NHTSA Complaint #702574 — 1990 OLDSMOBILE CALAIS

THE REAR SHOCK TOWERS OF THE CAR HAVE DEVELOPED RUST AT THE SEAM WHERE THEY MEET THE TRUNK FLOOR. THIS RUST HAS CAUSED HOLES TO FORM, AND THEREFORE WEAKENING THE ENTIRE REAR SUSPENSION SYSTEM OF THE CAR, AS WELL AS THE STRUCTURE OF THE REAR END. THE HOLES ALSO LEAK WATER INTO THE TRUNK COMPARTMENT IN ALL TYPES OF WEATHER. THE SEAMS HAVE ALSO TORN INTO THE FRONT PART OF THE REAR WHEEL WELLS AND NOW LEAK INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE CAR. SEVERAL BODY SHOPS HAVE TOLD ME THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO TEAR OUT ALL OF THE OLD STEEL AND PUT NEW STEEL IN. THIS WILL COST AROUND $2500.00. THEY HAVE ALSO SAID THEY HAVE SEEN MANY OLDMOBILE CALAIS LIKE THIS AND THE REASON FOR THIS RUST IS A MANUFACTUERS DEFECT IN THE DESIGN OF THE TRUNK AND SHOCK TOWERS. *AK