1997 Cadillac Deville Engine Problems

AT ABOUT 12:30 - 1:00 AM IN THE MORNING THE CAR WAS PARKED AT MY HOME IN THE DRIVEWAY DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE. [XXX] THE OWNER GETS UP TO GET SOMETHING TO EAT WHEN HE LOOKED OUTSIDE THE PATIO, HE SAW HIS CAR SMOLDERING AND THAN IMMEDIATELY BURST INTO FLAMES AT THE ENGINE AREA. CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IMMEDIATELY AND IN THE MEANTIME TRIED TO SUPPRESS THE FIRE BUT NOT SUCCESSFUL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10681493

Incident

Jan 26, 2015

Mileage

87,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OIL PAN SEAL WAS LEAKING OIL. AS A RESULT, THE OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED EXTREME CONCERN OVER A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 04/18/12*BF UPDATED 04/23/12.*JB

NHTSA ID

10454335

Incident

Apr 6, 2012

Mileage

65,000 mi

UPON STARTING THE CAR FIRST THING IN THE MORNING, THE ENGINE BACKFIRED THROUGH THE INDUCTION SYSTEM STARTING AN ENGINE FIRE. BY THE TIME THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED IT HAD CAUSED ENOUGH DAMAGE THAT THE CAR HAD TO BE JUNKED. *KB

NHTSA ID

10413266

Incident

Jul 11, 2011

Mileage

138,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT FOLLOWED BY STALLING. THE A/C WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED FOLLOWING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED TO REPORT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10386418

Incident

Mar 3, 2011

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN. THE CONTACT STATED A FEW PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE VEHICLE BEING UNDER RECALL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V110000-FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS) BUT COULD NOT DETERMINE IF THE FAILURE WAS DIRECTLY ASSOCIATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10349638

Incident

Aug 5, 2010

Mileage

120,000 mi

1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE ENGINE HEAD GASKET AND COOLING SYSTEM MALFUNCTION DEALER REFUSED TO FIX OVERHEATING MAY CAUSE EXPLOSION OR FIRE DEFECTIVE POHANKA CADILLAC FREDERICKSBURG,VA 22408 SD REPLACE ENTIRE ENGINE, REFUSED TO PROVIDE 12 MONTH WARRANTY UNACCEPTABLE RESPONSE FROM GM CADILLAC DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258520

Incident

Feb 10, 2009

Mileage

147,855 mi

I BOUGHT A USED 1997 CADILLAC FROM A CADILLAC DEALERSHIP, BEFORE I BOUGHT THE CAR I TOOK IT FOR A TEST DRIVE, IT DROVE LIKE A DREAM, THEN ON THE WAY BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I TOLD THE SALESMAN ABOUT IT, AND HE SAID HE WOULD HAVE IT CHECKED OUT, HE ASKED WHAT I THOUGHT ABOUT THE CAR OTHER THAN THE OIL LIGHT COMING ON , I TOLD HIM OTHER THAN THAT I COULDN,T FIND NOTHING ELSE WRONG WITH IT. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATTER I DROVE BY THE DEALERSHIP AND NOTICED THE CAR WAS GONE, I PULLED IN AND PRECEDED TO LOOK AT OTHER CARS, WHEN THE SAME SALESMAN CAME OUT TO WAIT ON ME AND I ASKED ABOUT THE 97 CADILLAC AND HE TOLD ME THAT THEY HAD FOUND THE PROBLEM AND IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET, AND IF THEY WERE TO FIX IT, WOULD I STILL BE INTERESTED IN THE CAR IF THE PRICE WAS RIGHT, I SAID YES,....( I THOUGHT TO MYSELF A CADILLAC BEING REPAIRED AT A CADILLAC DEALERSHIP BY A CADILLAC MECHANIC, WHY NOT, HOW COULD I GO WRONG)...SO AFTER TALKING A WHILE I LEFT AND CAME BACK ABOUT A WEEK LATER AND ACCORDING TO THE SALESMAN IT HAD BEEN FIXED, SO I PRECEDED TO TEST DRIVE IT AGAIN DIDN,T FIND ANY THING WRONG AND BOUGHT THE CAR, DROVE GREAT, COULD,NT ASK FOR A NICER CAR, UNTIL 5 MONTHS. AND JUST UNDER 4000 MI. LATTER SAME PROBLEM BLOWN HEAD GASKET, WELL I BOUGHT THE CAR AS IS, AND I KNOW WHAT AS IS MEANS' I LIVE ON A DISABILITY CHECK, AND YOU CAN IMAGINE THE REPAIR COST, SO IT SITS IN THE DRIVEWAY, AND I,M OUT A CAR....MY PROBLEM IS WITH GENERAL MOTORS I HAVE CHECKED UNDER COMPLAINTS AT NHTSA AND OTHER SITES AND THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVER SINCE THEY CAME OUT WITH THE NORTHSTAR ENGINE BUT UNTIL THEIR IS A RECALL THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE PROBLEM, MY QUESTION IS WHY HAS THEIR NOT BEEN A RECALL...BUT YET THEY GET BAILOUT MONEY WHILE PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE FORCED TO WALK. LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU ON THIS MATTER BEFORE I HAVE TO SEND MY CAR TO THE JUNKYARD BECAUSE I SURE CAN,T AFFORD TO FIX IT LIVING ON $849.00 AMONTH.... *TR

NHTSA ID

10257390

Incident

Jan 14, 2009

Mileage

108,900 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT NOTICED A SIGNAL ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL THAT INDICATED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES BEFOREHAND. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 116,000. UPDATED 10/16/08. *LJ UPDATED 10/17/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10243105

Incident

Aug 14, 2008

Mileage

116,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START UP AFTER THE KEY IS TURNED IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT MAKES AT LEAST FIVE ATTEMPTS TO GET THE VEHICLE TO START. WHEN THE VEHICLE FINALLY STARTS, THE MUFFLER PRODUCES A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE AND THE ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC A FEW TIMES AND THE STARTER AND ALTERNATOR HAVE BEEN REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 182,895 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 161,000.

NHTSA ID

10237692

Incident

Jan 19, 2007

Mileage

161,000 mi

ENGINES IN THESE CARS ARE VERY BAD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10206474

Incident

Apr 14, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED. SHE STATED THAT THE VEHICLE GETS VERY HOT AND DISPLAYS A WARNING THAT INSTRUCTS HER TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. ANOTHER WARNING INDICATOR STATED THAT THERE WAS NO COOLANT IN THE ENGINE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, BUT THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN IF ANY REPAIRS WERE DONE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,200 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

10201003

Incident

Aug 28, 2007

ON NOVEMBER 21, 2005, I PAYED WORKING MAN'S AUTO IN AUSTIN, TX TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS AS DOWN PAYMENT FOR AN "AS IS" 1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE. UPON GETTING THE CAR I INFORMED THE SALESMAN OF A "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT THAT WAS ON THE DASHBOARD. HE INFORMED ME THAT IT "JUST NEEDED TO BE RESET". DUE TO MY LACK OF KNOWLEDGE REGARDING VEHICLES I TOOK HIM AT HIS WORD. WHEN THE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO GET INSPECTED, IT WOULDNT PASS INSPECTION DUE TO THIS "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" LIGHT. THE MANAGER AND SALESMAN ASKED IF I WOULD BE WILLING TO GO THERE OTHER SITE IN NORTH AUSTIN TO GET THE CARS COMPUTER RESET. I AGREED, AND ON MY WAY THE CAR OVERHEATED AND BROKE DOWN. THE OWNER CAME AND REPLACED THE COOLANT IN THE CAR AND ASKED "WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE US TO DO?" I ASKED FOR A LOANER VEHICLE UNTIL THE CAR WAS REPAIRED. HE INFORMED ME THAT HE COULDNT DO THAT DUE TO "INSURANCE REASONS." HE TOLD ME TO GO BY THERE LOCATION FRIDAY AND I DID. THE MECHANIC CLAIMED TO HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM EVEN THOUGH I ASKED HIM IF WITH THE LIGHT BEING ON STILL, WAS IT OKAY, AND HE SAID YES. HE ASKED IF I COULD COME BACK THE FOLLOWING MONDAY TO HAVE THE COMPUTER RESET. AGAIN I AGREED AND AGAIN ON THE WAY HOME THE CAR OVERHEATED AND BROKE DOWN AGAIN. THEY CAME TO GET THE CAR TO BE REPAIRED ON NOVEMBER 28 OF 2005. WITH CONSTANT PHONE CALLS, REQUESTS, MISSED HOURS OF WORK, STRESS, NOT BEING ABLE TO REGISTER FOR SCHOOL, I HADNT RECIEVED ANY INFORMATION FROM THEM AS TO WHEN MY CAR WOULD BE REPAIRED. THE OWNER REFUSES TO GIVE ME MY DOWN PAYMENT BACK, HE REFUSES TO PLACE ME IN ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND REFUSES TO DISCUSS THE MATTER WITH ME. *NM

NHTSA ID

10147675

Incident

Nov 21, 2005

Mileage

81,180 mi

I HAD ANTIFREEZE LEAKING FROM MY CADILLAC DEVILLE AND TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC THAT I HAVE A LOT OF TRUST IN. I EXPECTED TO HEAR I HAD A BAD RADIATOR AND WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE IT. INSTEAD HE CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT GM HAS A BAD DESIGN DEFECT WITH THE MATERIALS THEY USED ON THE HEAD BOLTS TO HOLD THE MOTOR. THEY DETERIORATE BECAUSE OF THIS AND STRIP OUT CAUSING PRESSURE ON THE RADIATOR AND IT CRACKS. ALL THIS IS A RESULT OF USING ALUMINUM INSTEAD OF STEAL. THE MECHANIC SAID HE SEE THE SAME THING EVERY OTHER WEEK AND TO DATE GM HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I CALLED GM AND THEY BLEW ME OFF. THEY GAVE ME A FILE NUMBER OF 1-380-399-885. *NM

NHTSA ID

10145020

Incident

Dec 9, 2005

DT: THE GAS GAUGE DID NOT WORK PROPERLY. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC SAID THERE WAS A RECALL WITH THE FUEL RAIL . HE TOLD THE CONSUMER TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE VEHICLE HAD A TRANSMISSION AND OIL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THEY DID THE RECALL AND GAVE THEM A COPY OF WHAT MECHANIC HAD GIVEN THE CONSUMER. THEY REPLACED THE WATER PUMP, AND SAID THERE WAS A BAD OIL LEAK. THIS WASN'T CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THE MECHANIC SAID. FELT LIKE THE VEHICLE WAS A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE NORTH STAR ENGINE.*AK THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW CRACKCASE SEAL DUE TO AN OIL LEAK, THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING AND THERE WAS NO TRANSMISSION LEAK.*JB

NHTSA ID

10127107

Incident

May 13, 2005

Mileage

69,000 mi

MY 1997 DEVILLE HAS AN OIL LEAK DUE TO POOR ENGINEERING AND RESULTS IN THE CAR DYING OUT AT ANY TIME. THIS HAS RESULTED IN LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. I HAVE HAD THE CAR SERVICED BUT THE PROBLEM QUICKLY REOCCURED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10116790

Incident

Apr 10, 2005

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING. THE PANEL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. STATING TO TURN ENGINE OFF. WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. FOUND THAT IT WAS THE HEAD GASKET, WAS TOLD NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10113034

Incident

Feb 22, 2005

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICEL STALLED. *NM A POPING SOUND WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND WAS VERY HARD TO RESTART. *TC *JB

NHTSA ID

10101379

Incident

Dec 1, 2004

THE MOTOR WAS RACING, THE CONSUMER COULD NOT GET IT BACK INTO IDLE MODE. ON THE BELT WAY, THE CONSUMER LET UP ON THE ACCELERATOR AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RACE AT A HIGH SPEED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10097016

Incident

Aug 26, 2004

THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LEAKED EXCESSIVE OIL. THE DEALER STATED THE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED. *JB

NHTSA ID

10087748

Incident

May 5, 2004

Mileage

63,028 mi

WHILE DRIVING HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. CONSUMER MANAGED TO DRIVE HOME. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10088026

Incident

Jun 18, 2004

Mileage

85,480 mi

I JANUARY 2004 I TOOK MY 97 CADILLAC DEVILLE TO BE SERVICED DUE TO AN INDICATOR LIGHT ON TO CHECK THE COOLANT SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD NEED A NEW ENGINE DUE TO THE ENGINEERING DESIGN OF THE CADILLACS SINCE 1992 OF MOUNTING STEEL BOLTS IN ALLUMINUM MOTOR MOUNT WHICH WAS DESIGNED TO LAST ONLY UP TO 100,000 MILES. THE OPTIONS I WAS GIVER WERE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE OR HAVE THE MOUNTS REBUILT BUT THE LATER NO LONGER CAME WITH A WARRANTY OPTION SINCE A FAMILY OPTED FOR THAT AT WHICH TIME THEIR ENGINE FELL OUT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ON THEIR WAY TO CALIFORNIA. GM INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD GIVE NO ASSISTANCE FOR ANY SOURCE OF REPAIR WITH OPENLY ADMITTING THEY WERE AWARE OF THE DEFECT BUT WERE NOT PLANNING TO MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE ENGINE DESIGN MUCH LESS RECALL THE VEHICLES. AFTER SPENDING MANY HOURS COMMUNICATING WITH THEM AND AN ATTORNEY WRITING A COURTESY LETTER ON MY BEHALF, THEIR RESOLVE WAS TO GIVE ME A CERTIFICATE TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE. THEY HAVE ENO CONCERN THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY ISSUE, AS WELL AS A DELIBERATE ENGINEERING DESIGN FLAW TO CAUSE THE CONSUMER TO CONTINUE TO SPEND MONEY. GM INDICATED THAT THEY WERE PERFECTLY HAPPY WITH FALSE ADVERTISEMENT STATING THEY BACKED THEIR PRODUCT WITH INTEGRITY AND QUALITY ALL WELL KNOWING THIS IS A LIE TO THE PUBLIC. TELLING LIES AND STEALING FROM THE AMERICAN CONSUMER HAS TO STOP! UNFORTUNATELY THE COURTS WILL NOT GO AGAINST GM BUT HOPEFULLY THE NEWS MEDIA WILL TAKE A STAND FOR THE AMERICAN CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10068182

Incident

Jan 15, 2004

Mileage

122,000 mi

MY 1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED AT STEADY SPEED ON THE FREEWAY, WHILE EXITING ON A CLOVER LEAF RAMP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHILE DRIVING ON A COUNTRY ROAD, WHILE APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. SAYS IT SHOWS CODES THAT CAR STALLED BUT NO REASON. THEREFORE, EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS UNDER CADILLAC EXTENDED WARRANTY, THEY WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM UNLESS THE CAR STALLS WHILE THEY ARE DRIVING IT OR IF THE STALL LEAVES A CODE STATING THE CAUSE. I FEEL THE CAR IS UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY TO BE DRIVING AND AM FRUSTRATED THAT THEY WON'T TRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I'VE CALLED CADILLAC CUSTOMER CARE, THE DEALER'S GMGR, THE SVC. MGR. AND THEY ALL SAY THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING TILL IT ACTS UP FOR THEM. IF I PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, I CAN ALWAYS RESTART, BUT IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS IN HIGHWAY TRAFFIC WITH A VEHICLE FOLLOWING CLOSE, THERE COULD BE HORRIBLE CONSEQUENCES.*AK

NHTSA ID

10064362

Incident

Mar 24, 2004

Mileage

73,000 mi

VEHICLE BURNS OIL EXCESSIVELY. *AK THE VEHICLE MAY STOP WORKING AT ANYTIME. IT SEEMED AS THOUGH THE ENGINE DIDN'T HAVE AN OIL PAN. THE OIL WAS CHANGED REGULARLY AS SCHEDULED AND WOULD BURN 2 TO 4 QUARTS BETWEEN CHANGES AND BEGAN TO USE MORE BETWEEN 39K TO 42K MILES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT WOULD NOT HELP REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10061051

Incident

Jan 12, 2004

Mileage

120,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED VEHICLE STALLED, MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO PULL OUT OF TRAFFIC. *AK CONSUMED SMELLED GAS AND NOTICED THE VEHICLE CONSUMED 12 GALLONS INSTEAD OF 4. SERVICE CENTER WOULDN'T START OR MOVE VEHICLE ONCE THEY DISCOVERED GAS STRAY EMANATING FROM MOTOR. THEY STATED CONSUMER WAS LUCKY VEHICLE DIDN'T CATCH FIRE. *PH

NHTSA ID

10046448

Incident

Jun 24, 2003

Mileage

144,000 mi

HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION, WAS TOLD BY SERVICE MAN THAT ALL CADILLAC'S HAVE VERY THIN RINGS AND GENERAL MOTORS IS WORKING ON A NEW ONE. BUT THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT THE ONES ALREADY OUT.*AK

NHTSA ID

10030709

Incident

Aug 1, 2003

Mileage

29,000 mi