1996 Cadillac Deville Problems

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

1996 CADILLAC CONCOURS DEVILLE. 1. EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE: POWER STEERING FAILS DURING RAIN EVENTS. 2. FAILURE & CONSEQUENCES: UNABLE TO SAFELY STEER VEHICLE. 3. BELT TENSIONER REPLACED; DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *JB

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.

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

ONE DAY I COULD SMELL GAS FAIRLY STRONG, AND THEN I STOPPED AT A FRIENDS SHOP, OPENED THE HOOD AND YOU COULD SEE GAS SPURTING OUT. AS I WAS LOOKING UP THIS PART AND THEN SPOKE WITH SOMEONE THAT INFORMED ME THAT YES THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE FUEL RAIL AND THAT IT WAS CLOSED. OF COURSE I HAD TO PARK IT TO KEEP IT FROM CATCHING ON FIRE.. IT'S A 1996 CADILLAC DEVILLE AND IT'S IN MINT CONDITION. I AM ASKING FOR SOME HELP IN GETTING THIS REPAIRED/REPLACED.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE PLACING FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT OBSERVED FUEL LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE BY THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V110000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS), BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED UNTIL HEAVY PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER YET THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,201.

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RUBBER PART OF THE BRAKE LINE SPLIT INTO TWO SEPARATE PIECES WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE BRAKES COULD NOT BE USED AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND GEARS WERE APPLIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT SOMEONE WOULD LOOK INTO THE FAILURE AT SOME POINT. THE CONTACT IS A MECHANIC AND STATED THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT OCCUR ON A VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT THE BRACKET THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE STRUT IS BEING STRETCHED BEYOND ITS LIMIT, WHICH AFTER TIME WILL EVENTUALLY SPLIT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,210 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,449. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF THE METAL BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE RUBBER PART OF THE BRAKE LINE IS CUTTING THE RUBBER LINE RIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE BRACKET . UPDATED 09/18/08. *JB

REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE CONTROLLER 1996 CADILLAC CONCOURS AT A COST OF 1400.00. APPROACHING STOP SIGN AT LOW SPEED BRAKES FAILED CAUSING CAR TO STOP BEYOND STOP SIGN. I NOTICE THAT 1997 AND LATER CADILLACS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM. I AM SURE GM IS AWARE THAT 1996 MODELS HAVE THE SAME DEFECT SO WHY HAVE THEY NOT COVERED 1996 MODELS? *TR

DESPITE TWO TRIPS TO THE CADILLAC DEALER, THE "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" KEEPS COMING ON, PARTICULARLY DURING EXTEND PERIODS OF DRIVING. *JB

DT: WHILE DRIVING CALLER TRIES TO SLOW DOWN AND WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKES LOSE POWER. WHILE AT THE STOP LIGHT IT ACCELERATES, AND SHE HAS TO FIGHT THE CAR TO KEEP IT STOPPED. WHILE IN PARK IT RACES AT 2125 RPMS. HAD CAR TO DEALER 4 TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM. DEALER SAID IT WAS A CHIP IN COMPUTER. CAR WILL BE TOWED AGAIN TONIGHT. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET. MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED. *AK

AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY WHILE WAITING AT A RED LIGHT. THERE WAS A RED LIGHT ON WHICH IT SAID TRACTION CONTROL-CHECK AIRBAG. RED LIGHT CAME ON AND OFF SPORADICALLY.*AK

WHILE STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT REAR ENDED A TRUCK. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, ALSO, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBACKS COLLAPSED. *AK CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER WERE INJURED. *SLC

DT: CADILLAC DEVILLE 1996. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC BUTTONS THAT CONTROLLED THE DRIVER'S SEAT, STARTED TO MOVE IN ALL DIFFERENT WAYS, UPWARD, DOWNWARD, AND PUSHED THE CONTACT UP AGAINST THE STEERING WHEEL. WHEN SHE TRIED TO MOVE THE SEAT BACKWARD IT WOULD NOT MOVE. *AK *SC *JB

INSTRUMENT PANEL IS NOT WORKING ANY MORE. CONSUMER CANNOT TELL/ READ FUEL LEVEL OR SPEED ON VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

TURN SIGNAL WOULD GO VERY FAST INSTEAD OF STEADY. WHEN ITS TURNED OFF & TURNED BACK, WOULD WORK AT NORMAL SLOW PACE. ITS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. ALSO, TRUNK RELEASE BUTTON DO NOT COME OUT TO RELEASE TRUNK.*AK

TURN SIGNAL IS ERRATIC, TURN SIGNAL IS VERY RAPID WHEN HELD. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TURNING ON THE TURN SIGNAL (EIHER RIGHT OR LEFT) OR WHEN TURN SIGNAL IS FULLY ENGAGED, SIGNALS EXHIBIT A RAPID CLICK CONDITION. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. *TT

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

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

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE TIRES DID NOT HOLD AIR PROPERLY, AND THERE WERE SMALL CRACKS AROUND THE OUTER SIDEWALLS OF THE TIRES. ALSO, THERE HAS BEEN UNEVEN WEAR PATTERN ON ALL FOUR TIRES. THIS WAS A PROBLEM SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE. THE LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO MAINTAIN THE TIRES PROPERLY. THE TIRES WERE TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP, AND THEY STATED THE UNEVEN WEAR WAS DUE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. ANOTHER MECHANIC STATED THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FRONT END. AT THIS TIME, NO CORRECTIONS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE VIBRATED WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK

REFER TO OPEN NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE94071. CUSTOMER OWNS A 1996 CADILLAC SEDAN DEVILLE WITH 93,884 MILES. CAR WAS ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN XW4 TIRES FROM MANUFACTURER IN SIZE P225/60 R16 97S WITH A THIN WHITEWALL. ALL 4 TIRES REPLACED WITH SAME MICHELIN XW4 TIRES AT AROUND 50,000 MILES IN 2002, DUE TO AGE AND WEAR. ALL THE NEW TIRES HAD DOT CODE: B93V 222X 0902, AND ARE MARKED MADE IN USA. IN 2006, WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT 40 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE HAD A SUDDEN BLOWOUT. THIS BLOWOUT CREATED A HOLE FROM JUST PAST THE TIRE BEAD TO THE BEGINNING OF THE TREAD, MAKING A FLAP ABOUT THE SIZE OF YOUR PALM, STILL ATTACHED TO THE SIDE OF THE TREAD. TIRE REPLACED WITH A MATCHING XW4 WITH DOT CODE: B33V 222X 1105, MARKED MADE IN CANADA. AT THAT TIME, THE XW4 WAS DISCONTINUED BY MICHELIN, SO HAD TO FIND IT AS NOS (NEW OLD STOCK) VIA MAIL ORDER DISTRIBUTOR. IN SEPT. 2008 AT AROUND 93,800 MILES, THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE XW4 TIRE WAS NOTICED TO HAVE A SMALL BUBBLE IN THE SIDEWALL, NEAR THE TIRE BEAD AND IN THE WRITING AREA FOR THE TREAD AND SIDEWALL DESIGNATIONS. HAVE PICTURES SHOWING THIS BUBBLE, WHICH IS ABOUT 3 INCHES LONG AND 1.25 INCHES WIDE. SUBMITTED CLAIM TO MICHELIN AND REPLACED THE TIRE WITH A MICHELIN SYMMETRY, WHICH ALMOST EXACTLY MATCHED THE XW4 IN TREAD AND SIDEWALL APPEARANCE. WHEN TIRE WAS DISMOUNTED FROM THE RIM, THE BUBBLE STAYED INFLATED?! MICHELIN CAME BACK SAYING THE TIRE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AS IT WAS A FEW MONTHS PAST THE 6 YEAR WARRANTY. AT THE SAME TIME, THE 2 REMAINING XW4 TIRES ON THE BACK EXHIBITED SIGNIFICANT CRACKING RIGHT WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDEWALL, AROUND THE ENTIRE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE TIRE. APPEARS TO BE TREAD SEPARATION. THESE 2 REAR TIRES ALSO HAVE A DOT CODE: B93V 222X 0902, AND MARKED MADE IN USA. REAR TIRE TREAD DEPTHS MEASURED 9/32 INCHES, FRONT DRIVERS SIDE 6/32 INCHES, AND NEWER XW4 ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE MEASURED 9/32 INCHES. ALL TREAD DEPTHS MEASURED THE SAME ACROSS THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE TREAD. *TR

THE CHROME WHEELS ARE STARTING TO PEEL. CONSUMER STATES TIRES ARE LOOSING AIR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HINGE BROKE OFF WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT TURN. CONSUMER HAS COME VERY CLOSE TO HAVING A COLLISION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED STEERING BELT. NEXT TIME, DEALER PUT ON A SPLASH PAN. HOWEVER, CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK

THE CONSUMER INDICATED THE FOUR ORIGINAL SETS OF RIMS COMPLETED RUSTED FROM INSIDE TO OUTSIDE. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER, THIS WAS THE RESULT OF THE SALT USED ON THE STREET. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

CONSUMER RECEIVED NO SATISFACTORY SERVICE TO DATE REGARDING LOSS OF TIRE PRESSURE DUE TO CORROSION OF ALUMINUM WHEELS. (NAR) *PH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND REAR SEAT BELTS FAILED TO LOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

MY SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE WILL NOT LATCH. THE TONGUE WILL NOT INSERT INTO THE BUCKLE. I REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO GM/ CADILLAC AND WAS TOLD TO VISIT THE LOCAL DEALER. THE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEALER IN ZANESVILLE, OHIO TOLD ME THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. SINCE I NEVER USE THE MIDDLE BACK SEAT AND IT HAS THE IDENTICAL BUCKLE, MY SUGGESTION WAS TO REMOVE THE SEAT BELT FOR THE MIDDLE BACK SEAT AND USE THE BUCKLE FOR MY DRIVER'S SEAT. I WAS TOLD FOR LEGAL REASON THEY COULD NOT DO THIS. SO IT IS OK FOR ME THE DRIVER NOT TO HAVE A SEAT BELT WHEN THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE THROUGH GM BUT IS AVAILABLE IN MY MIDDLE BACK SEAT WHICH IS NEVER USED. I NOTICED THE 91 CADILLAC DEVILLE HAD A RECALL FOR A SIMILAR PROBLEM.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1996 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI FREEZE CAME OVER THE FIREWALL AND CAUSED SECOND DEGREE BURNS TO HIS FEET. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 55 MPH WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE HEATER CORE FAILED ON THE VEHICLE AND ALLOWED THE ANTI FREEZE TO LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 167000.

FRONT STRUT MOUNTS R/R REPLACED DUE TO CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING HARD IN REVERSE GEAR.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

AIR CONDITIONER FAN FAILED.

TRAVELING AT SPEED 67 MI.PER HR., WHEN LEFT REAR AXLE BROKE, WHEEL CAME OFF, ON INTERSTATE, HIT RETAINING WALL, AND TOTAL CAR. *JB