NHTSA Complaint #10168590 — 2002 CADILLAC SEVILLE

THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT CAUSES SIGNIFICANT BINDING/RATCHETING FEEDBACK THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL WHENEVER IT IS TURNED. CADILLAC HAS ISSUED SEVERAL SERVICE BULLETINS FOR THIS PROBLEM. AT 45,000 MILES (FEB 2004), PER THE SB, THE DEALER LUBRICATED THE SPLINES OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT. AT 75,000 MILES THE PROBLEM RETURNED. PER THE DEALER, CADILLAC REDESIGNED THE SHAFT AND BEGAN REPLACING THE ORIGINAL PART PER A NEW SB. THE NEW PART HOWEVER ALSO FAILED TO CORRECT THE BINDING/RATCHETING. CADILLAC THEN ISSUED ANOTHER SB AND RETURNED TO LUBRICATING THE SPLINES WHETHER THE OLD OR NEW DESIGN SHAFT IS INSTALLED. CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISES THE CAR OWNER MUST TAKE "OWNERSHIP" OF THIS PROBLEM, NO ASSISTANCE OR PERMANENT SOLUTION IS AVAILABLE. THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS LUBRICATED BY THE DEALER A SECOND TIME AT THE OWNER'S COST. THE LUBRICATION OF THE SHAFT IS NOT IDENTIFIED AS A REGULAR MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENT. CADILLAC HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED TO PROVIDE A PROPER RESOLUTION, PROVIDING ONLY A BAND AID FIX AND NOW PASSES THE RESPONSIBILITY TO THE INDIVIDUAL OWNER. THE PROBLEM WILL BE EXACERBATED AS THESE VEHICLES AGE AND CADILLAC HAS REPEATEDLY FAILED TO RESPONSIBLY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. *JB