NHTSA Complaint #741087 — 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE

HEADLIGHT LENSES HAVE FALLEN OUT OF BOTH HEADLIGHTS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLE. THE LEFT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED BY MY DEALER, NEAL NORTON CADILLAC, AT MY EXPENSE. WHE THE RIGH LENSE FAILED, THE FAILURE WAS IDENTIFIED BEFORE THE LENS WAS LOST, AND I REATTACHED THE LENSE USING LIQUID NAILS ADHESIVE. THIS REPAIR HAS WORKED THUS FAR, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT THE LENSE WILL FALL OUT AGAIN. NEITHER MY DEALER, NOR CADILLAC ACKNOWLEDGE THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURING QUALITY AND RELIABILITY ISSUE. THEY HAVE BOTH ARGUED THE HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE TRIM. TO THE CONTRARY, I CONSIDER THE LENSES TO BE AN IMPORTANT ELEMENT IN THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE. IF I WERE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE LENSES IN PLACE, I BELIEVE THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD SOON FAIL. THIS WOULD MOST LIKELY HAPPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVE, ENDANGERING BOTH THOSE WITHIN THE VEHICLE AND OTHERS NEAR THE VEHICLE. I SEE AT LEAST ONE OTHER SUCH FAILURE REPORTED IN YOUR PROBLEM LIST FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE. I BELIEVE THAT AS THE AGE OF THIS FLEET OF VEHICLES INCREASES, YOU WILL SEE MORE SUCH FAILURE AND THAT IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS FAILURE RESULTS IN AN INJURY OF DEATH. I BELIEVE A FULL INVESTIGATION IS NEEDED, AND I BELIEVE THAT SUCH AN INVESTIGATION WILL FIND THAT A RECALL IS IN ORDER. I WILL BE HAPPY TO DISCUSS THIS SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM IN MORE DETAIL WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION.