Ford Escape Shift Interlock 2008
 

My issue is as follows:
• Ford Escape 2008 Automatic
• 86000 miles
• Drove the vehicle from parking space about 500 ft to pick up a passenger
• When I arrive at the pickup point I pressed the brake and placed the vehicle into PARK
• Removed my foot from the brake and the car rolled forward while in PARK!
• I pressed the brake and moved the stick shift from park to drive and back to park
• Removed my foot from the brake and it rolled forward once again.
• I turned the car off
• Found that the car would still roll easily as though it was in Neutral.
• Tried to turn the engine back on and it would not start – dashboard lights and other electrics working normally – brake lights come on.
• Pressed the lockout override and moved the lever to neutral
• Car still will not start.
• After having the car towed home I did some further diagnostics
• I removed the shroud from around the shifting mechanism area.
• When turning the ignition switch I can hear (electrical) activity and feel some action within the shifter area but the car will not start.
Can anyone suggest what I should do next?
Thank You
Bryan

Sounds like a selector cable issue, either the cable itself, or it came out/off of one of the retainers. If you can verify the cable at the manual lever at the trans is actually extending the lever into the Park position. O,r have someone as an aid, shift through the trans ranges and see if it is able to move to PARK. If not, and you manually move the lever into Park and it starts, would indicate a cable or shifter issue..