NHTSA Complaint #11154741 — 2011 CADILLAC SRX

THIS IS A PROBLEM ON ALL SRX 2011 MODELS. WHEN RAINING, WATER DRAINS INTO THE SPARE TIRE COMPARTMENT AND SHORTS THE MOTOR THAT OPENS THE LIFT GATE. THIS HAPPENS ON A BRAND NEW CAR, IN OTHER WORDS, THIS IS NOT A RESULT OF POOR MAINTENANCE OR A REPAIR THAT IS NEEDED. SO, IF ONE GETS A FLAT TIRE, IN THE RAIN, ONE CANNOT ACCESS THE SPARE TIRE OR THE TIRE INFLATION KIT, BECAUSE THE LIFT GATE CANNOT BE OPENED TO ACCESS THEM. THE POWER MOTOR IS THE ONLY WAY TO OPEN THE LIFT GATE - IT CANNOT BE OPENED MANUALLY BY DESIGN. SO, ONE CAN BE STRANDED IN A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, WITH THE POTENTIAL OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. A STRANDED CAR, ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, POTENTIALLY AT NIGHT WITH POOR LIGHTING OR ROAD CONDITIONS, AND OTHER VEHICLES MAY CRASH INTO THE CAR. I REALIZE ALL FLAT TIRE SITUATIONS HAVE THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM, HOWEVER, IN THIS CASE, THE DANGER OF THE SITUATION IS PROLONGED SIGNIFICANTLY, THEREBY SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A DESIGN DEFECT WHICH GM DID NOT INTEND, AND THEY MUST FIX IT IMMEDIATELY BEFORE SOMEONE DIES, IF SOMEONE HASN'T DIED ALREADY. I AM A RECENT OWNER OF THIS VEHICLE, AND THIS IS MY FIRST FLAT TIRE WITH IT, WHICH IS WHY I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM UNTIL NOW.