1996 Cadillac Deville Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO RUN HOT AS SOON AS THE ENGINE WAS STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS CRACKED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THEIR COST AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THEM NOT TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. A LETTER WAS WRITTEN TO THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER WHO RESPONDED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST IN THE REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 74,000.

NHTSA ID

10480161

Incident

Mar 1, 2012

Mileage

74,000 mi

MY FATHER PURCHASED A 1996 SEDAN DEVILLE BRAND NEW. HE PASSED AWAY IN APRIL 1998. MY MOTHER DROVE THE CAR UNTIL THIS YEAR. SHE GAVE ME THE CAR. THE CAR HAS APPROX 17,000 MILES. I JUST FOUND OUT THE CAR HAS A BLOWN REAR HEAD GASKET. I REALIZE THE CAR IS 15 YRS OLD BUT I FEEL THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. THE CAR WAS NEVER ABUSED AND STILL SMELLS NEW INSIDE. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE WITH GM? *TR

NHTSA ID

10396042

Incident

Mar 14, 2011

Mileage

17,000 mi

FRONT WHEELS PASSED THROUGH A PUDDLE AND WATER SPLASHED INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHILE I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A TURN. THERE WAS A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND THE TURN COULD NOT BE COMPLETED. THE EFFECT WAS MOMENTARY BUT SCARED ME QUITE A BIT. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES ON DIFFERENT RAINY DAYS WITH THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10250966

Incident

Nov 15, 2008

Mileage

70,000 mi

ANY TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN MORE THAN 2 HOURS, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATS, AND CAUSES THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, AND HE IS UNABLE TO REPAIR TO OUR SATISFACTION. THIS HAS OCCURRED MANY, MANY TIMES WITHOUT RESOLUTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10249827

Incident

Nov 16, 2008

CAR LOSES POWER COMPLETELY AND CUTS OFF. THERE IS NO ELECTRIC OR ENGINE AVAILABLE AND THE CAR MUST BE RESTARTED IN ORDER TO PROCEED IN TRAFFIC. THIS FAILURE USUALLY OCCURS AT LOW RATES (20-35MPH) OF SPEED BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING CORNERS. POWER STEERING IS DIMINISHED DUE TO POWER FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10215524

Incident

Jan 17, 2008

VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON CITY ROADS WHERE POSTED SPEEDS ARE 35-45 MPH. THE CAR JUST STARTED TO SPEED UP ON ITS OWN AND I COULD NOT GET THE ENGINE TO SLOW DOWN. THE ONLY WAY I COULD AVOID A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT WAS TO RIDE THE BRAKES CONTINUOUSLY. BY THE TIME I GOT HOME THE BRAKES WERE SMOKING AND EXTREMELY OVERHEATED. I ALMOST COULD NOT STOP WITH THE ENGINE RACING AND THE BRAKES WORN OUT. I HAD TO SHUT THE ENGINE DOWN WHILE STILL IN DRIVE, ALMOST RUNNING INTO THE WALL OF MY HOUSE. I AM 70 YEARS OLD AND WAS VERY SCARED. ON EDMUNDS .COM THERE ARE THREE OTHER REPORTED INSTANCES OF THE SAME THING HAPPENING WITH THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL. MY CAR IS UNDRIVEABLE AND I WILL HAVE TO GET IT TOWED FROM MY HOUSE TO THE DEALER FOR IT TO BE CHECKED OUT, PLEASE FOLLOW UP ON THIS AS IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION. I WAS VERY CLOSE TO HAVING AN ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10179535

Incident

Jan 22, 2007

Mileage

100,165 mi

BOUGHT VEHICLE USED FROM AUTO DEALERSHIP. FROM DAY ONE SMELLED OIL FROM UNDER HOOD, SMELLED ENGINE COOLANT LEAK. HAVING TO CONSTANTLY REFILL COOLANT LEVEL. AND COOLANT MIXED ON WITH ENGINE OIL. DEALER "COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS. LATER, 3 OTHER REPAIR SHOPS ALL DIAGNOSED BLOWN HEAD GASKET. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIRS RANGED FROM $2800.00 TO $5200.00. *JB

NHTSA ID

10178754

Incident

Jun 10, 2006

1996 CADILLAC DEVILLE HAD A CRACKED HEAD GASKET.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED***. *MR THE CRACKED GASKET CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE. *NM

NHTSA ID

10131295

Incident

May 23, 2005

Mileage

62,545 mi

LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT ON MY 1996 CADILLAC DEVILLE. TOOK CAR INTO DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. REPAIR CALLED FOR ENGINE REMOVAL AND COST APPROX. $3400. I HAVE HEARD OF A NUMBER OF OTHER GM NORTHSTAR ENGINES HAVING THIS SAME TYPE OF FAILURE. MY CAR HAS BEEN DEALER MAINTAINED SINCE NEW AND WITH ONLY 85,000 MILES ON THIS CAR AND THE NUMBER OF OTHER SIMILAR FAILURES REPORTED, I CONSIDER THIS A MANUFACTURERS DESIGN FAULT.*JB

NHTSA ID

10109827

Incident

Jan 26, 2005

Mileage

85,575 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE RPM RACED TO 50-60 MPH. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO GET CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. PEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10105425

Incident

Nov 29, 2004

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10096609

Incident

Sep 20, 2004

Mileage

60,000 mi

EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES, A/C COMPRESSOR AND LEAK IN ENGINE. *BF THE CONSUMER WAS SENT CORRESPONDENCE NOTIFYING HER OF A RECALL ON THE 1996 CADILLAC SEDAN DIVILLE. THE RECALL DID NOT COVER THE PROBLEMS THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING WITH HER VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD SHE NEEDED STRUTS. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE ENGINE. CONSUMER GOT RID OF THE VEHICLE AND BOUGHT ANOTHER TYPE OF VEHICLE. *TC

NHTSA ID

10095307

Incident

Jun 1, 1998

MY 1996 CADILLAC DEVILLE CONCOURSE HAS DEVELOPED A DEFECT WHEREAS IT WILL ACCELERATE ON IT'S OWN, SHUTTING DOWN THE A/C FOR MORE HORSEPOWER WHILE IT DOES IT. I HAVE SEEN IT ACCELERATE THROUGH 80 MPH ONCE. THE CONDITION GOES AWAY TEMPORAILY WHEN THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF AND RECRANKED, RETURNING AT UNPREDICTABLE INTERVALS. MY LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, GIVING ME A "GO AWAY AND NEVER COME BACK SPEECH" ADVISING ME STRONGLY TO JUNK THE CAR (IT'S IN ALMOST PERFECT CONDITION OTHERWISE). I THINK I MAY HAVE A 'SMOKING GUN' CAR FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE KILLED, MAIMED, DESTROYED PROPERTY WITH CARS THAT ACCELERATE BY THEMSELVES. THE DEALER HAD THE CAR OVERNIGHT AND CLAIMED TO HAVE MADE NO FREPAIRS, BUT IT HAS NOT REPEATED THIS SINCE I GOT IT BACK TODAY. IT WAS A CHRONIC CONDITIOIN THREE DAYS AGO NEAR THE END OF A 3000 MILE TRIP. CADIULLAC HAS EXTRAORDINARY RESPOSIBILITIES AND LIABILITIES HERE FOR REFUSING TO REPAIR THE CAR AS THEY HAVE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANYONE ELSE TO REPAIR CADILLAC CARS, AND THIS CAR IS A LOADED GUN. I HAVE LEARNED TO STOP IT BY TAKING IT OUT OF GEAR, AT WHICH TIME, IF THE CONDITION IS PRESENT, THE ENGINE IDLES BETWEEN 3000 AND 4000 RPM. THEY HAVE ADMITTED TO ME THAT IT IS IN THE ELECTRONIC ENGINE CONTROLS, BUT STEADFASTLY REFUSED TO BE SPECIFIC ABOUT IT. IU THOUGHT IT VERY STRANGE THAT THEY WOULD SO POINTEDLY TRY TO MAKE AN ANTI-CADILLAC PERSON OUT OF ME WITH THEIR RUDENESS ABOUT MY PROBLEM, AND THEIR REFUSAL TO PERFORM REPAIRS. THEY HAVE ALWAYS LOVED TO TAKE MY MONEY BEFORE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10078413

Incident

Jun 14, 2004

Mileage

180,000 mi

CONSUMER NOTICED FLUID ON THE GARAGE FLOOR UNDER THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED AN OIL LEAK DUE TO A FAULTY ENGINE GASKET AND A RUSTED RADIATOR. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

10057412

WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ENGINE EXPLODED AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10046378

Incident

Mar 8, 2003

Mileage

150,000 mi

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING OIL STARTED TO LEAK FROM THE ENGINE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10026747

Incident

Jul 2, 2003

DEX COOL COMPLAINT SLUDGE BUILD UP WATERPUMP AND TRANSMISSION CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX PUT NEW WATERPUMP ON BUT I HAVE STILL PROBLEMS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10021371

Incident

May 15, 2003

THE GASKET FOR THE OIL PAN HAD LEAKED, AND CAUSED THE SERVICE LIGHT TO REMAIN ON. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PH SCC

NHTSA ID

10006571

Incident

Jan 30, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE CONSUMER CAN STRONGLY SMELL CHEMICAL FUMES INSIDE THE VEHICLE DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ID

10001600

Incident

Dec 10, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITH OUT ANY WARNING, THE VEHICLE WILL STALL AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. MR WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED, LOSS OF ALL POWER INCLUDING BRAKES AND STEERING OCCURRED. *JG

NHTSA ID

8022096

Incident

Oct 26, 2002

Mileage

61,100 mi

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO GO FORWARD. HOWEVER VEHICLE WILL GO INTO REVERSE. WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLS AND ONLY GOES INTO REVERSE, IT TAKES ABOUT TWO HOURS BEFORE IT FUNCTIONS PROPERLY. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. CONSUMER FEELS PREVIOUS OWNER TRADED VEHICLE IN DUE TO STALLING. *TT

NHTSA ID

567575

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE WILL NOT GO FORWARD, BUT WILL GO INTO REVERSE. AFTER APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS, VEHICLE WILL RESTART AND RETURN TO NORMAL CONDITIONS. DEALER CANNOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID

8018158

ENGINE IS MADE OUT ALUMINUM AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING IT OVERHEATED. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON DASHBOARD. DEALERSHIP AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

8013959

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

ENGINE STALLS AT 30 MPH AFTER LETTING OFF OF THE GAS. LOSING ALL POWER ASSIST THE STEERING AND BRAKES AS IT DID THIS WEEKEND ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD IN AR. WHILE SLOWING DOWN FOR A 10 MPH CURVE.... IF MY WIFE HAD BEEN DRIVING SHE COUND NOT HAVE MADE THE TURN AND BEEN DOWN THE MOUNTAIN SIDE !!! THIS PROBLEM HAS PERSISTED SINC E ARROUND SEPT 2000. MOST OF THE TIME THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. LAST TIME I LEFT THE CAR FOR SEVERAL DAYS. WHEN IT STALLED THEY REPLACED THE CRANK SENSORS, NOW IT STALLS AT 30 MPH INSTEAD OF AT STOPS ONLY !!!*AK

NHTSA ID

758387

I HAVE A 1996 CADILLAC DEVILLE THAT I PURCHASED NEW. AT ABOUT 83K MILES, I NOTICED THAT AN OIL LEAK HAD STARTED FROM UNDER THE ENGINE. I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER NEAR WHERE I LIVE NOW (MORITZ CADILLAC IN ARLINGTON, TX), AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CAUSE OF THE OIL LEAK WAS THE WEARING OUT OF THE ENGINE SEALS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE ENGINE. I WAS THEN TOLD IT WOULD COST $1,800 TO REPAIR AS IT WOULD REQUIRE THE COMPLETE REMOVAL OF THE ENGINE FROM THE CAR TO REPAIR (ABOUT 18 HOURS OF LABOR). AFTER SOME RESEARCH ON THE WEB I FOUND THAT THIS IS APPARENTLY A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH CADILLAC'S WITH THE NORTHSTAR ENGINE. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW IN THE ENGINE, AND BECAUSE THE COST IS SO HIGH, MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR OWNERS TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE, AND HENCE ARE DRIVING CARS THAT ARE BOTH ENVIRONMENTALLY UNSOUND AND POTENTIALLY UNSAFE DUE TO THE LEAKING OIL.

NHTSA ID

746646

Incident

Nov 13, 2000