NHTSA Complaint #10457147 — 1999 CADILLAC CATERA

THE RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I WAS IN HARMS WAY IN THE RAIN AND HAD TO TAKE THE CARE 70 MORE MILES, WHILE I COULD GET OUT OF THE BUFFALO AREA TO A SAFE LOCATION FOR THE NIGHT. THE LIGHTS NEVER WENT OFF TILL THE BATTERY WAS EXHAUSTED. WHEN RECHARGED THE HEADLIGHTS REMAINED ON AGAIN, UNABLE TO BE TURNED OFF. WHEN I MANAGED TO EXCHANGE A RELAY, THE NEXT PROBLEM OCCURRED, THE PARKING LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I DID RESEARCH AND LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON MANUFACTURING PROBLEM THAT NHTSA HAS DIRECTED TO BE FIXED WITHOUT COST, DUE TO IT BEING A SAFETY ISSUE THAT THE GM LINES HAVE NOT ADJUSTED AND STILL OFFER ON SEVERAL VEHICLES. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL VALLEY CADILLAC WHO DECLINED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED THE CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE. I ALSO DECLINED TO FIX WITHOUT CHARGE. SHE WANTS TO CHARGE A DIAGNOSTIC FEE INSTEAD OF MAKING THE PERMANENT CORRECTION OF EXCHANGING THE CORRECT THE DEVICE, PROPERLY ONCE AND FOR ALL. I TOLD HER I WOULD CONTACT NHTSA. I ALSO ASKED HER TO SEND A MESSAGE TO CADILLAC/ GM'S LEGAL AND I AM INFORMING MY LAWYER THAT IF I SHOULD DIE, OPERATING THIS VEHICLE, THAT I MY CHILDREN SHOULD FILE A WRONGFUL DEATH LAWSUIT AGAINST ALL INVOLVED. THIS PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED A COUPLE OF MONTHS EARLIER, FRIENDLY FRED'S IN ERWIN, NY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM BECAUSE IT CORRECTED ITSELF, UNTIL THIS PAST MONDAY, 4-30-12. I DO NOT KNOW THE EXACT DATE OF THE LAST OCCURRENCE BUT I ALSO HAD A OIL CHANGE WHICH I THINK IS THE LATE FALL OF 2011. I AM A DISABLED PERSON WHO CAN'T BE EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS FOR VERY LONG. SINCE YOU, NHTSA HAS ALREADY CALLED FOR ALL OF THESE SYSTEMS TO BE REPLACED, I WANT NHTSA TO PROMPT AND PROVOKE GM'S CADILLAC TO MAKE THE REPAIR. I WORK IN THE ROCHESTER AND BUFFALO AREAS AS THERE IS NO WORK IN CORNING AREA. I CAN'T AFFORD TO REPLACE THIS CAR WHICH IS VITAL FOR MY SURVIVAL...UPDATED 05/09/12 *BF UPDATED 05/25/12 UPDATED 06/19/2012 *JS