NHTSA Complaint #10432419 — 2005 CADILLAC SRX

MY WIFE WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY WHEN SHE SAW SMOKE COMING OFF THE CRACKS OF THE DRIVERS SIDE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE HOOD WAS CLOSED AND HAD LOTS OF BLACK SMOKE GUSHING OUT OF THE CRACKS AND IT SMELLED LIKE BURNING PLASTIC. I TRIED STARTING THE VEHICLE AND TO MY SURPRISE THE VEHICLE STARTED BUT MOST OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROLS WERE SHOWING ERRORS IN THE DASH. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT CAREFULLY TO THE NEAREST CADILLAC DEALER (LAVERY AUTO) IN ALLIANCE, OH. WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR I WAS UNABLE TO TAKE OFF THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITION BECAUSE THE SECURITY SYSTEM ALSO HAD AN ERROR. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE AC COMPRESSOR HAD CAUGHT FIRE AND ALSO MELTED THE WIRING. THIS HAD ALSO DESTROYED THE COMPUTER ECM OF THE VEHICLE. THEY REPAIRED IT AND I BROUGHT THE SRX BACK HOME IN THE EVENING OF 10/14/11 AND PARKED IT IN MY DRIVE WAY. THE NEXT MORNING I FOUND THE BATTERY WAS DEAD AND HAD TO USE MY WIFE'S CAR TO JUMP START. THE SAME THING HAPPENED THE NEXT DAY MORNING AND HAD TO CALL UP A TOW TRUCK TO JUMP START THE SRX. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME DEALER (LAVERY AUTOMOTIVE) AND THEY FOUND THAT ANOTHER RELAY WAS BAD DUE TO THE FIRE AND THEY REPLACED THIS TOO. I SPENT OVER $1,500 TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE THE RECEIPTS WITH FULL EXPLANATIONS. I WOULD LIKE FOR YOU TO INVESTIGATE THE REASON FOR THIS FIRE THAT HAD THE POTENTIAL TO INJURE ME AND MY FAMILY AND ALSO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE IF POSSIBLE IN HAVING GENERAL MOTORS REIMBURSE ME FOR THESE CHARGES BECAUSE OF POOR SAFETY AND QUALITY IN THIS VEHICLE. THANK YOU. *TR