NHTSA Complaint #10176704 — 2003 CADILLAC CTS

2003 CADILLAC CTS WITH 45852 MILES - OIL LEAKED FROM THE ENGINE CAM/ VALVE COVER SEALS DUE TO EXTREME COLD WEATHER OPERATIONS. I WAS MERGING ONTO A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND HAD JUST REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE TO THE ACCELERATE WHEN THICK BLACK SMOKE BEGAN POURING THROUGH THE HEATING SYSTEM INTO THE CAR. VISIBILITY WAS OBSTRUCTED AND BREATHING WAS IMPAIRED. WITHIN SECONDS, I WAS FORCED TO EVACUATE THE CAR. SMOKE BEGAN ROLLING OUT FROM BENEATH THE HOOD. I OPENED THE HOOD AND SAW SPARKING AND SMALL FLASH FIRES ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR NEAR THE TIRE. I WAS IN A RURAL AREA IN 20 DEGREE WEATHER AND WAS FORCED TO SLOWLY LIMP THE CAR TO A SAFER AREA TO GET HELP AND CONTACT TOWING SERVICE. AS OF DECEMBER 20TH, MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND I AM RECEIVING CONFLICTING INFORMATION BETWEEN CADILLAC AND THE DEALERSHIP. GENERAL MOTORS DOCUMENT ID # 1644918 STATES THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM ON APRIL 7, 2005 AND ALSO STATES THAT TO PREVENT RECURRENCE AN AFTER MARKET PART MUST BE INSTALLED. HOWEVER, THERE HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL AND GENERAL MOTORS/CADILLAC ARE REFUSING TO ASSIST ME IN EITHER HANDLING THE ISSUE AS A WARRANTY OR REPAIRING THE CAR WHICH IS STILL AWAITING PARTS AND SERVICE AT THE DEALERSHIP. THIS IS A SERIOUS CONSUMER SAFETY ISSUE AS IT ONLY OCCURS DURING EXTREME COLD AND COULD POSE SERIOUS HEALTH CONCERNS DUE TO EXPOSURE AS WELL AS TRAFFIC INCIDENTS DUE TO VISIBILITY IMPAIRMENT FROM THE SMOKE. *NM