Shift Inhibit and a crash

[xctraveler]

I am cross posting from Tiffin Network since this could have been far more tragic.

I will accept that this was an anomalous occurrence. Unfortunately it resulted in the coach hitting 8 cars and essentially destroying the front end.

I pulled into a parking lot and found that there was insufficient room to complete my turnaround. I got out to guide my wife in maneuvering through the lot - this is not an uncommon behavior for us, in tight quarters I will guide and she will drive. She has over 100,000 miles over 15 years driving our coaches. When she attempted to engage D the dash lit up with "shift inhibit" and the shift panel went dark. Instead of shutting down she tried again and the engine revved and the coach jumped forward hitting 8 cars before stopping.

The great news is no one was injured, not even my wife. I was standing just enough off to the side to avoid getting hit myself.

My question is has anyone else experienced an issue with shift inhibit and subsequent loss of control? FL has declined to inspect the coach unless my Insurer insists. I will let it drop unless I hear about other instances even if no damage was done.

[xctraveler]

Reading all the comments I have two of my own at this point.
1. Shift from N to D or R requires foot on Brake
2. E Brake OFF, coach in N no foot on service brake generates warning sound and notice BRAKE NOT SET (approx wording) on the Shift Pad (?)

My wife did not hear or see the latter warning.
Operator error is the easy out for all parties except us!

[Two_Jayhawks]

Yikes 8 cars......thank goodness she got it stopped it's a miracle there were no injuries.

[Bruce_Brown]

Tgator1 wrote:
What if ...driver was pushing brake pedal? Vehicles sometimes do strange things. Easy to say driver error, but may stop a thorough investigation which could save lives.

The strength of the brakes far exceeds the strength of not yet moving motorhome.

Try it sometime; hold the brake with one foot then try to accelerate with the other - you won't move.

I feel bad for everyone involved. This is a no win for anyone and I'm certainly not throwing anyone under the bus - no pun intended.

[Tgator1]

Makes me think about the property damage liability insurance I carry. Eight vehicles and if the average amount of damage was $15,000, $50k or 100k of insurance would not be enough!

[Tgator1]

What if ...driver was pushing brake pedal? Vehicles sometimes do strange things. Easy to say driver error, but may stop a thorough investigation which could save lives.

[Jarlaxle]

No kidding. Someone there has an ax to grind and just deletes EVERYTHING from some posters.

If this is like every other electronic (touch pad) Allison I have seen, it should NOT go from neutral to drive or reverse unless the brake pedal is being pressed.

[mike_brez]

Nothing like ATC

[Ranger_Smith]

Old-Biscuit wrote:

doublev wrote:

xctraveler wrote:
When she attempted to engage D the dash lit up with "shift inhibit" and the shift panel went dark. Instead of shutting down she tried again and the engine revved and the coach jumped forward hitting 8 cars before stopping.

Sorry to say but I think she hit the accelerator and not the brake. Here is why
1. When going into D, she should have held the brake. If she did, no way coach would have jumped forward
2. Engine revved. She didnt hit brake; hit gas by accident. Transmission doesnt give fuel
3. Shift inhibit happens when engine is revved -- wont go into gear. But apparently the second go around she probably lifted the accelerator, hit D, then went to hit the brake and hit the gas by accident.

Simple accident. Sorry it happened... I wouldnt worry about the coach at all

Strange....

I posted 'operator error' yesterday afternoon and My post was deleted.
Now others have same opinion and their postings remain. :H

Strange how the things just disappear here . . . censorship???

[Old-Biscuit]

doublev wrote:

xctraveler wrote:
When she attempted to engage D the dash lit up with "shift inhibit" and the shift panel went dark. Instead of shutting down she tried again and the engine revved and the coach jumped forward hitting 8 cars before stopping.

Sorry to say but I think she hit the accelerator and not the brake. Here is why
1. When going into D, she should have held the brake. If she did, no way coach would have jumped forward
2. Engine revved. She didnt hit brake; hit gas by accident. Transmission doesnt give fuel
3. Shift inhibit happens when engine is revved -- wont go into gear. But apparently the second go around she probably lifted the accelerator, hit D, then went to hit the brake and hit the gas by accident.

Simple accident. Sorry it happened... I wouldnt worry about the coach at all

Strange....

I posted 'operator error' yesterday afternoon and My post was deleted.
Now others have same opinion and their postings remain. :H

[georgelesley]

mike brez wrote:
X2,What he said :R

+3, BUT let's not be hard on the driver. We all have made such errors and afterwards not even realized what we did and will deny it to our last breath. The good news is he still loves her and no one was hurt.

[mike_brez]

X2,What he said :R

[doublev]

xctraveler wrote:
When she attempted to engage D the dash lit up with "shift inhibit" and the shift panel went dark. Instead of shutting down she tried again and the engine revved and the coach jumped forward hitting 8 cars before stopping.

Sorry to say but I think she hit the accelerator and not the brake. Here is why
1. When going into D, she should have held the brake. If she did, no way coach would have jumped forward
2. Engine revved. She didnt hit brake; hit gas by accident. Transmission doesnt give fuel
3. Shift inhibit happens when engine is revved -- wont go into gear. But apparently the second go around she probably lifted the accelerator, hit D, then went to hit the brake and hit the gas by accident.

Simple accident. Sorry it happened... I wouldnt worry about the coach at all

[naturist]

I'm just glad no one was injured.

[ILVMYGT]

Should this be reported to the NSTB? They would be the ones collecting the data to determine if it is a wide spread problem.