NHTSA Complaint #10149361 — 2004 CADILLAC SRX

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN INTO A PARKING LOT, THE STEERING COLUMN COMPLETELY LOCKED. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO MANUALLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL FOR TWENTY MINUTES THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATIONS ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TURNING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING HOSES WERE REVERSED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY MANUFACTURED. THE HOSES WERE SWITCHED, BUT THIS DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE STEERING COLUMN CONTINUED TO LOCK INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION TO THE ONGOING STEERING COLUMN PROBLEM THE VEHICLE HAD SEVERAL OTHER PROBLEMS AS WELL. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE SUDDENLY STALLED WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING WHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS EASILY RESTARTED AFTER A 30 MINUTE PERIOD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE THROTTLE CONTROL HAD CAUSED THE GAS SUPPLY TO SHUT OFF TO THE ENGINE. THE THROTTLE WAS REPLACED AND THIS REMEDIED THE PROBLEM. LATER, THE TRANSMISSION MADE A NOISE AND THE REAR END FELT LOOSE WHILE TRAVELING 60 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THERE WERE LOOSE NUTS ON THE WHEEL. ALL LUG NUTS WERE TIGHTENED ON ALL FOUR WHEELS. THE TIGHTENING OF THE NUTS APPEARED TO REMEDY BOTH THE TRANSMISSION NOISE AND THE LOOSE FEELING IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT TRADED THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE DEALERS INABILITY TO REMEDY THE ONGOING STEERING PROBLEM. UPDATED 3/9/2006 - *NM