NHTSA Complaint #11377286 — 2008 CADILLAC SRX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS WIFE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 ' 70 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS WIFE CHECKED THE REAR PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW TO SEE IF THE WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN. THE WINDOW WAS NOT DOWN. SEVERAL SECONDS LATER, THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE AND THE DRIVER LOSS CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL. THE DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS HEADING TOWARDS THE GUARDRAIL. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE GUARDRAIL AND SPUN OUT INTO THE ROADWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. ANOTHER DRIVER THAT WITNESSED THE CRASH REMOVED THE DRIVER FROM THE CRASHED VEHICLE. THE DRIVER WAS PLACED IN THE VEHICLE OF THE OTHER DRIVER. THERE WAS SMOKE COMING FROM THE CRASHED VEHICLE. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A DISLOCATED VERTEBRAE, HIP AND NECK INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DUTTON CADILLAC OF RIVERSIDE LOCATED AT 8201 AUTO DR #101, RIVERSIDE, CA 92504, (951)842-2566 TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR TIE ROD BOLT FRACTURED, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO TURN INWARDS AT A 90 DEGREE ANGLE. THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE INSURNCE COMPANY DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE INSURANCE INVESTIGATOR STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CAUSED BY A MECHANIC FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS WIFE WAS AT FAULT FOR THE CRASH. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED OR NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED.