DOT is finally investigating the differential problem with CTS and CTS-Vs

[HeavyCav]

Originally Posted by rednari

While I do not own a CTSV, I am following the thread. Please inform me if you can, what rear axle Caddy intends to use in the new 550 HP supercharged V.
Please do not tell me the GTO rear end. Caddy should, indeed, must install a Dana 44 to hold the extra power.

Does anyone have any info regarding this??

According to the info i have read the new diff is cast Iron not aluminum.
I don't know the specs but they have decided to overengineer it now rather than go through the same issues

[HeavyCav]

No kidding, there I was just cruising north on 31W, I down-shifted, mashed the gas and hop hop hop I got out of it and a few minutes later I downshifted again, this time BANG, parts and oil all over the road. the Diff grenaded.

OK folks I have read this thread, does any one have contact info? I have Mr. McHenry's number at NHTSA and have e-mailed him. I have the one Guys receipt for the warranty work.
However I need any data that I can use to give to the dealer here. They are small town and don't even sell V's much less have any knowledge of the failure rate.

One of you said that GM is required to send paperwork to the DOT. Any Link to documentation or proof that I can give the service MGR?

One of you said that Getrag has a report on the Diff and its nature. Any link to proof of that statement?

One of you said that you have only heard of 2 or 3 of these failures, here's the link to the 68 known cases that the NHTSA is currently included in the investigation:

http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr...intVersion=YES

[travellinmike]

OK I've just purchased a 2006 CTS-V. It now has 1600 miles on it so barely broken in. Are the rears on these cars really as fragile as the last 5 pages of posts indicate? This is a performance car after all.

I don't intend on thrashing the car at every intersection like I'm 16 again I do that with my old 71 Riviera (139K miles and still smokes em). The car in indestructible.

I'd hate to think the occasional stoplight 0-60 test or downshift into a corner on a twisty country road with a 50K original sticker "performance car" will leave a trail of parts and diff fluid in my wake after as few as 10-15k miles.

I bought the car instead of a 2010 SS Camaro. Why have a plastic chevy interior and only 2 doors when I could have all the luxury of a Cadillac sedan with the performance of the Corvette to boot. With 2 kids the CTS-V's 4 doors made it a much easier sell to the wife.

If I'm forced to drive it like a V6 what's the point in having the vette motor? Another case of bait and switch?

Mike

[madmaro00]

Many people have had no problems with their rear ends. Good news is you have an '06 that has the upgraded diff. My diff was replaced & upgraded to the newer '06/07 style due to a slight whine which is many times more common than catastrophic failure. Long story short, don't wheel hop the bloody thing, and it should last you.

[HeavyCav]

I have owned the car for three years. I have driven it very agressively and I will never own another performance car. I am sold. I will however buy the 09/2010 V as soon as the price comes down into my range. I love it and I have not met a C-5 Vette, Mercedes or BMW yet that I haven't smoked. OH! and thats not to mention the Porsche speedster I whipped on the track in seattle! This rearend issue will be fixed and I will be riding again soon.

Look under the car and see which diff you have. they did fix the problem for 06 and beyond.

[02QSJOHN]

Just found this and thought it should go here:

Make: CADILLAC
Model: CTS
Year: 2006
NHTSA Action Number: EA07017
Summary:
IN JULY OF 2007 THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED PE07-037 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MAY FAIL CAUSING A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER, AND IN SOME INSTANCES A LOSS OF CONTROL, IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 THROUGH 2006 CADILLAC CTS, CTS-V, AND STS VEHICLES. AS A RESULT OF THAT INVESTIGATION GM ISSUED RECALL 07V-589 TO CORRECT A LEAKING PINION SEAL PROBLEM. EA07-017 WAS OPENED TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF FRACTURED REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSINGS OR REAR HALF SHAFTS IN HIGH PERFORMANCE CADILLAC CTS-V VEHICLES. ACCORDING TO GM, THESE FAILURES RESULTED FROM THE CUMULATIVE DAMAGE FROM MULTIPLE POWER HOP EVENTS THAT CAN OCCUR DURING VERY AGGRESSIVE DRIVING. IN FEBRUARY 2008 INVESTIGATORS FROM ODI MET WITH GM REPRESENTATIVES TO CONDUCT TESTING OF THE SUBJECT CTS-V VEHICLES. DURING THE TESTING THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE SUBJECTED TO CONSIDERABLE TORSIONAL FORCES FROM STANDING STARTS AND WHILE DRIVING. POWER HOP OCCURRED DURING SOME OF THE MOST AGGRESSIVE DRIVING MANEUVERS. THE TESTING DID NOT RESULT IN FAILURE OF ANY REAR DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS. THE ENGINEERING DESIGN AND TESTING DATA SUPPLIED TO ODI BY GM AND THE RESULTS OF THE TESTING CONDUCTED BY ODI TEND TO SUPPORT GM'S POSITION THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL DESIGN IS NOT DEFECTIVE. COMPLAINTS LISTED IN THE FAILURE REPORT DO NOT INCLUDE THOSE INDICATIVE OF FAILURE OF THE REAR PINION SEAL IN CTS-V VEHICLES COVERED BY RECALL 07V-589. FURTHER INVESTIGATION IN THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. SEE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

source: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/pr...&model_yr=2006