NHTSA Complaint #752388 — 1997 CADILLAC CATERA

TENSIONER PULLEY FAILED @ 65MPH ON EXPRESSWAY. WHEN TENSIONER PULLEY LET GO PROCEEDED TO BEND VALVES; DAMAGE AND BREAK PISTONS CAUSING ONE PISTON TO BECOME IMBEDDED IN THE ENGINE HEAD. ENGINE IS A LOSS. NEW ENGINE COST 9500. WE BEGAN TO COAST IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC IN THE SPEED LANE POSSIBLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. FORNATELY THERE WAS NONE. CONTACTED DEALER. NO RESPONSE NO RETURN PHONE CALLS. CONTACTED CADILLAC CUST SERV. THEY SAID COULD NOT ASSIST ME THAT WE SHOULD HAVE HAD THE TIMING SERVICED @ 60K MILES PER MANUAL. WE NEVER RECIEVED A MANUAL WITH CAR.ONE WAS REQUESTED FROM CADILLAC CUST SERV WITHIN 30 DAYS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. IT WAS NEVER RECIEVED. NO NOTICE FOR SERVICE WAS SENT.*AK