NHTSA Complaint #11019454 — 2013 CADILLAC XTS

MY WIFE AND I WERE TRAVELING AT INTERSTATE SPEED -( 70 MPH) ABOUT 4 PM WHEN A LOUD EXPLOSION OCCURRED IN THE REAR PART OF THE CAR. IT CAUSED THE CAR TO SWERVE AND DROP ABOUT 6 INCHES. I ALMOST HITTING AN 18 WHEELER AND THERE WAS ANOTHER 18 WHEELER BEHIND ME. OTHER CARS AROUND ME STARTED TO BLOW THEIR HORNS IN ALARM. I CAREFULLY SLOWED THE CAR WHILE, PUTTING ON THE EMERGENCY FLASHERS, AND MOVED TO THE RIGHT LANE ATTEMPTING TO FIND AN EMERGENCY PARKING PLACE. I FELT I NEEDED TO ASSESS THE DAMAGES. THERE WAS NO PLACE TO STOP! I WAS FORCED TO DRIVE @ A MILE TO AN EXIT RAMP WHERE I COULD SAFELY STOP AND CALL THE CADILLAC SERVICE DEPT. THE SERVICE TECH RECOMMENDED I DRIVE IT TO THE NEAREST DEALER (AUSTIN TX - 35 MILES AWAY) OR LIMP 60 MILES TO SAN ANTONIO WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR AND HAVE IT SERVICED). MY WIFE IS NOT WELL AND I SELECTED SAN ANTONIO FOR MEDICAL REASONS. THE DASH WARNING INDICATOR STATED, "LEVELING DEVICE SERVICE NEEDED." SAN ANTONIO'S CADILLAC SERVICE MGR.STATED TWO PROBLEMS NEEDED REPAIRING: 1) BOTH AIR BLATHERS EXPLODED AND 2) THE LEVELING AIR COMPRESSOR NEEDED REPLACING. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS CAR WAS SEEN BY THIS DEALERSHIP FOR LEVELING PROBLEMS. THIS WAS A VERY SERIOUS EXPERIENCE FOR ME, A COMBAT VETERAN AND SENIOR CITIZENS NEAR AGE 80 . MY WIFE AND I COULD HAVE CAUSED A VERY BAD ACCIDENT IN THE MIDDLE OF HEAVY COMMUTER TRAFFIC ON I-35 IN AUSTIN TX IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC. I HAVE NEVER HAD AN AUTO DRIVING ACCIDENT IN MY LIFE. THIS EXPERIENCE WAS FREIGHTING AND I AM RELIVING THE DRAMA OF HOW BAD IT COULD HAVE BEEN FOR THE TWO OF US. I NO LONGER TRUST THE CAR AND FEEL I MAY BE FORCED TO TRADE EARLY EVEN THOUGH I JUST PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY TO 85K OR JULY 2020 WHICH EVER OCCURS FIRST.. CALL ME AT[XXX] IF YOU NEED MORE DATA. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).