http://www.cleveland19.com/story/36477879/did-cedar-points-top-thrill-dragster-have-a-potentially-dangerous-incident-recently
news article on Top Thrill Dragster's catch car incident.
Kingda Ka had a similar incident when it opened in 2005. A bolt failed inside a trough that the launch cable travels through. This caused the liner to come loose creating friction on the cable and preventing the train from accelerating to the correct speed. The rubbing of the cable against the inside of the metal trough caused sparks and shards of metal to fly out from the bottom of the train. The launch cable and brake fins had to be replaced.
NJ inspectors forced Great Adventure to modify the queue line away from the launch track (it went under the track and zigzagged through the infield) for safety reasons. If that incident didn't occur, and how cautious inspectors have been to the ride since, people in the coaster forums might consider Kingda Ka as the better strata-coaster.
Given Cedar Point's maintenance record, I don't think the coaster will face a steady demise, but it looks like a complete refurbishment of the launch track is coming. The park has got a long winter ahead of them.