NHTSA Complaint #11079551 — 2008 CADILLAC SRX

EVENT: WHILE DRIVING SOUTH ON US 231 S (MEMORIAL PKY) IN HUNTSVILLE AL, TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED WITH ENGINE STILL RUNNING. NO PRIOR WARNING SYMPTOMS-NO SOUND-NO VIBRATION-NO LOCK UP-EITHER SOME PART BECAME UNCOUPLED OR TRANSMISSION "SHIFTED" INTO NEUTRAL OR SOME PART FAILED SUCH AS INPUT SHAFT. WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO AN EXIT RAMP, BUT UNABLE TO MOVE TO FAR RIGHT SHOULDER FOR SAFETY DUE TO TRAFFIC VOLUME. CAME TO STOP ABOUT 50 YARDS SOUTH OF INTERSECTION WITH MARTIN ROAD ON A STEEP INCLINE IN 3RD LANE OF 4 LANE EXIT RAMP. SHUT OFF ENGINE AND APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKES TO PREVENT ROLLING BACKWARDS INTO ON COMING VEHICLES. REQUESTED TOW VEHICLE AND POLICE ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT REAR END COLLISION. VEHICLE CURRENTLY IN STORAGE. SLIDING METAL SOUND WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED, THEN NO NOISE. FAINT GRINDING WHEN TRANSMISSION SHIFTER IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. NONE IN NEUTRAL. INTEND TO HAVE TRANSMISSION-TORQUE CONVERTER-RING GEAR-INPUT SHAFT REPLACED AS REQUIRED OR INSTALL USED OR FACTORY REBUILT TRANSMISSION AND KEEP ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION FOR FORENSIC DISASSEMBLY. QUICK INSPECTION UNDER VEHICLE REVEALED NO OBVIOUS DAMAGE. NO FLUID LEAKS AT SCENE OR FAILURE OR AT STORAGE LOCATION. TRANSMISSION CASE APPEARS FREE OF FLUID LEAKS. DRIVE SHAFT COUPLINGS APPEAR UNDAMAGED. HAVE OWNED VEHICLE ONLY FOR ABOUT 8000 MILES. PURCHASED FROM CARMAX JULY 2017. NO KNOWN PREVIOUS TRANSMISSION REPAIRS. TRANSMISSION DESIGNED WITHOUT "DIP STICK" FOR TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL CHECK. WHAT IS STATISTICAL DATA FOR 2008-2009 GM VEHICLES IN GENERAL OR OTHER GM VEHICLES WITH SAME TRANSMISSION. SHIFTER ON CONSOLE. PARKING PALL STILL ENGAGES WHEN IN PARK POSITION. SUDDEN FAILURE PRESENTS A DEFINITE SAFETY RISK. HAD THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 3 MILES SOONER, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN WORSE ON I-565 5-6 LANES WIDE IN "RUSH" HOUR TRAFFIC. 77000 MILES SEEMS STATISTICALLY VERY LOW MILES FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE.