NHTSA Complaint #10267135 — 2001 CADILLAC CATERA

CHRONIC FAILURE OF GM PN# 90566947 CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT AND POSSIBLE FIRE DAMAGE DUE TO PROXIMITY OF EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND CATALYTIC CONVERTER. THERE HAVE BEEN 3 REPLACEMENTS IN 62,580 MILES. THE FIRST @ 16,586 MILES, SECOND @ 34,503 MILES, AND THE LATEST AT 62,580 MILES. THE LEAKS BEGIN AS AN ODOR OF COOLANT, THEN SPOTS BEGIN ON THE PAVEMENT, THEN FINALLY THE COOLANT RESERVOIR EMPTIES ITSELF. THE VALVE IS LOCATED AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE BLOCK UP AGAINST THE FIREWALL, AND ADJACENT TO THE EXHAUST PIPE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED ALL 3 TIMES, ONCE UNDER WARRANTY AND TWICE AT MY EXPENSE. GM REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE A DESIGN PROBLEM, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS NOT A MAINTENANCE PART. IT IS CONSTRUCTED FROM PLASTIC AND DOES NOT WITHSTAND THE HOT ENVIRONMENT OF THE APPLICATION. IT IS USED ON THE 3 LITRE 6 CYLINDER ENGINE OF THE CADILLAC CATERA AND CTS, AND THE SAAB 9-5. DEALER USE RECORDS SHOW A VERY HIGH INCIDENCE OF FAILURE EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NOT THAT MANY VEHICLES USING THIS ENGINE. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY OF FIRE DUE TO THE COOLANT SPRAYING ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WHEN MOVING, AS WELL AS DISABLING THE ENGINE DUE TO THE LOSS OF COOLANT. *TR