NHTSA Complaint #10163234 — 2001 BUICK REGAL

OUR 2001 BUICK REGAL LOST IT'S A/T AT 40,300 MILES, LOCKED OUT OF REVERSE, GEARS 1 & 2. ONLY HAD DRIVE-3. WHY DOES THE GM AND AMERICAN CARS LOSE THEIR A/T MORE SO THAN THE JAPANESE CARS. WE WERE CURSING ON I-5 AT 70 MPH IN CRUISE CONTROL SOUTH OF STOCKTON, CA, WHEN THE CAR GAVE A SLIGHT LURCH, A THUD AND SLOWED DOWN. I STOPPED CHECKED THE TIRES, ALL OK. CHECKED THE ENGINE OIL AND A/T FLUID, ALL OK. PROCEEDED TO OXNARD, CA HAD THE A/T REPAIRED COSTING US SENIORS $3,600--OUCH. THE SHOP SAID THE PLANETARY GEAR AND THE CLUTCH DISKS WERE BROKEN WITH METAL FRAGMENT IS THE PAN. I KNOW IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT GOSH, IT SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER THAN IT DID KONKING OUT AT 40,300. OUR SON DROVE HIS TOYOTA CAMRY 130,00 WITH OUT PROBLEMS, WHY CAN'T AMERICAN CARS BE AS RELIABLE. MY NEXT CAR WILL BE JAPANESE, AND THAT IS A PROMISE. THANKS, LLOYD PEARSON. *NM