Yes, this happened to me. The release mechanism has fallen apart inside the base unit. If you are handy with a screwdriver this is an easy fix. Open the base and you will see that the nut has separated from the bolt attached to the bottom of the release pedal. Simply reassemble the parts rolling around inside. Sorry for the lack of detail, it was quite some time ago, but I do recall how obvious it was what had happened and how to reassemble it. Good luck!
