NHTSA Complaint #10064022 — 1995 OLDSMOBILE AURORA

I OWN A 1995 OLDSMOBILE AURORA. IN JANUARY 2004 I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN OUT OF NO WHERE THE CAR SHIFTED INTO 2ND GEAR. THIS ABRUBT CHANGE IN GEARS/RPM/ENGINE NOISE NEARLY CAUSED ME TO GET IN A ACCIDENT. THE SHIFT SOLENOID INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION FAILED, AND THE CAR DEFAULTED TO 2ND GEAR. ITS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, AND THERE WAS ACTUALLY A DEALER UPDATE IN 96 OR 1997 FROM GM, WHO BASICALLY ADMITTED A DESIGN FLAW. THIS FLAW ALOWED A FILTER TO SLIDE IN AND OUT OF PLACE CONSTANTLY SMACKING THE SHIFT SOLENIOD WHICH EVENTUALLY CASUED IT TO SNAP. THE UPDATE WAS A L SHAPED BAR TO HOLD THE FILTER IN PLACE. THIS ALSO COST ME ABOUT $400 TO FIX. IF GM RELIEZED THIS SAFTEY FLAW IN ALL OF THERE OLDSMOBILE AURORA'S UP TO 97, AND CADILLACS I BELIEVE IT SHOULD BECOME A RECALL, THIS TYPE OF FALIURE IS NOT ACCEPTABLE, SOMEONE COULD BE SERIOUSLY HURT. *AK