2004-2007 Cadillac CTS-V Recalled For Potential Brake Failure

Earlier this month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration closed an investigation of GM trucks and SUVs from model years 1999 to 2003. At least 2,702 owners of those vehicles complained about brake-line corrosion, and a total of 88 collisions had been linked to the problem, as well as 20 injuries.

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In the end, NHTSA couldn't identify an underlying flaw that might've caused the failures. Instead, the agency put the blame on de-icing salts used in northern states and launched a safety campaign (see above) to encourage motorists in those areas to have their brake-lines checked.

Now, GM has announced a recall of the 2004-2007 Cadillac CTS-V for a similar problem. According to NHTSA documents, "some of these vehicles have a condition in which the front brake hose fitting at the caliper may corrode due to snow or water, containing road salt or other contaminants, entering and being retained in the hose sleeve. If the fitting corrodes significantly, the brake hose may develop a leak".

Should that happen, braking distance could increase. The effect would usually be slow, but in the rare instance of a brake hose rupture, it could be fairly dramatic. It goes without saying that increasing braking distance boosts the risk of an accident.

If there's a problem with the brake hose, owners will likely notice a warning light on the dashboard and a "Check Brake Fluid" message in the CTS-V's Driver Information Center. Owners may also notice spotting on the ground where the vehicle is parked.