NHTSA Complaint #10165815 — 2001 BUICK REGAL

2001 BUICK REGAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. *KB WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE HAVE A SLIGHT LURCH, A WEAK THUD AND IT KICKED DOWN FROM DRIVE TO THIRD GEAR. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO A REST STOP AND WHEN HE WAS GETTING READY TO LEAVE, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE IN REVERSE, FIRST OR SECOND GEAR. IT WOULD ONLY LURCH FORWARD WHEN IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR FACILITY WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE PLANETARY HAD A BROKEN GEAR, SOME DAMAGED CLUTCH DISKS AND METAL FRAGMENTS IN THE PAN. THE CONSUMER DIDN'T GET TOO FAR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN HE SMELLED FUMES AND SAW BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER, OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CONSUMER AND A POLICE OFFICER OBSERVED A DAMP SPOT ON THE GROUND WHICH TURNED OUT TO BE TRANSMISSION FLUID. WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STICK WAS CHECKED IT SHOWED THERE WAS NO FLUID. A HAIRLINE CRACK WAS DISCOVERED IN THE LEFT COVER AND WHEN IT BECAME HOT, IT EXPANDED FORCING OUT FLUID. *JB