My son borrowed my car to run up to the store. When he came out and went to put the car in reverse, the gear shift snapped off in his hand. He managed to stick it back in to the steering column enough to put it in drive and get it home. From there was unable to put the car into park or to turn it off. Had to put on the emergency brake and after talking to my son-in-law, we were able to turn off the car but still couldn't remove the key. We have a very good friend of the family that is also a mechanic, and was willing to install the steering column. We bought a used one at the salvage yard. even still, it cost $300. I was unable to work because I didn't have another car, and I lost my assignment in home health care over it. I wish I could sue Mercury!!!!!!! Never gonna buy another one!

Well glad to see I'm not alone, when my piece of sh!t mercury gear shifter fell off in my wife's hand! nice SUV we bought. I've done my best to stand up for buying American cars and trucks. Considering that I work for one of the big three, I feel I should. I'm now at a place were I ask myself if I can afford to drive American anymore. When your gear shifter falls off in your hand, and ford has made sure to make the part so it can not be fixed with out replacing the whole column for $1800.00? Were the F??K is the recall?? Lets wait until the truck is in gear when it breaks off and some how causes a death! Are they going to put recalls on all steering columns in these trucks? Heck no, they used them in almost all their SUV'S. I wonder how big of a check they had to write for there not to be a recall? Going to GIVE away my old F-150 to my son.. The Mustang and the SUV are being sold. LATER FORD - NEVER AGAIN!!!

Thanksgiving Day: wife, 6yr old, & 3yr old in tow, I grasp the gear shift in an attempt to shift from Park into Reverse to drive to Grandma's house & SNAP The cheap "ford" gear shift snapped off entirely, it now dangles my just the electrical cord. The key is still in the ignition---It's stuck & now I'm being told $1,200.00 to completely replace the steering column. How about a RECALL ford??? *Perhaps after a catastrophic accident occurs, FORD will get a clue and due what is right. Oh by the way, 2004 Mountaineer, falling apart in 2008 ---Nice. My Vote: No bailout for the Big 3, unless they start taking a proactive approach in offering a quality product for the future.