VEHICLE BEGAN TO HAVE DIFFICULTY SHIFTING FROM PARK TO GEAR WITH FOOT ON BRAKE PEDAL. EVENTUALLY COMPLETE FAILURE OF SWITCH MEANT USING THE MANUAL RELEASE FOR TH ENGAGEMENT OF GEAR. UPON IDENTIFYING THIS FAILURE, IT IS NOTED THIS SWITCH ALSO CONTROLS THE BRAKE LIGHTS ON THE REAR EXTERIOR OF VEHICLE, AND PRESENTED A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. NEW SWITCH WAS PURCHASED AND INSTALLED, PROBLEM ELIMINATED. EXACT SAME PROBLEM OCCURED AT SAME MILEAGE ON 1999 VEHICLE FROM SAME MANUFACTURER, AND WAS SOLVED BY REPLACING THE SAME PART. *AK