an awful joke on me.
I had one hand reaching for the emergency brake release and the other was holding the shifting lever. I regrouped and decided to call for help when I realized I could not get my key out either since it was stuck in Neutral. I had to get the truck moved since I was parked in the school loading zone and buses would be arriving in an hour or so. 110.00 to tow to the nearest dealer. another 50.00 to get a rental so I could back to work and waiting to hear teh wonderful news on how much a new steering colum is going to cost.
Looking inside at the damage I noticed it is an aluminum piece that had sheared off and I certainly could not go to a parts store and repair this myself. When I was on the phone with the Ford dealer I jokingly asked if he had ever heard of anything like this before. I had not. He said he did not know of this ever happening before but funny how he was certain the parts to fix it were in stock. I used to work for Mazda and I know that parts that do not brake very often are not kept in stock. Now I see that just on this one site I am far from alone in this.
It disgusts me to know that aluminum was used for a part that is used all of the time when operating the vehicle. I hate to say that I would consider buying a foreign car but seeing the level of craftsmanship and dedication to satisfaction that Ford has put into this really leaves me with a choice only a fool would not take.
Ford wake up and treat you customers like you should. This is obviously a gross oversight and needs to be taken care of. It is not like it would be the first recall on explorers. Do the right thing!
2008Mar 01
Explorer XLS 4.6L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 67,000 miles
This is like a bad dream I just pulled into a parking spot at a local supermarket,went to put the vehicle in park and the column shifter just broke off in my hand.At first not believing something like this could happen I just looked at the part in my hand, after I came to I tried to put it back some how took off the rubber boot around it and taking a good look at the problem found out the part was not an easy fix.It seems ford got these parts out of a quarter machine cast aluminum its not the way to go for a shifter linkage.Well the truck was stuck in reverse and seemed no way of moving the broken piece into any other gear so I turned the engine off and the key would not come out so I was really screwed but locked it up with the alarm.I have no warranty so aaa towed to local service station where I am at the mercy of some mechanic.He tells me its the third one he has come acrossed in a few months and its easier to replace the steering column I bought a used one for 200.00 I will find out in a few days the labor wish me luck.I will never ever buy a ford again the problem has happened to many vehicles and we are not talking a minor part here Ford has to grow up and take care of the customers that have always bought fords..........I used to be one
2008Feb 08
Explorer LS 3.2L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 115,000 miles
Looks like Im not the only one that this has happened to. The shift lever just broke
right off in my hand while I was trying to put it in park. Looks like Ford may need to
do a recall.
2008Jan 26
(reported on)Explorer XLT 4.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 115,460 miles
This is the second time that my gearshhift has snapped off in 4 years. I had mentioned this to the dealership who has now repaired this problem for the second tme,the service agent stated that this was the first time she heard of this, which I find hard to believe. The first time this happened it was covered by the warranty.The second time I had to pay for it.This is clearly a factory defect and ford should step up to the plate and take responsibility for its product. I think the company is doing so bad because of the crappy product it produces to sell to the consumer!
2007Dec 22
Explorer XLT V8
- Automatic transmission
- 95,191 miles
The gear shift lever broke away from the steering column when I tried to out the vehicle in Reverse from Park. I had it towed to the nearest Ford dealer. I have an extended warranty from CNA and one of the covered items is supposed to be the steering column. The warranty people refused to cover it because they said that the gear shift lever failed, not the column, and that's not a covered part. However, the only fix is to replace the entire column. I have researched it and believe it is a failure of the column, because the gear shift lever didn't break, it broke away from the column.
2007Dec 02
Explorer V6
- Automatic transmission
- 95,677 miles
I was leaving my sisters house and start my car and go to put it in reverse and the shifter just breaks off in my hand. Luckily my brother in law is a mechanic and said just leave it here I will fix it. He said that in the 20+ years he has been a mechanic he has never seen anything like that. That is ridiculous that it would break like that. Luckily the soccer tournament for the day got canceled or I would have been 1 1/2 hours away from home..
2007Oct 29
(reported on)Explorer
- Automatic transmission
- 99,999 miles
An auto shop gave me info that another 02 explorers shifter broke off - Springside Automotive in Westampton NJ
I also found 3 2003 explorers - who else is out there!
www.dot.gov!! register for recall.
2007Oct 26
(reported on)Explorer
- Automatic transmission
- 56,000 miles
This just happened last night. So far, dealership is working on a solution and estimates the cost will be about $800. While waiting for dealer to call with availability, I did web search and found this is a fairly common problem. I am shifting by hand, so at least I can drive the vehicle. And, I can use all gears. There's 2 releases that have to be pushed at the same time that will release the key. Or, just leave the key in the ignition and lock the doors.
2007Oct 24
(reported on)Explorer
- Automatic transmission
- 51,000 miles
Melissa here in NJ - my shifter just broke off as well- at 51,000 miles. I have the piece that broke off & requested the other half. I have emailed ford corp & have filed a complaint with the Natl Highway... you need to do it at www.dot.gov - find complaints in center column - you;ll need vin - I am pushing for a recall & I plan to file a lawsuit to recover the $$ if they don't cover it now. I work in construction & they do metal framing - the word is that they used white metal which is very soft & should not even be used for monkey bars - email me if you want at wheresmap@yahoo.com
2007Jun 11
(reported on)Explorer Limited V6
- Automatic transmission
- 70,000 miles
CAR WAS 4 MONTHS OUT OF 5 YEAR WARRANTY1 AFTER HAVING CAR TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD THAT "FORCE" HAD TO HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO BREAK OFF GEARSHIFT! I STATED THAT I WAS NOT A SUMO WRESTLER AND REQUESTED PARTS BACK FROM DEALERSHIP. HEAD OF DEPT TOLD ME THAT HE WAS GOING TO TAKE IT UP WITH FORD AND SURPRISE, SURPRISE, WHEN WE PICKED UP CAR, PARTS COULD NOT BE LOCATED! TOOK TIME TO ORDER AND FIX-FORD CLAIMS NOT A DEFECT BUT YOU COULD SEE WHERE BOLT HAD ACTUALLY CRUMBLED!
2007Mar 16
(reported on)Explorer LX 4L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 151,000 miles
My husband and I bought a used 2002 Ford explorer in June 2006 from what we thought was a reputable dealership. We thought we were getting a great deal! NOT! We complained about the truck one after purchasing it and the dealer we purchased the vehicle from, shrugged us off. In February 2007, the column steering and gear stick broke off in my husbands hand while gearing into reverse. Th truck was fixed by the dealers mechanic and we had to pay half of the costs. During this time, we found out that Ford had issued a bulletin in 2004 regarding this matter. But because it was not a recall nothing could be done! However we had reported this problem, one month after purchasing the vehicle - but were dismissed! One week later we went to pick up our truck and realized the truck did not sound or feel right. After demanding answers, we found out not only does our timing chain kit need replacing (which there was a bulletin out on too) but now there is metal shavings in the engine and it needs complete replacement. So what should have been a $67.00 repair problem, if identified as per the bulletin in 2004 (prior to our purchase) is now a repair of over $8000. ASK ME US IF WE'LL EVER BY A FORD AGAIN, and my husband had his heart set on buying a F150- NOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2007Feb 28
(reported on)Explorer Eddie Bauer V8
- Automatic transmission
- 80,000 miles
I was preparing o exit the parking lot, when I shifted from park to reverse the gear shift selector snapped off like stick. I had "Triple A" tow the vehicle to the nearest ford dealership for repairs. When I described the incident to the tech he couldn't believe what happened. He told me that they would have to replace the entire steering column because the piece the broke off was an aluminum die cast part that is connected to the column. I have the highest extended warranty program out there which we spent over 3K. When I reported the claim to the carrier, I was instructed to have the dealer tech contact them and describe the problem. When I called the dealer back, they told me that it WAS NOT COVERED. I immediately got into gear and raised the issue that the shifter did not break but a piece of the steering column broke off that held the shifter onto the column. After several convincing conversations my wife contacted the dealer tech & explained how the tech should report the issue. IT'S NOT THE SHIFTER BUT THE CONNECTING PIECE. WE FINALLY GOT THE DAMN THING COVERED...... PARTIALLY ABOUT 75% OF THE COSTS. I'M LOOKING FOR NEW VEHICLE NOW F. O. R. D. I'M LUCKY I WASN'T FOUND ON ROAD DEAD...
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Jul 24
Explorer LX
The Steering lever broke off....does that happen with wear and tear? I don't think so, never heard that happen before. Anyways, it's going to cost over $900 which is crazy. Wow. I guess this is why people complain about american cars.
Larry S.
Ply, MI, USA
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