NHTSA Complaint #10522532 — 2006 CADILLAC XLR

WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT I PLACED CAR IN REVERSE AND IT BACKED UP AS IT SHOULD. WHEN I PLACED GEAR IN FORWARD AND STEPPED ON ACCELERATOR THE CAR STILL WENT REARWARD ALMOST STRIKING ANOTHER VEHICLE. AT THAT POINT VEHICLE ONLY HAD REVERSE AND NEEDED TO BE TOWED FOR SHIFT CABLE REPLACEMENT. THIS SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN ON 6/27/13 AT 42874 MILES ONLY THIS TIME CABLE SNAPPED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO GO IN REVERSE AND INSTEAD WENT FORWARD ALMOST STRIKING A PEDESTRIAN. IN TALKING WITH OTHER OWNERS OF XLRS,THREE OTHER OWNERS HAVE COMPLAINED OF SAME PROBLEM. DEALER EMPLOYEE ADMITTED TO ME THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL INCIDENTS SIMILAR TO MINE. OBVIOUSLY, WHEN PLACING GEAR SELECTOR IN A PARTICULAR MODE THAT IS THE DIRECTION YOU EXPECT THE VEHICLE TO GO. AS A MEMBER OF AN XLR CAR CLUB I WILL ADVISE OTHER OWNERS TO BE AWARE BUT THIS PROBLEM NEEDS YOUR NATIONAL ATTENTION TO AVOID ANY POSSIBLE INJURIES. *TR