NHTSA Complaint #10550630 — 2008 SCION XD

I WAS DRIVING TO A JOB INTERVIEW. INITIALLY THERE WAS A SLIGHT GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THIS SOUND WOULD OCCUR ONLY WHEN THE ACCELERATION PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. WHILE STILL ON THE FREEWAY, THE GRINDING SOUND PROGRESSED AND THERE WAS INCREASED RESISTANCE (WITH PRESSURE ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND MAKE A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE). WHILE STILL ON THE FREEWAY, AND IN 5TH GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION GAVE OUT, AND BEING IN 5TH GEAR WAS AS IF BEING IN NEUTRAL (NO ACCELERATION AT ALL, ENGINE WOULD REV WHEN PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL). I WAS LUCKY THAT I DID NOT GET IN A CRASH AT 70 MILES PER HOUR. AFTER PULLING OVER, I TRIED THE REMAINING GEARS AND THEY MADE THE SAME TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE, AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALER. AFTER INSPECTION, I WAS TOLD THAT THE BEARINGS AND GEARS CAME APART WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION, AND THAT IT WAS DUE TO AN INTRINSIC DEFECT OF THE TRANSMISSION. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE CAR AND HAVE MAINTAINED THE CAR RELIGIOUSLY. IT HIS HIGHLY UNUSUAL TO HAVE A 2008 SCION XD MANUAL 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAIL AT 86,000 MILES. I HAVE NOT ABUSED THE CAR AND IT WAS IN GREAT CONDITION. I HAD TO PAY $4,000 DOLLARS FOR THE DEALER TO INSTALL A NEW TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH. I FEEL THAT I GOT RIPPED OFF BUYING THIS CAR AS THERE IS NO WARRANTY THAT WOULD COVER THIS EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE AND HIGHLY DANGEROUS FAULTY TRANSMISSION. I THINK IT WOULD BE PRUDENT TO HAVE THIS TRANSMISSION RECALLED, AND CEASED FROM PRODUCTION AS SERIOUS BODILY HARM AND DEATH COULD HAVE RESULTED TO MYSELF AND OTHERS FROM THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TR