NHTSA Complaint #10184490 — 2005 CADILLAC CTS

I OWN A 2005 CADILLAC CTS-V. I MADE A HIGH-SPEED RIGHT-HAND EXIT FROM THE FREEWAY, THEN HAD TO SWERVE TO THE LEFT LANE OF THE TWO-LANE EXIT RAMP WHEN THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME SUDDENLY SLOWED. THE CADILLAC DRIFTED LEFT AND HIT THE CURB. REAR WHEELS HIT JUST BEFORE THE FRONT. THE HIT WAS PRETTY HARD - MISALIGNED BOTH LEFT WHEELS. THE CAR RECOVERED OFF THE CURB, BUT A STABILITY CONTROL WARNING FLASHED ON THE NAVIGATION/INFORMATION SCREEN, AND THE BRAKES COMPLETELY QUIT! THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT CLEAR TO THE FLOOR, AND I SAILED THRU A RED LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION. ABOUT 3 - 4 SECONDS LATER, THE WARNING SCREEN WENT OUT, AND THE BRAKES RETURNED. CLEARLY THIS IMPACT WAS OUT OF THE ORDINARY. HOWEVER, THE FAILURE MODE OF THE STABILITY/ABS SYSTEM SHOULD BE FULL BRAKES WITHOUT ANTI-SKID, RATHER THAN NO BRAKES. *JB