NHTSA Complaint #10154368 — 2002 CADILLAC DEVILLE

A 2002 CADILLAC DEVILLE DHS 4-DOOR SEDAN WAS ORIGINALLY PARKED HEAD-FIRST INTO A PARKING SPACE. WHEN THE DRIVER STARTED THE IGNITION, STEPPED ON THE BRAKE AND THEN PUT THE VEHICLE INTO THE REVERSE GEAR "R", SLOWLY AND PARTIALLY RELEASING THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE MOVED BACK NORMALLY AS EXPECTED. AFTER ABOUT 15 FEET, THE DRIVER TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE INTO POSITION TO LEAVE THE PARKING LOT. AT THAT MOMENT, THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY REVVED UP, THE BRAKES FAILED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION, THE STEERING MECHANISM FAILED (DRIVER'S ACTIONS ON THE STEERING WHEEL HAD NO IMPACTS ON THE ACTUAL MOTIONS OF THE FRONT WHEELS), AND A SIGNIFICANT "CLANKING" NOISE (AS IF SOME MAJOR COMPONENTS IN AND AROUND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA HAD BEEN BROKEN) WAS CLEARLY NOTICEABLE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AFTER SCRATCHING THE SIDE OF ANOTHER PARKED 4-DOOR SEDAN AND SUBSEQUENTLY HITTING A SIGN POST ABOUT 35 FEET FROM ITS ORIGINAL POSITION. THE VEHICLE COULD BE SEEN WITH ITS ENGINE COMPARTMENT LOWERED AND THE FENDERS "RESTED" ON AND TOUCHING THE FRONT WHEELS, AS IF THE FRONT AXLE HAD BROKEN. LOOSE BEARINGS / NUTS COULD BE FOUND IN THE VICINITY OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE. *NM