NHTSA Complaint #10048306 — 1997 CADILLAC CATERA

PROBLEMS GETTING 1997 CADILLAC CATERA ENGINE REPAIRED.*MR ON 08/01/03, VEHICLE STOPPED ON NEW JERSEY TURNPIKE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. MECHANIC ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THE ENGINE, BUT NEEDED A PART FROM AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. ON 08/04/03, CUSTOMER WAS INFORMED THE PART WAS RECALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER. THIS DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE PARTS WERE MISSING/DAMAGED AND WOULD COST THE CONSUMER $100. DOLLARS TO REPAIR BEFORE RECALL COULD BE ADDRESSED. ON 08/06/03, CONSUMER VISITED DEALERSHIP AND SEEN PARTS IN THE TRUNK OFTHE VEHICLE. CONSUME AGREED ALL THE PARTS WERE THERE AND HE WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGED PARTS. AUGUST 14,2003, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED BUT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DAMAGED PARTS (VACUUM STORAGE TANK AND WIRE HARNESS COVER). AUGUST 18,2003 CONSUMER RECEIVED INFORMATION THAT ONE OF THE PARTS WERE ORDERED AND CALLED WEEKLY FOR PROGRESS. HE WAS THEN INFORMED THAT CADILLAC DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND REPAIRS. CONSUMER REQUESTED DOCUMENTATION OF WHAT HE WAS TOLD, BUT WAS DENIED. SEPT. 16,2003, CONSUMER LEARNED VEHICLE WAS READY AND HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR $753.46 DOLLARS BECAUSE CADILLAC WOULDN'T COVER SOME OF THE ENGINE REPAIRS. *PH