NHTSA Complaint #758872 — 1997 CADILLAC CATERA

WAS DRIVING IN THE LEFT LANE CLIMBING A MOUNTAIN ON INTERSTATE 24 ABOUT 60 MPH WHEN I NOTICED THE CAR FELT FUNNY. PROCEEDED TO GET BACK INTO RIGHT LANE JUST AS I LOST ALL POWER. WAS ABLE TO GET ON THE SHOULDER SAFELY. HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED 45 MILES AWAY TO A CADILLAC DEALERSHIP ONLY TO BE GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $12,000. THEY TOLD ME THE TIMING CHAIN HAD BROKE AND CAUSED THE ENTIRE ENGINE TO BLOW. THE SERVICE ADVISOR ALSO TOLD ME THERE HAD BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS TO CADILLAC FOR THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE CATERA. CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE HAS REFUSED TO MAKE THE NECESSARY REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH THE OWNER'S MANUAL SAYS THE TIMING BELT SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE CHANGED FOR 100,000 MILES OR 96 MOS WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY HAZARD! IF I HAD BEEN GOING DOWN THIS MOUNTAIN INSTEAD OF UP THERE IS NO DOUBT IN MY MIND I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. PLEASE HELP! CADILLAC NEEDS TO DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED.*AK