I own a 2016 Cadillac CTS which I purchased in 2019 from a authorized Cadillac dealership (Cadillac of Greenwhich)
The car caught on fire 6 months after purchase and they are claiming that it was foreign debris that caused the fire. There was hot dogs and pizza near the engine compartment near the exhaust system. Only ONE hotdog was found burnt. But how can a hot dog start a fire?
the first investigator GM hired stated that the “foreign debris” or the food had nothing to do with the fire. They hired another investigator 2 years later that is claiming that the hot dog caused the fire. Can you please help me understand this? I need help because I’m fighting this case by myself. I don’t know what to do. I’m still paying $526 monthly for the car. I still owed 26k. Never missed a payment. I’m paying for a car I used for 6 months…..
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So many questions.
1. Are hot dogs and pizza usually found near/in your engine bay on a regular basis? Was there a party or...how did the food get in the engine bay? Before I can even attempt to process beyond that, I've GOT to know.
2. You owed $26k on a car and were making payments. That makes me believe the car was financed, which means you may have been required to have full coverage insurance on the vehicle. That would put you in breach of your retail installment contract since full coverage insurance is required to be held on any vehicle that is financed by a third party in many states, though not all.
My suggestion: stay away from anything "legal" or "court related" with this case. It sounds to me like you might find yourself being charged for breach of contract amid everything else going on.
Lesson learned: If you can't afford the car payment AND insurance, you can't afford the car.
Honestly, I live in NYC. There’s a lot of trash and rats around.
They are claiming that rats brought the food in the engine compartment.
There was food found in there but only ONE hot dog was burnt.
The car had problems since the first day I got it. It was jerking every time we drove it. We took it for service many times until they said that they couldn’t do nothing else, that the car had to learn how to drive with the new driver. That’s exactly what they said.
Yes I couldn’t afford it but I really wanted the car and I’m still making payments on it to this day since I don’t want to ruin my credit.
It’s understandable that if I drove and crashed the car that it would be completely my fault.
But honestly this isn’t my fault and I don’t deserve for the car to catch on fire.
I just need to understand how one hot dog caused that fire.
They didn’t find no chewed up wires or hoses to indicate that there were rats living in there.
Got oil changes on time. Never modified the car.
This case has been going on since 2020
I have the full report of their latest investigator.
But I also have the conversation with their first investigator from 2 years ago where he clearly says that the food did not cause the fire.
So I’m confused
How the heck did a hot dog get in there? Wouldn't damage from a fire be covered by your insurance?
This is from their latest report :
In my opinion, based on the above findings, available information, accuracy of reported statements, conditions of the examination, and with a reasonable degree of professional certainty, the fire in the subject vehicle originated at or near the exhaust components in the lower driver-side rear corner of the engine compartment. It is my opinion, the ignition source was the primary catalytic converter, and the first material ignited was foreign debris (primarily food materials) likely introduced into the engine compartment by rodents or other vermin.
It is my opinion, with a reasonable degree of professional certainty, that the fire is not the result of a defect or malfunction in the subject vehicle or one of its subsystems. In addition, the fire is not the result of a malfunction or defect resulting from, directly or indirectly, repairs performed by Cadillac of Greenwich, Inc. as outlined in the provided materials and repair orders.
As of this time, I am withholding additional reporting and analysis pending your request. I reserve the right to amend or modify this report when presented with previously unavailable or unknown facts or data. Please, contact the office at your convenience should questions remain, additional reporting be required, or further analysis deemed necessary.
I only had liability. No full coverage.
Btw I’ve had issues with the car since the first day I got it. It kept jerking horribly. I took it for service multiple times and they said that the car had to learn the new driver.
I don’t know anything about cars. So I really don’t understand any of this.
Even if the rodents brought food inside, how would it create a fire?
Only ONE hotdog was burnt. The rest of the food was fine.
* i live in NYC so yes we have a rat issue.* but wouldn’t every car in nyc catch on fire then
Catalytic converters operate at very high temperatures so it is quite conceivable that if food debris from rats or other animals got in there that it would catch on fire, especially if a heat shield had rusted away. No idea how common car fires caused by that are in the city but it's possible. (I've never heard of a bank or loan company that would loan out money on a car without full insurance though.)
This is typical GM: they don’t stand by their product, and most likely this is related to their shoddy design and workmanship. Proving that in court is a different story, but you may need to hire a lawyer if you have already exhausted all avenues with GM. Especially with a luxury brand, they should be treating you much better than this.
Unfortunately I can’t afford a lawyer. This case has been open since the beginning of 2020.
You also say “There was hot dogs and pizza near the engine compartment near the exhaust system” - can you explain exactly where that is or post a picture? None of this makes any sense. I feel like there is a full backstory someplace.
I posted it on Reddit. I’m not sure how to add pictures here. I’m on my phone.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Cadillac/comments/q64uw4/2016_cadillac_cts_burned_6_months_after_purchase/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
Where there's food, there's rodents. Where there's rodents, there's chewed up wires and hoses. Some fluid dripping onto hot exhaust will easily start a fire. (just ask Kia owners)
No chewed up wires/hoses in their report. They are saying that they found that burnt hot dog and that’s what caused the fire.
What was on the report:
Section 11: Summary and Opinions
In my opinion, based on the above findings, available information, accuracy of reported statements, conditions of the examination, and with a reasonable degree of professional certainty, the fire in the subject vehicle originated at or near the exhaust components in the lower driver-side rear corner of the engine compartment. It is my opinion, the ignition source was the primary catalytic converter, and the first material ignited was foreign debris (primarily food materials) likely introduced into the engine compartment by rodents or other vermin.
It is my opinion, with a reasonable degree of professional certainty, that the fire is not the result of a defect or malfunction in the subject vehicle or one of its subsystems. In addition, the fire is not the result of a malfunction or defect resulting from, directly or indirectly, repairs performed by Cadillac of Greenwich, Inc. as outlined in the provided materials and repair orders.
As of this time, I am withholding additional reporting and analysis pending your request. I reserve the right to amend or modify this report when presented with previously unavailable or unknown facts or data. Please, contact the office at your convenience should questions remain, additional reporting be required, or further analysis deemed necessar
I don't see any mention of a hot dog.
It says " the ignition source was the primary catalytic converter, and the first material ignited was foreign debris (primarily food materials)"
Food can catch fire. Especially greasy food. (I'm sure you can find videos on youtube)
In the document they gave you (I can't see the details because you provided blurry phone screenshots) they show melted plastic in the wheel well area near the catalytic converter where the fire started, and also the belly pan with what looks like food and paper. Food wrappers can start fires too.
So far to me this looks like a matter for your insurance company.
There’s multiple food items but they are referring to one burnt hot dog sausage. No other “debris” was burnt. Not even that one wrapper they found in there.
If a wrapper stuck to the catalytic converter burned up, what is there to find?
or a hot dog caught fire. And .... ?
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