1991 Cadillac Allante

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CADILLAC ELANTE. THE FRAM FUEL FILTER SPLIT IN HALF AND CAUSED A FUEL LEAK. APPROXIMATELY A HALF TANK OF GASOLINE BEGAN SPURTING FROM THE FILTER. THE FILTER WAS INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE A YEAR AGO AND WORKED PROPERLY UNTIL SEPTEMBER 14, 2007. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC BECAUSE THE SMELL OF GASOLINE WAS OVERWHELMING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS DRIVEWAY WAS DAMAGED FROM THE FUEL LEAK. HE HAS A PICTURES AND THE FILTER IF NEEDED. THE EQUIPMENT WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 64,900. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

WHILE REVERSING AT 10 MPH BRAKES FAILED , CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN THE REAR. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HARD WHEN DEPRESSED. *AK CONSUMER READ IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL THAT THE VEHICLE HAD DUAL BRAKES. MEANING, IF ONE PART FAILS THE OTHER PART WOULD WORK TO STOP THE VEHICLE. BRAKES WERE CHECKED BY A PRIVATE DEALER AND CONSUMER LEARNED HE HAD BRAKES GOING FORWARD BUT NOT BACKWARDS. *PH

BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AT 2MPH IN TRAFFIC DURING A 400 MILE TRIP FROM PA TO MA. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AS BRAKING ABILITY WAS NOT COMPROMISED. AFTER 200 MILES (NEXT DAY) BRAKING ABILITY WAS GREATLY REDUCED, I PROCEEDED TO CADILLAC DEALER IN BROCKTON,MA. PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AS A FAILED HYDRAULIC MODULATOR ASSEMBLY PART# 3636719. ACCORDING TO DEALER THIS IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR THIS CAR. THE SYSTEM IS NOT WELL ENGINEERED (SEE NHTSA DEFECT INVESTIGATION# EA99017).*AK

REPAIRED 6/99, USED PARTS, FAILED AGAIN 9/99 (A LITTLE DIFFERENT), $4000 REPAIR, ALL ALLANTE'S EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEMS. VERY DANGEROUS, VERY EXPENSIVE TO FIX, BRAKES FAIL WITH NO WARNING. COULD CAUSE SEVERE ACCIDENT AND INJURE, KILL ALLANTE DRIVER, PASSENGERS, AND INNOCENT BYSTANDERS. GM DISCONTINUED USING THIS SYSTEM INSTEAD OF DOING RECALL. IF YOU SENT QUESTIONAIRES OUT TO ALL ALLANTE' OWNERS, I'M SURE AT LEAST 70% WOULD SAY THAT THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM. GM IS WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. IT'S ONE THING TO KNOW ABOUT THE PROBLEM AND COUGH UP THE $4000 TO HAVE IT FIXED, BUT IT'S CRIMMINAL FOR GM TO ALLOW PEOPLE LIKE ME TO EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM FIRST-HAND AS I'M TRYING TO STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE STATISTICS ON ALLANTE' WRECKS AND HOW THEY HAPPENED. I'M SURE MANY HAVE BEEN BECAUSE OF THIS. THESE CARS SHOULDN'T BE ALLOWED ON THE ROADWAYS UNLESS THEY HAVE BEEN RETROFITTED WITH NEW SYSTEM. *AK

COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I MADE IT INTO A PARKING LOT AND COASTED TO A STOP (FORTUNATE TIMING OF INCIDENT). I HAVE SINCE HEARD THIS IS NOT AN UNUSUAL OCCURENCE WITH THIS BOSCH BRAKE SYSTEM. I WAS ALSO TOLD TO REFRENCE ODI ACTION NUMBER EA-99-017. THIS SITUATION IS REALLY FRIGHTENING. CAN YOU FORWARD TO ME ANY ADVICE? *AK