NHTSA Complaint #10188192 — 2006 CADILLAC CTS

REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHINE AND LEAKAGE - 2006 MODEL, BUILD DATE NOV 2005. THE CAR IS USED FOR FREEWAY COMMUTING ONLY (300 MILES/DAY) AND HAS NEVER BEEN DRIVEN HARD. THE DIFFERENTIAL HAS WHINED SINCE DELIVERY WITH 78 MILES ON THE CAR. THE DIFFERENTIAL FLUID WAS CHANGED AT 2847 MILES WITH REDLINE 75W-90 SYNTHETIC FLUID AND GM 1052358 ADDITIVE, AND SIGNIFICANT METAL POWDER WAS REMOVED FROM THE MAGNETIC DRAIN PLUG AT THE TIME OF CHANGE. ON APRIL 16, AT A LITTLE OVER TWO MONTHS AND 8413 MILES, I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE SELLING DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR, AS THE DIFFERENTIAL HAD BEGUN LEAKING ABOUT APRIL 10 AND ~7200 MILES. THE SERVICE MANAGER, WYMAN ADCOCK, DROVE THE CAR AND REPORTED THAT WHILE HE COULD 'HEAR A SLIGHT WHINE', HE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS NORMAL AND I SHOULD CONTINUE TO DRIVE IT TO SEE IF IT GETS WORSE. I POINTED OUT TO HIM THAT GM HAS HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE DIFFERENTIAL ON THIS CAR SINCE IT'S INTRODUCTION AND THAT ANOTHER CADILLAC DEALER TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD REPLACED SO MANY DIFFERENTIALS IN THESE CARS THAT THEY NOW KEEP ONE IN STOCK. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT HE HAD NEVER HEARD OF A PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS. I SUGGESTED THAT I SHOULD TAKE IT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, AND LEFT. *JB