NHTSA complaint: 1998 CHEVROLET ASTRO — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO DISENGAGE IN NEUTRAL AND REVERSE. INADEQUATE SHIFT LEVER DETENT ACTION RESULTS IN INADVERTANT SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. JULY 4, 2001:WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED AT 55 MPH, OPERATOR MISTAKENLY SHIFTS FROM OVERDRIVE INTO NEUTRAL (THINKING HE IS SHIFTING FROM 3RD TO OVERDRIVE). ENGINE BEGINS TO RACE WHEN CRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO DISENGAGE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO OVERDRIVE, OPERATOR SHIFTS INTO LOWER GEAR DUE TO INADEQUATE DETENT ACTION IN SHIFT LEVER. ENGINE RACES FASTER (CRUISE CONTROL STILL ENGAGED). OPERATOR SHIFTS INTO REVERSE WHILE ATTEMPTING TO LOCATE OVERDRIVE DUE TO INADEQUATE DETENT ACTION IN SHIFT LEVER. CRUISE CONTROL REMAINS ENGAGED CAUSING HIGH SPEED REVERSAL OF DRIVE WHEELS RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. VEHICLE SPINS OUT AND ROLLS ON SIDE. CALIFORNIA HIGHWAY PATROL LOCAL REPORT NUMBER 2001070020 (EL DORADO COUNTY).*AK
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation