Yes, this broken shift lever is an increasingly common failure. The
location of the failures I have seen was at the dimple for the set screw
that holds the collar at the top of the spring. The lever cracks at this
spot and the lever become floppy just before it snaps entirely.

Mark

Syncro86VW@aol.com wrote:
>
> I was driving along when I noticed that my hand was hitting the dash board
> when shifting into 1st and 3rd.  Then I had to take my hand off and shift
> from below the knob in order to get into 1st and 3rd.  I thought that the
> adjustment underneath the van was coming lose.  On my next shift from first
> to second the lever broke completely off at the plate and I was waving it
> around.
>
> Luckily it made the shift into second before coming off and I was in the
> city.  I was able to drive to the mechanics which was not to far away.
>
> This ever happen to anyone else?
>
>