2001 Land Rover Discovery Ii

I PULLED CAR INTO A PARKING PLACE, TURNED OFF THE CAR, REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION WITHOUT REALIZING THE CAR WAS IN "DRIVE." WHEN I RETURNED, THE CAR HAD ROLLED ACROSS THE PARKING LOT HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE. I SPOKE WITH THE LR DEALERSHIP WHO CONFIRMED THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE AND WAS ACCUSED OF LEAVING THE CAR IN "NEUTRAL." I TESTED THIS THEORY TO FIND THAT I COULD REMOVE THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION IN ANY GEAR. THE LR REPRESENTATIVE ADVISED THAT A PLASTIC PART IN THE STEERING COLUMN OCCASIONALLY BREAKS PERMITTING THE KEY TO BE REMOVED WITH THE SHIFTER IN GEARS OTHER THAN "PARK." I WAS ADVISED TO MAKE SURE TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UNTIL I SELL THE CAR. *TR

WE WERE IN ROUTE TO MY NIECES GRADUATION ON ROUTE 76 WHICH IS A 55 MPH ROAD. WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING THE FRONT DRIVE SHAFT AT ABOUT 45 MPH CAME APART FROM THE TRANSMISSION SIDE AND CAUSED THE FRONT TIRES TO LOCK UP SENDING MYSELF ,MY WIFE AND MY NEPHEW CAREENING OFF THE ROAD. WE WERE VERY LUCKY, NARROWLY MISSING A POLE. THE TRUCK ITSELF WAS NOT DAMAGED BY THE ACCIDENT BECAUSE WE STAYED ON BASICALLY GRASS, BUT IT SCARED US ALL. HOWEVER THE TRUCK WAS DAMAGED BY THE DRIVE SHAFT SEVERELY, AS IT TORE UP EVERYTHING IN ITS PATH. THE SPEEDO CABLE, EXHAUST, AND IT PUNCHED A HOLE IN THE TOP OF THE TRANSMISSION DESTROYING IT. I HAVE THE OLD DRIVE SHAFT(WHAT'S LEFT OF IT) AND ALREADY PURCHASED A NEW ONE NOT REALIZING AT THAT POINT THAT THE TRANNY WAS DESTROYED UNTIL I REPLACED IT AND TOOK A CLOSER LOOK. THIS TRUCK WAS PURCHASED NEW BY MY MOTHER IN LAW AND WAS PASSED DOWN TO US ON OUR WEDDING DAY. I DO KNOW A FEW THINGS ABOUT CARS AND THIS IS ONE OF THEM, THIS HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF DESIGN FLAW. DRIVE SHAFTS IN MY EXPERIENCE DO NOT JUST BLOW APART WITH NO WARNING AND WITH NO SAFETY STRAP EITHER. WE ALL MADE IT OUT OF THIS OK, BUT I WOULD SO SADDENED IF THEIR WERE INJURIES TO MY FAMILY DUE TO A 250 DOLLAR POORLY DESIGNED PART. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THREE TIMES THE VEHICLE ROLLED OFF ON ITS OWN WHILE IN THE PARK POSITION. THE LAST INCIDENT THE VEHICLE KNOCKED THE CONTACT OVER AND HIT TWO VEHICLES. ALL INCIDENTS HAPPENED ON FLAT GROUND. THE LAST TIME THIS OCCURRED INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE TWO VEHICLES. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED. THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL, # 00V377000, REGARDING THE POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL.