NHTSA Complaint #10230413 — 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT MOST OF THOSE MODEL VEHICLES WERE DESIGNED TO OPERATE IN THAT MANNER, AND IT WAS SAFE TO DRIVE. A FEW DAYS AFTER THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO EXCESSIVELY OVERHEAT. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A MECHANIC. HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT THE WATER PUMP, BUT RATHER A BLOWN OUT HEAD GASKET. THE VEHICLE CANNOT BE REPAIRED WITHOUT A NEW ENGINE. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, HE DISCOVERED THAT HIS MODEL VEHICLE HAS NUMEROUS ISSUES DUE TO OVERHEATING AND HEAD GASKETS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,000. UPDATED 07/08/08. *BF UPDATED 07/08/08