Ask the Car People.SM


Ford Explorer Maintenance and Repair

6386 messages,  Last post on May 27, 2013 at 6:07 PM

You are in the Ford Explorer Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Explorer, Mercury Mountaineer

    

Go to NHTSA to file a safety complaint.

Or call Monday-Friday (8 am to 8 pm ET) (888) 327-4236 TTY: (800)424-9153

Messages Page 593 of 640

#5912 of 6386 Re: Gear shift lever broken-Ford Expl 2002 -please help ! [bn3757] by paul7281

Sep 28, 2007 (5:31 pm)

Replying to: bn3757 (Sep 26, 2007 10:44 am)
Hi bn3757, paul7281, Was the steering column you had replaced used? I called every auto wrecker and used parts house in California and parts Nevada, from San Francisco to Reno and north to Redding and down to Bakersfield. Every 02 ford explorer steering column, I found had the same problem with the gear shift lever broken. Only two I saw that looked to be good. I took a toothbrush with a little solvent and a crack was visible in the cast part that holds the gear shift lever bar - No Good!!! After reading your posted message I went to my local parts dealer and asked about the steering column (part number 5L2Z-3C529-A) that he had ordered for me. He called Ford Parts where he got the part, and asked about ordering this (part number 5L2Z-3C529-A) again, the Ford Parts Dealer told him this (part number 5L2Z-3C529-A) is an upgrade for the old (part number 4L2Z-3C529-DA) and will not be available until some time in November 2007. He told the Ford parts man I just got one here from Ford. All the Ford parts man said was, sorry it's not available and we don't have a price for that part. The second Ford Parts Dealer he called, told him (part number 5L2Z-3C529-A) is on back order?. What is Ford doing? this part was available I have the (5L2Z-3C529-A- STEERING COLUMN) in my 02 ford explorer Know Ford says it's not available?. I was told by a local Ford Dealer this will be the third or forth change due to this problem with the gear shift lever. BUT NO RECALL! Sorry bn3757 it looks like this will not be much Help........Paul

#5913 of 6386 Re: 2004 Explorer Problems [censming] by pacco12

Oct 01, 2007 (2:06 pm)

Replying to: censming (Mar 13, 2005 10:23 pm)
hey did you ever get this answered? i just started having the same issue with my 04. the ABS light is on and the 4x4 high is flashing... i am taking it in tomorrow if i can but i am hoping it is something simple. write me back if you have an answer..
 
thanks.

#5914 of 6386 Re: Gear shift lever broken-Ford Expl 2002 -please help ! [paul7281] by bn3757

Oct 02, 2007 (1:47 pm)

Replying to: paul7281 (Sep 28, 2007 5:31 pm)
Hey Paul - bn3757 here. The steering column replaced last year was new - part #4L2Z-3C529-DA. Obviously a faulty part, but local dealer will not stand behind it as it was repaired over a year ago (Feb '06). I've checked online too w/ the same story - part 5L2Z-3C529-A is on backorder until November. Calls to Ford not helpful - they did say they would try to expedite, but I'm not holding my breath. We have a rental car for now - very frustrating. I'm gathering info and will report to NHTSA. Found 16 reported cases on their website -but so far no signs of a formal investigation. I plan to keep looking - would like to see Ford do something about this before someone gets hurt! Thanks for your response... Beth

#5915 of 6386 Re: Gear shift lever broken-Ford Expl 2002 -please help ! [bn3757] by jfenglishnc

Oct 02, 2007 (4:44 pm)

Replying to: bn3757 (Oct 02, 2007 1:47 pm)
My gear shift just broke off tonight when trying to put the car in park. Is there a way to use a screw driver to shift the gears. The car is in a covered garage and it is going to be a nightmare trying to get out and tow. Can't get the keys out since it is not in park. This explorer is awful. Numerous problems with it including a cracked panel just below the back window which is another common problem with the model and Ford will not fix. Sounds like I am in for a nightmare with this latest problem. From what I am reading there are no parts until November. Ford should pay for a rental for the time without the car then.

#5916 of 6386 Re: Gear shift lever broken-Ford Expl 2002 -please help ! [jfenglishnc] by bn3757

Oct 03, 2007 (6:38 am)

Replying to: jfenglishnc (Oct 02, 2007 4:44 pm)
Wish I could give you better news, but I've checked all over the country looking for the part - no luck. We've been told repeatedly that it is on back order until November. I did see one post where someone had the part manufactured at a machine shop - I have no idea whether or not it worked. In the meantime, we are stuck with a rental, and Ford refuses to reimburse us for that expense either. Please, please file a complaint with the NHTSA! If I find out anything encouraging, I'll post it on this site. Good luck!

#5917 of 6386 Re: Gear shift lever broken-Ford Expl 2002 -please help ! [bn3757] by shark715

Oct 03, 2007 (7:05 am)

Replying to: bn3757 (Oct 03, 2007 6:38 am)
I doubt that filing a complaint with NHTSA is going to accomplish anything as it's really a stretch to say that this is a safety issue. On the other hand I thought that there was some kind of law that vehicle manufacturers have to make replacement parts available for 10 years...I don't know the specifics of the law if in fact it does exist. No doubt Ford would argue that they are going to provide the parts, but they are currently out of stock because a supplier gave them a bad batch and this has created an unusually high demand, and they have no other obligation to you as the truck is out of warranty. Have you tried used part dealers and junkyards? There were a lot of Ford vehicles built that use this same part...would not be surprised if you find what you are looking for in a wreck. If you are nice to the parts person at your local dealership, you should be able to find out what other models and years used the identical part.

#5918 of 6386 Re: Gear shift lever broken-Ford Expl 2002 -please help ! [shark715] by Stever@Edmunds HOST

Oct 03, 2007 (7:11 am)

Replying to: shark715 (Oct 03, 2007 7:05 am)
I thought that there was some kind of law that vehicle manufacturers have to make replacement parts available for 10 years
 
I've never found a cite to that law posted here over the years I've been reading posts at Edmunds. What people have said is that the manufacturer has to keep parts around so that they can handle any claims made under warranty.
 
It's surprising to me how often odd little parts for low volume off-brand cars turn up for sale on the internet though.

#5919 of 6386 Re: Gear shift lever broken-Ford Expl 2002 -please help ! [steve_] by bn3757

Oct 03, 2007 (8:54 am)

Replying to: Stever@Edmunds (Oct 03, 2007 7:11 am)
I don't know about the laws on replacement parts either - may look into that. This is the 2nd time we've had this occur in 15 mos, and 1st time it broke as my husband was backing out of a parking space into traffic. I've also read posts where it happened to folks while they were in traffic, so it definitely could be a safety issue. I'm concerned about used parts because the current part #5L2Z-3C529A is different from the part # they installed last year (4L2Z-3C529-DA)- it's obviously a design defect, so we decided to wait for the newer part.

#5920 of 6386 Re: Gear shift lever broken-Ford Expl 2002 -please help ! [bn3757] by jfenglishnc

Oct 03, 2007 (9:50 am)

Replying to: bn3757 (Sep 26, 2007 10:44 am)
I have been given the run around by Ford corporate, the dealership, and my extended warranty company today. The delearship says that the part is on back order until 11/12 but I can pay $86 extra dollars to get on the rush list as the supplier is going to release 800 of the part on 10/15. Total cost to repair is $940. Dealer will most likely not have car ready until mid to late November so the total cost of this issue sky rockets. Factor in a $250 weekly rental car and you are looking at as much as $3000 cost between the repair and rental car. That is crazy. Ford puts a car out on the streets and does not have replacement parts for months. How can they get away with this? Corporate says there is nothing they can do and hangs up the phone. Extended warranty says it will not cover 'broken off' parts from the steering column. This whole problem is caused by a defective part and the costs incurred are absolutely outrageous. Ford is the armpit of corporate america. I am pissed beyond belief. Class action lawsuit sounds like a good next step. I filed a complaint on NHTSA but that will lead to nothing.

#5921 of 6386 Re: Gear shift lever broken-Ford Expl 2002 -please help ! [jfenglishnc] by paul7281

Oct 03, 2007 (3:13 pm)

Replying to: jfenglishnc (Oct 02, 2007 4:44 pm)
Hi jfenglishnc, paul7281 here. Yes you can shift the gears, by hand. With a screw driver remove the plastic collar around the steering column, you will see a piece of cast metal where the gear shift lever bar broke off of the steering column. The back end of that piece of cast metal, you will find a piece of metal with 3-corners, the upper corner bolted to the steering column case, the lower corner has the shift cable linkage, that runs down the steering column to the transmission. By hand at the lower corner by the shift cable linkage, if you push forward it will shift into park, you can remove your key. If you pull back it will shift into gear and you can drive it.. I do not recommened driving it, but you can move it.. Paul.

Messages Page 593 of 640

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement