Gear shifter stuck on 2003 Ford Escape. Stuck in reverse. Can't even start the car. How can I fix this?

Gear shifter stuck on 2003 Ford Escape. Stuck in reverse. Can't even start the car. How can I fix this? - 1

The linkage is bad.

It's a known issue for Fords of that year - included the Explorers and Mazda Tributes. The fix is to have the transmission replaced.

Other recalls for your vehicle are stuck accelerator pedals, lower control arm separation, ABS failures and stalling due to rich air mixtures.

Not a good year for Ford Escapes.

Quite likely you Ave an electrical issue. Make sure your battery is charged up, put foot on brake turn key on, shift. If it won't shift, try rocking the car backwards and frontwards.