1997 Mitsubishi Galant-auto transmission floor shift problems. The transmission was overhauled on 08/03/2006 and cost around 2 grand. I noticed that vehicle's gear shift can be accidentally bumped from drive to neutral because this gear change does not require the brakes to be pressed nor the gear shift button to be pressed. I feel that this is unsafe. I would like to press the button and shift gears by myself. My teenager normally sits in the passenger seat, I am really worried.

- West Haven, CT, USA

1997 Mitsubishi Galant ES w/ automatic transmission ("transaxle"): vehicle's gearshift can be accidently bumped from drive to neutral because this gear change does not require the brakes to be pressed nor the gearshift button to be pressed. I have twice now bumped the car into neutral from drive by reaching over the gearshift, both times while the car was in motion (once while trying to merge onto the interstate). This could have lead to an accident both times had I not quickly discovered that my car was no longer in drive. I believe this to be a defect as the owner's manual states that the car can be shifted from drive to neutral without pressing the brakes or the shift button. Incident on 02/15/2004 was while going 55mph, incident on 04/18/2004 was while going 20mph.

- Charlottesville, VA, USA

Automatic transmission floor shift lever can be moved from drive to neutral just by touching it while driving. Dealer was not notified at this time. Feel free to provide any further information.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA