NHTSA Complaint #10126504 — 1997 CADILLAC SEVILLE

1. NO INJURY, NO CRASH, WIFE COMPLAINED OF BREAKPEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR AS SHE BACKED OUT OF THE GARAGE - I OBSERVED LARGE AMOUNTS OF BREAK FLUID IN DRIVEWAY. I INSTRUCTED HER TO GET OUT AND SHUT IT OFF- MESSAGE CENTER ALSO WARNED OF BRAKE FAILURE. 2. STEEL BRAKE LINE CHAFED AGAINST THE FRAME OF '97 SEVILLE STS - FACTORY INSTALLATION/DESIGN WITH CLEARANCE TOO TIGHT IN THE LOCATION WHERE THE LINE CROSSES OVER THE FRAME TO THE TERMINAL BRACKED AT THE REAR WHEEL - WORE THROUGH THE BRAKE LINE. I'VE OWNED THE CAR SINCE NEW AND THERE WAS NEVER A DAMAGE OR A REPAIR IN THE AREA WHERE IT WORE THROUGH. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY SERIOUS CLASS DEFECT AS THE LOCATION OF THE WEAR THROUGH IS NOT IN A SERVICE AREA OF THE CAR AND THERE IS NO WARNING OF AN EMINENT FAILURE. 3. I USED A HACKSAW TO CUT OUT THE WORN PORTION OF THE BREAK LINE AND USING COMPRESSION FITTING FROM THE HARDWARE STORE AND A NEW BRAKE LINE SECTION FROM THE AUTO PARTS STORE RE-ROUTED THE LINE AWAY FROM THE FRAME THAT CUT THE ORIGINAL LINE. I HAVE THE WORN LINE AND DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF IT AND THE FAILURE BEFORE REMOVAL. THERE NEEDS TO BE A SERVICE RECALL INSPECTION OF ALL '97 SEVILLES TO SEE IF THIS IS OCCURING ON EVERY OR MOST MODELS. THE GROMETS AND BRACKETS THAT POSITION THIS LINE ARE MOST LIKELY COMMON ON ALL MODELS UP THROUGH '97.