My shifter has been feeling a bit sloppy lately, and after 292,000 miles I just figured it was time for me to install the new shift cable that has been in my tool box for over a year now..
Well, yesterday while the truck was idling it popped into reverse all by itself and started backing up... Luckily I was sitting in the truck playing with my phone so I was able to stop it before I backed thru my neighbors yard.
This morning I parked it at work and while I was walking away it slipped out of park and started rolling across the lot.

Out came the new cable & while I was installing it I found the real problem. It wasn't the cable at all. It WAS the metal bracket that holds the shift cable to the steering column.
Two bolts secure the bracket and BOTH were loose, one was backed out about a half inch.
A few drops of Locktite and a Torxbit driver later both bolts were secure & the shifter feels new again. No more slop, just a solid notch for every gear.

You may want to give your cable bracket a quick check if your shifter has lost its new notchy feel. Just follow your shift cable up under the column. There is a plastic clip that is molded into the cable sheath and it clips into this "metal bracket" Make sure both Torx bolts on that bracket are nice and snug.
Ok, it's not the best pic. But you'll see the bracket if you follow the cable.

 

Had that happen to me once upon a time, only one of the bolts fell completely out at my feet and truck wouldn't go into park. Took me a little bit to find out where that pesky little bolt was suppose to reside at.

 

Already had mine loosen up too but I got to them right away after reading about the problem somewhere.

Who remembers the big Ford recall years ago for this very same problem? If I recall it was in the eighties. I don't know the cause or the fix of the original problem but the issue was the same, Ford vehicles were slipping out of park and rolling away.

 

Nice tip!
My wife's truck had those bolts come loose. They went back in with some Loctite.

 

Thanks for the heads up Frank.

 

Super common problem on many fords not just our super duties. Glad it didn't end up worse. Spread the awareness

 

thanks frank, I'll have to check that out. mine may be slightly loose, it does feel a little soft at times.

 

yep just did wifes bronco this past summer good as new

 

also seen the shifter assy break down top of column causing very sloppy shifting

 

My shifter is loose. I need to check that. Thanks

 

definitely will be checking mine when i get home, i have a pretty playful shifter. i think its from all the plowing i did a couple winters ago going from reverse to drive almost constantly doing driveways and what not.

 

Def check it. Mine has always had a worn out feeling to it, but after tightening those two bolts my shifter feels like a brand new truck.

 

just remember if using locktite use blue color otherwise youll be using a torch to brake the red stuff loose just incase you have to replace shifter

 

Just checked mine and I had one lose so I just tightened it up since all my locktite is in FL and im still in SC till tuesday then its I95 south.

 

Frank, thanks for the heads up. Funny story, well its funny now. Responded to an
accident when I was a cop, and parked the patrol car in the appropriate position, and while doing my report, someone yelled, hey buddy ,your car! I looked over to see the patrol car had gone into reverse and ran into another car. Should have seen me trying to explain that. Well it turned out to be the problem mentioned above about Fords slipping out of park.