This is in a 2014 FX4
My shifter was making a cracking sound and was hard to shift past "Drive". When I opened it up, this piece fell out... but I can't figure out what it actually does... or did.
I put the shifter back together without this piece and it seems to act normal, but I am just curious what the purpose is.

Things I tried that work like normal...

First thought was this was for the ratchet feeling when you shift, but it still does that.
I tried to move the shifter out of park without pressing the shifter release - Does not allow (Normal)
I tried to move the shifter out of park without pressing the brake - Does not allow (Normal)
When the shifter is in "drive" it is locked, and I have to press the shifter release to move again. (Normal)
Dash reflects the correct gear I am in.

 

The cylinder rides in those ridged detents and helps you feel a change as you cycle through the gears. It doesn't latch anything so your shifter still works, but it provides tactile feedback as you shift.

 

That was my initial thought, but it still does that without the piece... as far as I can tell it feels exactly the same. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

Other people have had the same issue. It breaks, nothing seems different. Their life continues on. (I presume)

 

good to know. Something had the shifter on my 2012 bound up one morning, I was in a hurry so just kind of forced the shifter back and forth a few times, the broken piece got knocked out of the way and didn't notice any issues. Part of me wanted to open up the console and look, the rest of me figured tabs and such would end up break being 10+ years old and I'd end up with a rattle trap. I'll be leaving it alone.

 

Yeah, i'm curious, but without having the problem or opening mine up, i can't determine it's use