Shifter knob on 03 Aviator broke off. The shifter was locked in place in drive at a greenlight. It seems that a very cheap plastic piece broke. The dealer quoted me $1200 dollars to replace the entire shifter assembly. I am checking other options but seeing the further I look the more common this problem. I am not sure how many complaints it takes but this is a horrible safety issue.

- Greenville , SC, USA

Transmission shifter breaks and locks in place. The result is to leave the vehicle occupants stranded in a dangerous neighborhood where their personal safety is at risk. The problem is a broken $5 piece of plastic contained within the shifter knob. However, Ford refuses to supply the $5 piece and instead requires the vehicle owner to purchase the entire shifter assembly (which costs almost $1000). Based on the number of backorders for this piece at any one point in time, it is apparent that Ford is aware of the problem and is not taking steps to remedy. The only remedy that they offer is to force the consumer to pay $1,000 in order for consumers to gain access to the $5 piece of plastic. This happened to me when I was out of town on a trip with my family. We had pulled off the road, but left the car running. When we went to place it in gear, it refused to shift out of park. We were unable to push the vehicle or move it in any way because it was stuck in park. The sun went down and we were stranded. I am unemployed and while I could afford a small repair, I couald not afford the expensive repair (the dealership also needed to charge for their labor, so the quote was over $1500). After being stranded overnight, I convinced the dealer to just show me how to shift the car without replacing the shifter. Now I have to keep the gear shift knob removed (which subjects the mechanism to accidentally have the overdrive button pushed). With the knob removed, I can lift the rod to shift into gear and then must lower the rod (manually) to lock it into the selected location. Failure to lower the rod allows the shifter to move freely and also prevents the keys from being removed once the shifter is again in park. Fords unwillingness to provide an economic solution provides a safety hazard to consumers who trusted Ford to do the right thing. Please help!

- Norwalk, IA, USA

Multiple failures in 2003 Lincoln Aviator. Difficulty turning, starting, jerk in steering wheel, vibration in tires, gear changer loose and ect. The consumer purchased the vehicle with 18 inch rims but Ford requires 17 inch rims to be legal (oem) equipment. The consumer felt that this was maliciously dishonest sale of an automobile. The side fender had a gauge on the inside, the rear storage section leather ripped, the tire monitor system kept coming on with a warning sign from the computer of a mechanical defect, difficulty starting the vehicle, jerking in the steering wheel, noise in the steering wheel, noise in heating/vent bubbling, passenger front windows were rattling, there was motor noise upon acceleration, front end noise, rear hatch rattled and was shaking, the wheels squealed and rubbed, the doors did not automattically lock when the vehcile was engaged into drive, and the engine knock as if it were running rough. When the service tech tried to shift the gear lever out of park, the entire gear lever had come apart in pieces. The consumer stated that the vehicle was worse than ever. Currently when the brakes were applied the steering would go out of control, jerk left and right, shaked out of control and unable to steer.

- Newnan, GA, USA

Consumer states that dealer put aftermarket rims tires on vehicle. The vehicle experienced the following; difficulty turning the vehicle, heater bubbling making noises, difficulty starting the vehicle, jerking in the steering wheel, noise in the steering, noise in the heating/vent bubbling, pulsating in the steering wheel, vibration of the tires, the tire monitoring system had to be cut off reconnected and adjusted, the passenger front windows rattled, motor made loud noises when the vehicle accelerated, front end noises, rear hatch rattled and would shake, the wheels squealed and rubbed, the wheel jerked when taking off, the gear changer lever was loose, the vehicle would shake and vibrated when in motion, and the engine sounded as if it was knocking or running rough.

- Newnan, GA, USA