NHTSA Complaint #10808627 — 2010 PORSCHE CAYMAN

DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (55-60 MPH), ATTEMPTED TO DOWNSHIFT DUE TO TRAFFIC AND THE MANUAL GEAR SHIFT LEVER DID NOT RESPOND. IT WAS COMPLETELY LIMP AND SEEMED DISCONNECTED FROM THE SHIFTING ACTION. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO NEGOTIATE THE VEHICLE THROUGH TRAFFIC, TO AN OFF RAMP AND INTO A SAFE PARKING SPOT. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE HAD BROKEN. AFTER SOME RESEARCH I NOTICED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE PORSCHE CAYMAN, SO I'M REPORTING THIS AS IT POSES A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD FOR DRIVERS OF THE VEHICLE AND THOSE AROUND THEM WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS. OBVIOUSLY NOT BEING ABLE TO SHIFT INTO DIFFERENT GEARS WHILE IN ANY SORT OF TRAFFIC CREATES A RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH. THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS APPARENTLY DONE NOTHING TO CORRECT IT. THE REPAIR COSTS ARE ALSO STEEP -- IT COST ME $1,325 FOR THE CABLE TO BE REPLACED, AS WELL AS OVER $100 FOR THE TOW TO THE DEALERSHIP. MY VEHICLE HAS 65,000 MILES ON IT, BUT I HAVE READ OF INCIDENTS WHERE THIS OCCURRED ON VEHICLES WITH FEW MILES AND SOME REPORT IT HAS BROKEN REPEATEDLY. SO I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT NHTSA INVESTIGATE PORSCHE AND URGE THE COMPANY TO ADDRESS THE SAFETY ISSUE WITH A RECALL AND/OR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIR COSTS. THANK YOU. *TR