Yaris Freetronic-gear Linkage Falls Apart While Driving.

[lletob]

1999 Yaris freetronic 55,200 miles. As my wife was about to join a main road, she moved the gear lever into first gear, heard a slight 'clunk' and the lever went 'floppy' in her hand. She could not change into or out of gear. She switched off the engine and left the car at the junction. When I got to her I was unable to push the car into a safer place as the car was in gear! From under the bonnet I was able to select neutral and push the car somewhere safer.

The AA man came (just as well I kept up my 37 year membership, with this Yaris being so unreliable, twice towed to garage in last 5 years!), a wire clip had come off and parts of the gear lever linkage had separated. What would/could have happened if she had been driving fast and the linkage had separated then? I have searched the web for a site to alert Toyota cars and other Yaris Freetronic owners of our mishap but have found none. So I am posting the information here.