LEAKED AUDIO: Dashcam Picks Up Unusual Clicking Noise 11 Seconds Before Crash — Mechanics Say It Resembles Transmission Error
🎧 Just 3 clicks. Then silence. Then chaos. What was happening under the hood?
LEAKED AUDIO: Dashcam Captures Clicking Noise 11 Seconds Before Diogo Jota’s Crash — Transmission Error Suspected
The devastating crash on July 3, 2025, that claimed the lives of Liverpool FC star Diogo Jota, 28, and his brother André Silva, 26, on Spain’s A-52 highway near Cernadilla, Zamora, has taken another dramatic turn with the release of leaked dashcam audio. Recorded by a vehicle trailing Jota’s £180,000 Lamborghini Huracán Evo Spyder, the audio captures three distinct clicking noises 11 seconds before the car veered off the road at 213 km/h (132 mph) and erupted in flames. Mechanics analyzing the sound suggest it resembles a transmission error, potentially signaling a critical failure under the hood. This new evidence, combined with prior findings of a tire blowout, right rear brake failure, engine bay smoke, a steering fluid leak, ECU issues, and a locked door, paints a complex picture of mechanical chaos. What were those three clicks, and what was happening under the hood in the moments before the tragedy?
The Leaked Audio: A Haunting Clue
The dashcam audio, circulated on platforms like X and obtained from a vehicle approximately 30 meters behind Jota’s Lamborghini, captures a faint but unmistakable sequence of three clicking noises at 00:30:01 local time, 11 seconds before the crash. The clicks, described as sharp and metallic, occur over a span of roughly 1.5 seconds, followed by silence until the sounds of screeching tires and the crash at 00:30:12. The timing places the clicks just before the previously reported engine bay smoke (00:30:12) and the 14.2-meter steering fluid trail (00:30:21.76), suggesting a mechanical issue that preceded the chain of failures.
Mechanics consulted by Spanish investigators, as reported by sources like The Sun, identify the clicks as resembling a transmission error, possibly from the Huracán’s seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) failing to engage or slipping under high load. The audio adds a new dimension to the investigation, pointing to yet another system failure in a vehicle already plagued by multiple defects.
Transmission Error: What the Clicks Could Mean
The Lamborghini Huracán’s DCT is a high-performance system designed to deliver seamless gear changes at speeds up to 325 km/h (202 mph). Controlled by the ECU and integrated with the car’s traction and stability systems, the transmission relies on precise coordination of clutches, actuators, and hydraulic fluid. A failure in this system could produce audible clicks and catastrophic consequences, especially at 213 km/h. Mechanics propose several scenarios for the clicking noise:
Clutch Slip or Failure: The three clicks could indicate the dual clutches failing to engage properly, causing a momentary loss of power to the wheels. This would produce a metallic clicking sound as the clutch plates misalign or slip under high torque. At 213 km/h, during an overtaking maneuver, such a failure could destabilize the car, contributing to the 32° leftward veer seen on CCTV.
Actuator or Solenoid Malfunction: The DCT uses electro-hydraulic actuators and solenoids to shift gears. A failing actuator, possibly due to wear or hydraulic fluid contamination, could produce clicking noises as it struggles to engage. This aligns with the 14.2-meter steering fluid trail, suggesting a broader hydraulic system issue affecting both steering and transmission.
Gearbox Synchronization Issue: If the transmission’s synchronizers failed to align gears correctly, the system could produce clicks as it attempts to force a shift. This would disrupt power delivery, potentially causing a sudden loss of traction or control, especially in conjunction with the tire blowout and brake failure.
ECU-Driven Miscommunication: The ECU’s role in managing the transmission, as evidenced by the two failed start attempts earlier that day, suggests an AI calibration lag could have caused the clicks. If the ECU sent incorrect signals to the transmission, it might have attempted to shift gears inappropriately, producing the audible error and destabilizing the car.
The clicks’ timing—11 seconds before the crash and just before the engine bay smoke—suggests the transmission issue may have been an early trigger in the sequence of failures, exacerbating the subsequent tire blowout, brake failure, and steering loss.
What Was Happening Under the Hood?
The three clicks, followed by silence and then chaos, point to a cascading failure under the hood. Integrating the audio with prior evidence, the sequence of events can be reconstructed:
July 2, Morning: Two failed start attempts in Porto indicate ECU issues, potentially affecting the transmission’s calibration.
July 3, 00:30:01: Dashcam audio captures three metallic clicks, likely from a transmission error, as Jota drives at 213 km/h during an overtaking maneuver on the A-52.
00:30:02: The black box records a right rear brake failure, causing initial instability.
00:30:12: Dashcam footage shows smoke from the engine bay, possibly from a fuel system leak or overheating, which may have been triggered by the transmission issue disrupting engine performance.
00:30:21.76: A 14.2-meter steering fluid trail begins, indicating a hydraulic failure that likely froze the steering, leading to the 32° leftward veer captured on CCTV.
00:30:22: The right rear tire blowout, likely caused by the A-52’s poor road surface, exacerbates the loss of control.
00:30:24: The car crashes, rolls, and ignites, with the driver’s side door locked from the inside and jammed, requiring hydraulic tools to open. The rapid fire, fueled by a suspected fuel leak, traps Jota and Silva.
00:30:30: The blaze engulfs the wreckage and nearby vegetation, rendering rescue impossible.
The clicks suggest the transmission error was a pivotal moment, potentially disrupting power delivery and contributing to the car’s instability before the tire blowout and other failures took hold. At 213 km/h, covering 59 meters per second, a transmission fault would have given Jota less than a second to react, compounding the 2.7-second survival window estimated by engineers.
Why Was the Transmission Issue Not Detected?
The failure to identify the transmission issue before the crash raises critical questions:
Maintenance Neglect: The Huracán’s transmission requires regular checks of hydraulic fluid, clutch wear, and actuator function. Jota’s travel schedule—driving from Porto to Santander due to a lung procedure—may have delayed maintenance, allowing a transmission fault to go unnoticed.
Recall Oversights: The Huracán faced recalls for fuel lines, EPS sensors, and crash protection brackets, but none specifically targeted the transmission. However, a 2017 recall for related Lamborghini models addressed DCT issues, suggesting potential vulnerabilities. If Jota’s car missed these updates, a latent defect could have persisted.
ECU Integration: The ECU’s role in the failed starts and potential transmission misfire indicates a systemic electronic issue. A software lag or sensor failure could have prevented the transmission from signaling a problem to the driver.
Road Stress: The A-52’s “goat track” condition, with potholes and a hidden dip linked to a near-fatal crash eight days earlier, likely stressed the transmission, especially during high-speed overtaking. The clicks may have resulted from a sudden impact exacerbating a pre-existing fault.
Implications for Supercar Safety
The clicking noise, suggestive of a transmission error, underscores the fragility of high-performance vehicles under extreme conditions:
Redundant Systems: Transmissions and ECUs need backup mechanisms to prevent failures at high speeds, such as manual gear overrides or secondary processors.
Enhanced Diagnostics: Real-time monitoring for transmission and hydraulic issues could alert drivers to faults before they escalate.
Recall Compliance: Manufacturers must ensure owners address recalls, particularly for interconnected systems like the ECU and transmission.
Road Improvements: The A-52’s hazardous state, criticized on X as “rife with issues,” demands urgent repairs to reduce stress on vehicles.
This incident echoes tragedies like José Antonio Reyes’ 2019 crash, where mechanical issues were suspected, highlighting the need for stricter supercar safety standards.
A Tragic Loss
Diogo Jota, a cornerstone of Liverpool’s 2024/25 Premier League title and Portugal’s Nations League victory, and his brother André, a midfielder for FC Penafiel, were mourned worldwide. Their deaths, 11 days after Jota’s wedding to Rute Cardoso, left their three young children and family devastated. Tributes from Cristiano Ronaldo, Jürgen Klopp, and fans reflect their enduring legacy.
The three clicks captured 11 seconds before the crash, resembling a transmission error, add a haunting layer to the Huracán’s cascade of failures. Whether triggered by an ECU lag, hydraulic issue, or road-induced stress, this evidence demands accountability from Lamborghini and Spanish authorities. As the investigation continues, the hope is that Jota and Silva’s deaths drive reforms to prevent such heartbreak.
