NHTSA Complaint #730451 — 1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE

ENGINE OVERHEATED-LOOSE HEAD BOLTS (NHTSA ITEM # SB6089931). ANTIFREEZE VAPORS CAME IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH A/C VENTS FOR OVER 20 MINUTES AND THEN A LARGE STEAM EXPLOSION INSIDE CAR WHEN ENGINE OVERHEATED. A FINE MIST OF VAPORS ENTERED THE CAR WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE AS WE THOUGHT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER AS THE INSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE KEPT SLOWING RISING UNTIL STEAM EXPLOSION OCCURED. ( HOT ANTIFREEZE VAPORS WERE FORCED THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONER VENTS BY THE DEFORMING OF THE REAR HOOD GASKET BY INCOMING 65MPH AIR FLOW AND A DEFECTIVE FRONT HOOD GASKET). IF THIS CAR HAD A FULL TIME COOLANT TEMPERATURE GAUGE THIS INCIDENT AND INJURIES MIGHT NOT HAVE HAPPENED. CADILLAC DOES NOT PROVIDE AN ACTIVE TEMPERATURE GAUGE ON THIS CAR AS OTHER MANUFACTURERS DO. ONLY WAY TO DETERMINE COOLANT TEMPERATURES IS TO PUSH THE INFORMATION BUTTON ON DASH WHICH SEPARATELY INFORMS YOU OF ENGINE FUNCTIONS. NO WARNINGS IN OPERATION MANUAL, NO WARNING LABELS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AS TO POTENTIAL DANGERS OF DEX-COOL EXPOSURE NOR INFORMATION ON THE DAY OF ENGINE FAILURE FROM CADILLAC ROAD ASSISTANCE PERSONNEL AT THEIR 800 NUMBER). ONLY WARNINGS OF ENGINE OVERHEATING ARE EMITTED -AFTER THE CAR HAS OVERHEATED! INJURIES TO MYSELF WERE: SEVERE, VERY PAINFUL EYE INFLAMATION IN BOTH EYES( EYE DOCTOR EXAMINATION IN OCTOBER 1999) INSTANT CATARACTS WITH LARGE BLACK SPOTS IN BOTH EYES 30 DAYS AFTER ACCIDENT. RIGHT AND LEFT SIDES OF FACE PRESENTLY HAVE CHEMICAL BURNS ON CHEEKS AND THROAT. IN APRIL, 2000 I HAD VERY DIFFICULT BREATHING PROBLEMS. I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ON 2 DIFFERENT DAYS WITH BREATHING PROBLEMS. BREATHING PROBLEMS WERE DIAGNOSED AS CHEMICAL INDUCED ASTHMA FROM DEX-COOL ANTIFREEZE WITH 2-ETHYLHEXANOIC ACID INHALATION. AT PRESENT I LIVE IN HELL EACH DAY WITH ASTHMA FROM THIS CADILLAC VEHICLE. ENGINE WAS REBUILT IN SEPTEMBER, 99 AND A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED ON JAN. 28, 2000. FRONT BRAKE ROTORS RUSTED UP IN FEBRUARY, 2000 AFTER 16 DAYS OF SITTING IDLE.*