NHTSA Complaint #10692143 — 2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE

MY WIFE WAS GOING TO A DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT WITH OUR 1 YEAR OLD CHILD. WHEN SHE ARRIVES SHE NOTICED THE POWER-ASSISTED STEP DID NOT UNFOLD WHEN SHE OPENED HER DOOR, AS IT NORMALLY DOES. WHEN SHE RETURNED FROM HER APPOINTMENT AND GOT IN THE CAR IT THE POWER-ASSISTED STEP OPENED NORMALLY. AFTER MAKING HER FIRST TURN OUT OF THE STREET SHE HAD PARKED ON, THE NAVIGATION CD STARTED EJECTING AND INSERTING ITSELF AUTOMATICALLY, ALL OF DOORS WERE LOCKING AND UNLOCKING, THE LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND CENTER CONSOLE WERE FLICKERING, POWER STEERING WAS LOST, AND THE CAR STALLED. SHE MANAGED TO VEER OVER, TURN THE KEY OFF, AND CALLED ME. I TOLD HER TO PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TRY TO RESTART. IT STARTED FINE AND SHE CAREFULLY DROVE BACK HOME. I DROPPED THE CAR OFF AT MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY STATED THERE WERE MULTIPLE WELL-DOCUMENTED BULLETINS ON THIS ELECTRICAL FAILURE HAPPENING AND THAT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD BE BEST SUITED TO REPAIR THE ISSUE. I THEN TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE TERMINAL CABLES TO THE BATTERY. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A MUCH WORSE SITUATION IN WHICH MY WIFE OR CHILD WAS PERMANENTLY INJURED OR KILLED. IMAGINE IF THIS HAD OCCURRED ON A HIGHWAY - CAR STALLING AND LOSING POWER STEERING. THIS MATTER NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON THEME FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL. DO NOT WAIT FOR A FATALITY TO OCCUR. *TR