2009 Cadillac Cts

The contact owns a 2009 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that while at a traffic light, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal sound. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who informed the contact about Technical Service Bulletin:10-07-30-005a (Transmission output shaft and transfer case input shearing). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY ROLLED BACKWARDS OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND CRASHED INTO A FIRE HYDRANT AND A TREE. BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOORS WERE BENT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. AUTO STAR (4395 BUFORD HWY, PEACHTREE CORNERS, GA 30071, (770) 446-8772) TOWED THE VEHICLE AWAY AND DECLARED IT DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE DEALER WAS SUING THE CONTACT FOR THE REMAINING BALANCE OWED FOR THE VEHICLE. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT PAYING THE CLAIM BECAUSE THEY STATED THERE WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT THAT CAUSED THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

AT UNDER 90,000 MILES MY 2009 CADILLAC CTS AWD STARTED TO MAKE A THUMPING NOISE WHEN I SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. THIS HAPPENED FOR 3 DAYS. ON THE 4TH DAY I DROVE TO MY OFFICE, PARKED IN A PARKING RAMP. WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE FOR THE DAY I GOT IN MY CAR TO GO HOME, THE CAR STARTED AND MOVED INTO GEAR, BUT AS I APPROACHED THE EXIT GATE, WHICH IS ON A HILL IT, CAR ABRUPTLY MADE A GRINDING NOISE AND WOULD NO LONGER MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. THERE WERE CARS LINED UP TO EXIT THE PARKING RAMP BEHIND ME. I WAS FORTUNATE TO ACT QUICKLY AND USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM ROLLING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAD TO GET ASSISTANCE FROM OTHER DRIVERS AND SECURITY GUARDS TO HELP PUSH THE CAR OUT OF THE RAMP EXIT LANE. WITH NO NOTICE OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILURE I COULD HAVE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY AND HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY STOPPED WORKING. AS IT IS, I WAS LUCKY NOT TO HAVE ROLLED BACK INTO OTHER CARS. I CALLED THE DEALER TO REPORT THE ISSUE AND THEY SAID IT SOUNDED LIKE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A SERVICE STATION WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACE AT A COST OF OVER $4,000.00. THERE WERE NO "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHTS REGARDING THE TRANSMISSION. THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED AT MY MILEAGE AND USE RATE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND THAT NO-ONE ELSE HAD EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. I FIND HUNDREDS OF REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE ONLINE. AT THE PRICE I PAID FOR THIS CAR IT SHOULD HAVE LASTED ANOTHER 10 YEAR. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS FAILING. A TRANSMISSION SHOULD NOT DIE AT LESS THAN 100,000 MILES. THERE ARE NUMEROUS REPORTS SHOWING THAT THIS PROBLEM IS NOT UNIQUE TO MY CAR. THIS HAS TO BE A FAULTY PART AND A RECALL SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED.

THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ROUTINELY MAKES LOUD GRINDING AND CLUNKING NOISES WHEN MAKING SLOW TURNS AT PARKING LOT SPEEDS WHEN COOL AND JUST STARTING TO BE OPERATED. THIS PROBLEMS WAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE 3 TIMES AND THE DEALER STATES IT IS NORMAL AND AN EXPECTED THING THAT MAY OCCUR. I DISAGREE, GRINDING GEARS AND/OR CLUTCHES ARE NOT NORMAL OR SAFE. MY CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW ON 10/30/09 1ST SERVICE CAME ON 10/25/13 AT 36,605 MILES THE PROBLEM WAS DESCRIBED AT THE SERVICE APPT TO "DIAGNOSE RUBBING NOISE WHEN MAKING SLOW SHARP TURNS, GOES AWAY AFTER WARMED UP. NOISE COMES FROM REAR OF VEHICLE." THE RESOLUTION AT THE TIME WAS TO DO "AS PER DOCUMENT #3402587 FLUSHED GEAR OIL FROM REAR DIFF AND REPLACED WITH AN UPDATED FLUID. 2ND SERVICE CAME ON 3/21/17 AT 64,269 MILES THE PROBLEM WAS DESCRIBED AT THE SERVICE APPT TO "DIAGNOSE GRAVELY GRINDING SOUND FROM REAR OF VEHICLE WHEN MAKING TIGHT TURNS AT PARKING SPEEDS. ALSO NOTICEABLE 25-30 MPH." THE DIAGNOSIS AND RESOLUTION THIS TIME WAS AGAIN "TEST DROVE FOR GRINDING NOISE WHILE MAKING TIGHT TURNS. WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE CONCERN FOUND COMING FROM REAR DIFF. PER DOC ID 4013532 RECOMMEND SERVICING REAR DIFF WITH NEW FLUID. NEW FLUID HAS ADDITIVE THAT WILL LAST LONGER AND DOES NOT BREAK DOWN OVER TIME. SERVICED REAR DIFF AND TEST DROVE FOUND NOISE WENT AWAY, NO OTHER REPAIR NEEDED." 3RD SERVICE CAME AT 6/18/18, AT 71,678 MILES. THE CAR IS PRESENTLY IN THE SHOP FOR DIAGNOSIS AND SERVICE. THIS IS ONLY 7,396 MILES SINCE THE PRIOR SERVICE. THE PROBLEM WAS DESCRIBED AS "INSPECT FOR GRAVELY SOUND WHEN MAKING TURNS **REAR DIFF SERVICE DONE FOR THIS RO#394816 3/22/17 #881." THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THIS IS THAT THIS IS NOT A NORMAL AND EXPECTED PROBLEM AND COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IF THE REAR TRANSAXLE FAILS WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED DUE TO A GEAR OR CLUTCH FAILURE. GM KNOWS OF THIS PROBLEM BASED ON THE FACT THEY HAVE 2+ BULL