2006 Cadillac CTS Lighting Problems

The driver-side tail light lens fell off. I don't know where, but it probably fell off while I was driving, and if so, could have caused an accident. Cadillac does not stock this tail light assembly anymore, so I had to order it online, and then have it installed by a local shop. I am uploading photos of 1) repair invoice 2) new tail light box 3) old tail light (missing lens).

THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON ALL CADILLAC CTS MODELS 03-07 FOR FAULTY TAIL LIGHTS. THE LONG CENTER STOP LIGHT IS NEON AND MOISTURE BURNS IT OUT, DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE, FAULTY PRODUCT-SOME STATES REQUIRE THIS THIRD STOP LIGHT, DEALER WANTS $700+ TO REPLACE WITH NEW FAULTY PART. THE TWO REGULAR STOP LIGHTS ARE EQUALLY DIFFICULT TO FIX WHEN THEY STOP WORKING. NO BRAKE LIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE. TO CHECK THE FUSES IS ADDITIONALLY COMPLICATED AS ONE OR BOTH ARE UNDER THE BACKSEAT WHICH REQUIRES REMOVAL OF THE SEAT, INCLUDING TWO OTHER FUSE SITUATIONS. THIS IS TRULY DANGEROUS AND THE DESIGN AND PRODUCT IS INFERIOR, TAKING MUCH TIME AND COST TO HAVE REPAIRED. I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY OTHER VEHICLES AT THESE MODEL YEARS WITH UN-SAFE DIFFICULT BRAKE LIGHT ISSUES, AND CADILLAC IS ARROGANT TO SAY "IT'S A CADILLAC THING" I THINK CADILLAC NEEDS TO GET IT'S LIGHTING FUNCTIONS CORRECT FOR ROAD SAFETY ISSUES AND I'M SO ANGRY ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT I THINK CADILLAC SHOULD BE FORCED TO RE-CALL THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THEM PROPERLY AT NO CHARGE WITH PROPERLY FUNCTIONING LIGHTING ELECTRICS AND BULBS. MAL-FUNCTIONING BRAKE LIGHT PROBLEMS ARE IN MY OPINION A GRAVE SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT FAILED A TOTAL OF THREE TIMES AND WOULD NOT SEAL PROPERLY. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE WOULD BE AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

AUTOMATIC LIGHT SENSOR DOES NOT SENSE DAYLIGHT FOR 5 MINS AND 23 SECS AT THE LAST TIMING. IN A DAYLIGHT DRIVE OF 12 MILES, THE CAR TURNED NIGHT-TIME LAMPS ON AND OFF 6 TIMES. DEALER SAYS IT IS WORKING AS DESIGNED. THIS HAS JUST STARTED TO HAPPEN THE LAST 12 DAYS. NO LIGHT SETTINGS HAVE BEEN CHANGED SINCE THEY WERE SET WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR. I WAS TOLD BY SHOLZ CADILLAC REPAIR TO WAIT FOR THE LIGHTS TO SENSE THE CHANGE BEFORE DRIVING. HOWEVER, WHAT DO I DO WHEN ENTERING AND EXITING A TUNNEL? WHEN PLACED SIDE BY SIDE WITH A GMC XUV WITH AN AUTOMATIC SENSOR, THE GMC SENSES THE DIFFERENCE IN LIGHT IN 3 SECONDS. THIS DELAY IN MY CADILLAC IS CERTAINLY A SAFETY HAZARD. *NM

IN CASE YOU ARE NOT ALREADY AWARE OF THIS, THE TAIL LIGHTS OF SOME NEWER MODEL PASSENGER AUTOMOBILES ARE VISUALLY DISTRACTING BECAUSE THE LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED) ARRAY THAT IS USED FOR THE TAIL LIGHTS IS BEING STROBED ON AND OFF, INSTEAD OF BEING ON CONTINUOUSLY. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ON THE LATEST MODEL CADILLAC AND JAGUAR VEHICLES, TO NAME TWO. THE RATE OF STROBING IS HIGH ENOUGH SO THAT YOU DON'T SEE THE FLASHING WHEN LOOKING DIRECTLY AT THE TAILLIGHT. HOWEVER, AS MY EYES MOVE TO SCAN MULTIPLE LANES OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AHEAD, I CAN SEE THE STROBING IN MY PERIPHERAL VISION AND MY FIRST REACTION TO THE SUDDEN FLASH IS THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE COME ON. IT CATCHES MY ATTENTION AND TRICKS MY EYES TO LOOK BACK AT THAT PARTICULAR VEHICLE TO CONFIRM WHETHER OR NOT IT IS INDEED BRAKING. THIS IS DISTRACTING. THE NEWER LED VEHICLE TAIL LIGHTS SHOULD BE ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY (JUST LIKE A GOOD OLD FASHION LIGHT BULB), NOT STROBED ON AND OFF AT A HIGH RATE. *JB