Dt consumer states when the key is out of the ignition switch, the gear shift can slip to another gear.

- Garfield, NJ, USA

I have now had two incidents where I have accidently/unknowingly moved the floor transmission gear shift from drive to neutral while driving my car. They have both been while proceeding to make a left hand turns with oncoming traffic and were near accidents. The gear shift moves so easily from drive to neutral with just the slightest pressure causing the loss of engine power as it goes into neutral. I didn't realize what had happened when just the force of stopping, before turning, with my hand resting on the shifter pushed it out of gear. The second time just moving my purse onto the console pushed it out of gear. I have owned 4 other vehicles with floor shifters and have never experienced the movement of the shifter without first pressing in the release button. I thought the reason the gear release buttons were installed on vehicles was to prevent the accidental movement of the gear shift. When sitting in this vehicle the only place to comfortably rest your right arm is on the arm rest which then extends to your fingers resting on the ball of the shifter. To access the release button you have to actually go under shifter to press it in, this is a safe procedure, but now that I found out that it does not work that way I am consciously aware of getting into an accident because of it. I now find myself sitting on my right hand while driving and when a passenger is in the front seat I warn them not to bump the shifter while reaching for their drink in the holder. I called the dealer to make sure this was not a defect and he assured me that it was normal design of the car. Is this a normal design of all cars? if it is, it is a very poor design.

- Anoka, MN, USA