NHTSA Complaint #10231082 — 2004 CADILLAC CTS

I AM WRITING TO REPORT A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED TO MY WIFE'S 2004 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING TO WORK THAT MORNING SHE BEGAN TO SMELL A ROTTEN EGG TYPE OF ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. SHE THOUGHT WHAT SHE SMELLED WAS AN EXHAUST ODOR. AT THIS POINT SHE DECIDED TO RETURN HOME WITH VEHICLE. WHEN SHE RETURNED SHE HAD ME INSPECT THE CAR, AS THERE WAS STEAM EMITTING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. UPON OPENING THE HOOD THE SOURCE OF THE STEAM WAS REVEALED AS THE VENT OUTLETS ON THE BATTERY. THE BATTERY WAS HOT AND WAS VENTING SULFURIC ACID STEAM. THE BATTERY IS LOCATED IN FRONT OF THE FIREWALL ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DIRECTLY ADJACENT TO THE AIR INTAKE GRILLS FOR CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM. THE SULFURIC STEAM WAS BEING SUCKED INTO THE AIR INTAKE OF THE HVAC SYSTEM AND THEN BEING EMITTED INTO THE CABIN VIA THE VENT SYSTEM. MY WIFE HAD INHALED THIS CAUSTIC GAS FOR THE PERIOD SHE DROVE THE CAR CAUSING HER TO HAVE SEVERE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS REQUIRING AN EMERGENCY ROOM VISIT. SHE WAS TREATED FOR SEVERE RESPIRATORY IRRITATION DUE TO EXPOSURE TO THE CAUSTIC GAS. THE SYMPTOMS AND ILLNESS FROM THIS EXPOSURE LASTED 8-10 DAYS AND INCLUDED A NUMBER OF FOLLOW UP VISITS TO THE DOCTOR. AT THIS TIME THERE HAS BEEN NO DEFINITE CAUSE OR REASON TO WHY THE BATTERY FAILED. A CERTIFIED MECHANIC SAID THAT THE BATTERY PROBABLE HAD A MAJOR PLATE FAILURE AND WENT INTO AN INTERNAL, DEAD SHORT CIRCUIT CAUSING THE OVERHEATING. I WANT TO WARN/DOCUMENT THIS INCIDENT AS A DANGEROUS THREAT TO THE OCCUPANTS OF 2004 CADILLAC CTS AND OTHER SIMILAR MODELS. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS PROBLEM MAY OCCUR TO OTHERS AND SOMEONE MAY DIE DUE THIS POOR DESIGN. GM PATENTED THE DESIGN OF THE BATTERY AND MAKING IT A DEALER ONLY REPLACEMENT PART. THIS DEMONSTRATES THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BATTERY DESIGN AND LOCATION IN THE VEHICLE. IT APPEARS THAT THEY ARE NEGLIGENCE IN PROVIDING SAFE VENT PATH FOR THE BATTERY IN THE EVENT OF SUCH A FAILURE. *TR