1999 CADILLAC SLS — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT ABOUT 38 MILES AN HOUR THE CAR JUST DIED OR CUT OUT ( THE IGNITION SYSTEM QUIT ), ON HER. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO DIFFERENT TIMES FOR HER AND ONCE FOR MYSELF. *TR

IT WAS DETERMINED BY MY LOCAL CADILLAC SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS FAULTY, DRAWING EXCESSIVE CURRENT WHILE THE ENGINE WAS OFF. I MENTIONED THE RECALL ON THIS MODEL AND THEY SAID IT HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED SO IT IS NOT COVERED. I FEEL THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER THIS PROGRAM. *TR

BOUGHT AUTO 2003,AFTER 3MO AUTO ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY SPEED,HIGHWAY OR IN DRIVEWAY. TOOK AUTO TO DEALER AND AUTO KEPT FOR 3 DAYS AND DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. TOOK AUTO BACK 5 OTHER TIMES AND SAME RESULTS EACH TIME. COMPLETE TUNEUP WAS DONE THAT COST OVER $500.00 DOLLARS ,VACUUM HOSES REPLACED,IGNITION INSPECTED ,COMPLETE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC ELECTRICAL COMPONENT CHECKS. AUTO STILL DIES WITHOUT WARNING. SOMETIME WITHIN 2WKS AND SOMETIMES WITHIN 2MOS. *TR

UPON STARTING MY CAR THEIR WAS A BACK-FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. I AGAIN STARTED THE CAR AND DROVE ABOUT TWO MILES TO MY HOME AND PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. I THEN ENTERED THE HOUSE THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR AND STARTED LOOKING FOR RECEIPTS FOR CHARGES I MADE AT THE GROCERY STORE AND CHARGES I MADE REFUELING THE CAR. I WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CHARGES MADE AT THE GAS STATION. I THEN RETURNED TO THE GARAGE TO LOOK IN THE VEHICLE FOR THE RECEIPT. AT THIS TIME I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND THE INSULATION SMOLDERING THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE HOOD OF THE AUTOMOBILE. I THEN GRABBED A SPONGE AND SOAKED IT IN A PAIL OF WATER THAT WAS IN THE SET-TUB LOCATED IN THE GARAGE. I PUT OUT THE FIRE THAT WAS NOW STARTING TO BURN UNDER THE HOOD. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF I DIDN'T LOOK FOR THE RECEIPT AT THAT TIME SEEING AS HOW THE GARAGE IS UNDER THE ROOF OF MY HOME. NOTE: I HAD NOTICED ONCE BEFORE THAT PART OF THE INSULATION HAD BURNED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THIS WAS A BURN ABOUT 12 INCHES SQUARE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE MIDDLE OF THE HOOD. I ALWAYS WONDERED HOW THIS MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED. AT PRESENT THE AREA THAT HAS BURNED IS NOW ABOUT 18 INCHES IN DIAMETER. *TR

WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR IT HAD A CRACKED HEAD AND MANY OTHER MINOR PROBLEMS. I REPEATEDLY BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I AM STILL EXPERIENCING A "CHECK GAS CAP" WARNING AND I HEAR A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR RIGHT SIDE EVERYTIME I APPLY THE BRAKES. ALSO I HEAR A RATTLING NOISE EVERYTIME I HIT ANY SIZE OF BUMP. *JB