NHTSA complaint: 2006 CADILLAC CTS — POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
THE FIRST PROBLEM I ENCOUNTERED WITH THE VEHICLE WAS A BROKEN CLUTCH PEDAL RETURN SPRING THAT HAD FALLEN OUT FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AT 8,850 MILES. THIS WAS REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY. SECOND, I HAD A CADILLAC DEALERSHIP REPLACE THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO A WHINING NOISE AND LEAK PRESENT AT 9,021 MILES. AT THIS TIME I HAD QUESTIONED A CLANK NOISE PRESENT IN THE DRIVELINE WHEN ENGAGING OR DISENGAGING THE CLUTCH. I WAS TOLD THIS IS NORMAL, AND NO PROBLEM WAS PRESENT AT THIS TIME. AT 10,530 MILES, I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM A STOP IN FIRST GEAR. I HAD ACCELERATED TO 20MPH AND SHIFTED INTO SECOND GEAR. I BEGAN ACCELERATING IN SECOND GEAR WHEN THE DRIVELINE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE HAD SPUN 270 DEGREES TO THE RIGHT LOOSING CONTROL. THIS CAUSED THE THE VEHICLE TO HIT THE RIGHT SIDE CURB WITH EXTREME FORCE TO THE LEFT REAR WHEEL, DAMAGING THE REAR SUSPENSION AND DIFFERENTIAL. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED OVER THE CURB WITH ALL FOUR WHEELS AND STOPPED ON A SIDEWALK. THIS ALSO CAUSED CHASSIS AND FRONT SUSPENSION DAMAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MOVE AFTER THE ACCIDENT DUE TO THE CLUTCH NOT ENGAGING. THE CLUTCH PEDAL TRAVEL IS NOW ABOUT 3 INCHES TOTAL OFF THE FLOOR, OPPOSED TO THE ORIGINAL 6 INCH TRAVEL EQUAL TO THE HEIGHT OF THE BRAKE PEDAL. AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND SOLD. AT THIS TIME NO ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN GIVEN BY GENERAL MOTORS. *TR
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — Office of Defects Investigation