Last night my nephew grabbed the shifter an pushed it into reverse while I was driving on the freeway. I was coasting downhill (65 mph) and was not giving it gas. The car immediately died. I pulled to the shoulder reprimanded my nephew, put the car in park and started it back up, then drove the rest of the way home. It seems to be running fine and shifting fine. I am Rod'* wife and have not told him what happened (worried), Can anyone tell me if there is something I should be looking for? I always heard if you put your car in reverse while driving you would rip the transmission out. I can not believe nothing happened except the car died. I park in the garage and today there is no oil or transmission fluid leaking, YET.

thanks,CINDY

we know its not a good thing to do but I cant believe a 1 time incedent would kill your tranny.
Hell back in the day my friends would kill the **** out of rentals(reverse/drive/reverse/drive)
and we never noticed any fluids or major parts falling off
but then again we would return them. and who knows what would
happen to the next renter.

I can only guess here, but if there tires locked up, then you may have issues. If when it was shifted the engine died but the wheels kept turning freely (which is what I think you say happened), you may be fine. I am guessing that the peed sensor and PCM will override the manual controls in this scenario and not allow the transmission to go into reverse at such a speed. These new cars aren't like the old ones where you were in the gear you selected, no matter what. A quick example of this would be when I put my car into 1st and leave it there while accelerating, once I hit the maximum speed for that gear, the car will shift to 2nd, even though I still have it in first. Kinda like making shifting idot proof it that makes sense.

dont you need to be pressing the brake to get reverse?

No, you only need to apply the brake when shifting out of PARK!

This is a touchy subject, but If this were my wife I would appreciate it if she told me that her nephew put the shift lever in reverse while driving on the highway. This is NOT your fault and it sounds like no damage was done!!!
More seriously, I don't how old your nephew is but why wasn't he belted in the back seat?

but you do have to press the shifter button though right?

Sorry, I drive and Oldsmobile.....we don't have no stink'n buttons!!!

my old oldsmobile had one new one has the silly dash mounted shifter

Gumball...remind me never to rent my Bonny to ya for the weekend! LOL