NHTSA Complaint #10620997 — 2010 CADILLAC DTS

(1) MY 2010 CADILLAC DTS IS EQUIPPED WITH THE FACTORY OPTIONAL CHROME RIMS. THE CAR WAS BUILT THE END OF MAY, 2010, AND BY JUNE, 2014, WITH APPROXIMATELY 54,000 MILES, ONE RIM WAS SO BADLY CORRODED IT WOULD NO LONGER HOLD AIR. ONE OTHER RIM WAS ALSO CORRODING BADLY, BUT WAS STILL HOLDING AIR BEFORE I REPLACED IT. THE OTHER TWO RIMS HAD SOME CORROSION, BUT TO A MUCH LESSER EXTENT THAN THE OTHERS. THE LOW TIRE PRESSURE WARNING SENSOR HAD STOPPED WORKING ON THE TIRE THAT WAS LOSING PRESSURE, BUT IS WORKING SATISFACTORILY ON THE NEW RIM. IN MY OPINION, CADILLAC SHOULD BE FORCED TO RECALL ANY OF THESE RIMS THAT HAVE CORRODED--TRUE, MICHIGAN USES SALT ON ITS ROAD DURING THE WINTER, BUT THIS IS SOMETHING CADILLAC CERTAINLY KNEW ABOUT AND THAT IT SELLS A LARGER NUMBER OF CARS IN MICHIGAN. FURTHER, THE LIST PRICE FOR REPLACEMENT RIMS FROM CADILLAC IS APPROXIMATELY $900.00 PER RIM--$3600.00 FOR ALL FOUR! I COULD LIVE WITH THE CORROSION IN TERMS OF APPEARANCE, BUT A RIM THAT WILL NOT HOLD AIR IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD, AND IT OCCURRED FAIRLY EARLY ON IN THE VEHICLE'S OPERATIONAL LIFE. (2) MY 2010 CADILLAC DTS HAD THE BULB ON ITS UPPER DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT TURN SIGNAL BURN OUT AFTER FOUR YEARS AND 54,000 MILES. IT TURNED OUT IT IS A TWO-PERSON JOB TO REPLACE THE BULB (WHICH IS A MUNDANE, TRADITIONAL INCANDESCENT BULB, NOT A LED) AND A LABOR COST OF MORE THAN $200.00. THE REPLACEMENT IS NOT SOMETHING EVEN A FAIR-TO-MIDDLING SHADE TREE MECHANIC CAN UNDERTAKEN--IT REALLY REQUIRES A DEALERSHIP. I AM AFRAID THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHEN THEY FIND OUT THE COST OF REPLACING THE BULB, WILL SIMPLY SAY TO HELL WITH IT. THE SAFETY HAZARDS CAUSED BY THAT IS INTUITIVELY OBVIOUS TO EVEN THE MOST CASUAL OBSERVER. CADILLAC SHOULD BE FORCED TO WARRANTY ALL OF ITS EXTERIOR LIGHTS AND NOT EXCLUDE THEM FROM THEIR WARRANTY, EXTENDED OR OTHERWISE. *TR