NHTSA Complaint #11047764 — 2005 CADILLAC CTS

BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE: I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND HAD TO EXECUTE AN EMERGENCY STOP GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON A COOL DRY ROAD. WHEN I DID, THE CAR POWER, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN AND REFUSED TO BRAKE ANY MORE THAN IT DID PRIOR TO MY SLAMMING ON THE BRAKES. MY MOMENTUM WOULD HAVE CARRIED ME INTO THE CAR POSITIONED ONLY A FEW FEET IN FRONT OF ME IF I HADN'T THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO INSTINCTIVELY PULL OFF ONTO THE SHOULDER AS TO AVOID REAR-ENDING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD TO PUT THE CAR INTO PARK IN ORDER TO BE RESTART IT. IMMEDIATELY I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKES FELT SUBSTANTIALLY DIFFERENT. THE SYSTEM LOST ENOUGH PEDAL PRESSURE THAT STOPPING AFTER THAT INCIDENT REQUIRED ME TO DRIVE AT LOW SPEEDS AND GIVE MYSELF MORE DISTANCE; THANKFULLY, I STILL HAD SOME ABILITY TO STOP, AT THAT TIME. I INSPECTED THE BRAKE LINES AND HOSES AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE THAT THE STEEL BRAKE LINES HAD FLUID DRIPPING FROM THEM. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER FRONT WHEEL WELL LINER HAD A SPRAY OF BRAKE FLUID THAT COVERED THE INTERIOR PORTION OF THE LINER, PROXIMALLY, BEHIND THE RIM AND TIRE SIDEWALL. I HAD TESTED THE BRAKES AFTER THAT AND HAVE NO BRAKING ABILITY. I HAVE NOT TOUCHED IT SINCE THAT INCIDENT. THE REST IS ONGOING AND IS SEPARATE FROM THE INCIDENT REPORTED ABOVE. AIR BAGS: THE SYSTEM KEEPS TELLING ME THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE SERVICED. I'VE READ THE RECALL INFO REGARDING OTHER CADILLAC CARS AND MINE MEETS THE SAME CRITERIA BUT HAS NO RECALL NOTICE. SOMETHING ABOUT THIS COINCIDENCE DOESN'T MAKE SENSE... ENGINE: INTERNAL TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER HAS FAILED AND I HEAR A NOTICEABLE TICKING OF THE CHAIN SLAPPING AGAINST THE SIDEWALL THAT IS EMANATING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE ENGINE. I HAVE SEEN, READ, HEARD OF OTHER INDIVIDUAL OWNER TESTIMONIALS THAT TALK ABOUT THIS BEING AN ISSUE THAT CADILLAC REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE.