NHTSA Complaint #10626285 — 2004 CADILLAC DEVILLE

WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER, MY DAD, EXITED AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY ONTO A DOWN-SLOPED RAMP. NEAR THE TERMINATION POINT OF EXIT WHERE IT HAD A LEFT TURN AND A RIGHT TURN LANE, HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO ENTER THE RIGHT TURN LANE. HOWEVER, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, FAILING TO TURN THE WHEELS TO THE RIGHT, AND THE CAR STRUCK ANOTHER CAR SITTING IN THE LEFT-TURN LANE. MY MOTHER, WHO WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, SUFFERED WHIPLASH AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT. MY DAD EXPERIENCED THE RAINY WEATHER STEERING PROBLEM MANY TIMES DURING THE 41,000 MILES HE DROVE THE CAR. ALTHOUGH HE ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM WITH VARIOUS CADILLAC DEALERSHIPS AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS SEVERAL TIMES, NONE OF THEM EVER FIXED IT. I INHERITED THE CAR UPON MY DAD'S DEATH, AND THE FIRST TIME I DROVE IT IN THE RAIN IN DECEMBER 2012, THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ON A CITY STREET, AND I NEARLY STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING THE STREET. I REPORTED IT TO CADILLAC VIA THEIR WEBSITE IN DECEMBER 2012, BUT THEY DIDN'T RESPOND TO MY INQUIRY. THE CAR IS VIRTUALLY USELESS TO ME, BUT I, OUT OF GOOD CONSCIENCE, WON'T SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED REPEATEDLY TO THE NHTSA AND ON MANY WEBSITES, SUCH AS HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2004/CADILLAC/DEVILLE/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX AND HTTP://FORUMS.EDMUNDS.COM/DISCUSSION/16219/CADILLAC/DEVILLE/CADILLAC-DEVILLE-STEERING-PROBLEMS. AN UNSUSPECTING PERSON DRIVING A CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM IS LIKE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE! WHAT MUST HAPPEN TO GET NHTSA TO FORCE GM TO ISSUE A RECALL AND GET THIS VERY SERIOUS, LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEM FIXED? WILL IT TAKE LOSS OF LIFE? PLEASE, NHTSA, GIVE US SOME HELP! *TR