Accidentally put shifter in reverse at 50 MPH

On my way home from work this evening, I had something slide off the passenger seat that I didn't want to get messed up. I leaned over quickly to catch it (I did) but in the process somehow knocked my shifter up from Drive through Neutral and into Reverse. I immediately noticed it and pulled it back down into Drive, but it was in Reverse for about 1/2 a second. The transmission never blinked. It seemed to stay in Neutral until I pulled it back into Drive. It drove fine all the way home, through heavy traffic, and backing up my driveway, which is a hill, into my garage.

No, I really don't know how the shifter went up-right-up that quickly and easily. But it scared the crap out of me when I saw what had happened.

Is the Tundra tranny really that smart, to avoid what used to be absolutely catastrophic situation?

 

It wont go into reverse, i did it and the same, scared the shit out of me

 

You would have known if it engaged. Scary stuff, but good to know!

 

It’s one way to view your rear view camera while driving. Won’t hurt anything though.

 

So you use this often? I feel much safer using my FRAC to use the rear camera while driving.

Thanks to all who responded! I feel much better now!

 

No, I actually don’t lol. I may have done it a time or two prior when I used to haul my motorcycle on the hitch receiver rack so I could make sure it was still strapped on ok. I had seen others say it didn’t hurt anything prior to trying it though.

 

Happened to my wife in my 4Runner. We were moving my sis in law to Wichita, and the puppy was very unsettled during the drive. At one point while going 75 or so, our dog bumped the shift lever into reverse. I was following along in a UHaul box truck and saw the reverse lights flash. I called my wife and she told me what happened. We stopped at the next exit, didn't see/feel anything wrong, and continued on. Scared the shit out of us though! Good to know Toyota built in some protection to the system...

 

I’ve done it like 4 times cuz I like to manually down shift and accidentally go in reverse. Scares the shit out of me every time.

 

Something to try next time I have a rental Tundra.

 

R is for racing.

 

Be happy it didn’t go up one more spot to Park!!!!

 

Anybody know what speed it disables shifting into reverse at?

 

I’ve been told you can do that in the tundra, but I’ve never tried. I have, however, done it in my old bronco after I rebuilt the transmission and didn’t have the linkage adjusted properly. I had it down in manual First checking how firm the shift command was between 1st and 2nd at redline after installing a shift kit, and while trying to shift to manual second, the linkage bound up. So I pushed up harder on the column shifter until it unbound and threw the shifter all they way up to R with my foot almost floored. No safety on that transmission… it engaged Reverse at 50 MPH…


Magically, it survived - prolly cuz it pitched the car forward so quickly the back tires broke loose and left skid marks on the road. And in my britches. Ended up driving that thing for a few more years before I sold it with no I’ll-effect. At least not that I could see. Luckily.

 

Each time I’ve done it I was on the freeway, so at least 65.

 

So, somewhere between zero and 65... that narrows it down.

 

The computer will prevent you from shifting into a gear that is not safe. The shifter is really just a switch which tells the computer what gear you chose. That includes down shifting. I am curious if it includes 'Park', but I won't be the one to try it.

 

Not sure the Tundra will go into reverse at 55 mph, but the 1999 F-150 will. Oh boy, will it. Same scenario here, tried to catch something from falling over on the passenger seat and ended up with flat spots on my rear tires.

Transmission somehow survived the ordeal.

I guess some safety features are handy in some of our vulnerable moments.

 

There has to be some idiot out there by now that has managed to bypass the idiot proofing and destroy a Tundra tranny.

 

Another reason I love my column shifter lol

 

I can't tell y'all how much of a relief it is to know I am not the only one - and this is the only time in over 40 years of driving that it has ever happened!

I, too, am curious about Park but I'm not willing to test it.

 

Good thing our Tundras are dummy proof cause my wife leaves her hair ties around my shifter and is always messing with it while I'm driving

 

OK!

 

Rob does it with his Taco in this video (skip to 3:25)

 

This is actually a fear of mine. I've thought about that happening on the interstate. I have a 2013 Tundra. Do any of you all think it will also avoid going into reverse then? Has this always been a safety feature? By the way OP, glad nothing serious happened!

 

Back in the first few years of having my 2011, people were discussing this and posting vids of people putting it in reverse at highway speeds. I think it's always been a safety feature, at least starting with the 2nd gen.
I'm guessing your 2013 is good.