Yeah, I can see it being a safety issue with kids/dogs. I don't allow our dogs in the cab of the truck, though (that's what my wife's Mountaineer is for) and our kid is only 6 months. You can bet she won't be in the truck alone when she becomes mobile, though. Or at all, for that matter.

 

there are problems with the late 90's early 2000 ignition locks. The springs for the wafers are weak and tend to jam the lock. Might want to get the lock fixed before it leaves you stranded.

We get these calls all the time. People are on vacation up here. Dodge lock stops working. They have been fighting it for 2 months. Now they cant go skiing or home. Not just the trucks but a wide range of dodge/chrysler products.

If you replace it make sure you key it the same as the doors.

Af far as shifting with out using the brake. The interlock cable or some such may need adjusting.

 

I dont have to depress the brake either to shift mine. That story just makes me shake my head..........some people should just not have kids!

 

The "shift with brake applied" was a safety feature put in for those that drive cars. I guess the government knows that truck folks are smart enough to know what they are doing.
The key coming out usually means the tumblers are getting weak but some ignitions are designed that way.