NHTSA Complaint #11299983 — 2014 CADILLAC ATS

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY APPROXIMATELY 70MPH. VEHICLE SUDDENLY BUCKED TWICE, A FEW SECONDS LATER A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED AND REDUCED POWER APPEARED IN THE MESSAGE CENTER. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SLOW ITS SPEED. I HAD THREE MILES UNTIL NEXT OFF RAMP. VEHICLE CONTINUED TO SLOW AS I GOT IT OFF HE HIGHWAY. ONCE OFF THE HIGHWAY I PULLED OVER AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. I NOTICED FUEL GAUGE WAS READING EMPTY, BEFORE PROBLEM WAS APPROX. 1/4 TANK. VEHICLE KNOW HAD A HEAVY FUEL SMELL. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED HOME. THE FOLLOWING DAY I INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM. ( I AM A PROFESSIONAL MECHANIC WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE. ) THE FUEL GAUGE READ EMPTY AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. I ADDED APPROX. 1 GALLON OF FUEL AND TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE. GASOLINE IMMEDIATELY POURED FROM A FUEL LINE AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. I REMOVED THE ENGINE COVER AND NOTICED THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP WAS LOOSE FROM THE ENGINE. I CHECKED THE SUPPLY FUEL LINE AND IT WAS VERY LOOSE OR BROKEN. REALIZING DAMAGE WAS COMPREHENSIVE AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY I TOWED CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THE DEALERSHIP WAS VERY UNCOOPERATIVE AND CHARGED ME FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A BROKEN FUEL LINE. I ASKED THE DEALERSHIP TO INVESTIGATE WHY THE PUMP CAME LOOSE FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. THEY SAID IT JUST HAPPENS AND IT WAS RETORQUED TO FACTORY SPECS. THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT TEST DRIVEN AFTER REPAIRS WERE MADE, I WAS TOLD IT WAS BUT IT HAD NO GAS REGISTERING ON THE GAUGE AND THE MILEAGE HAD NOT CHANGED FROM TIME OF DROP OFF. I PICKED UP VEHICLE FROM DEALERSHIP, PUT A HALF A TANK OF FUEL IN VEHICLE AT THE CLOSEST FUEL STATION AND DROVE IT HOME CAUTIOUSLY. I WILL NOT BE DRIVING VEHICLE AGAIN UNTIL I GET MORE ANSWERS. I BELIEVE A SERIOUS FIRE IS POSSIBLE IF THE FUEL LINE BREAKS AGAIN VERY LUCKY IT DID NOT HAPPEN THE FIRST TIME BECAUSE OF THE FUEL PUMP COMING LOOSE FROM THE ENGINE.