RoadVitals

1988 Cadillac Eldorado

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Apr 20, 2015
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest May 19, 2006
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Cadillac Eldorado, most frequently naming the engine, brakes and driver assistance categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 2 NHTSA investigations name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Engine440.0%
  • Brakes110.0%
  • Driver assistance110.0%
  • Body & structure110.0%
  • Other / unspecified110.0%
  • Tires & wheels110.0%
  • Electrical110.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
06E043000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

May 19, 2006
88,303 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

C89001ClosedInvestigation

THROTTLE NON-RETURN

Opened Mar 6, 1989
Closed Jan 16, 1990

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
EA88036ClosedEngineering Analysis

REAR DISC BRAKES

Opened Jul 22, 1988
Closed Aug 30, 1991

SUMMARY: CORROSION IN THE REAR BRAKE CALIPER PREVENTS AUTOMATIC ADJUSTMENT FOR PAD WEAR. THIS MAY EVENTUALLY CAUSE LOSS OF REAR SERVICE BRAKE AND PARKING BRAKE. GM HAS ADDED CORROSION PROTECTION AND CHANGED SPRING RATE TO CORRECT PROBLEM. SAME BASIC DESIGN USED ON ALL MODELS IDENTIFIED.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 9
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Apr 20, 2015

FROM A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AS IF I HAD FLOORED THE GAS PEDAL. I BRAKED HARD AND BROUGHT THE CAR TO A STOP, THE ENGINE STILL RACING. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, WAITED A WHILE AND RESTARTED THE CAR. NORMAL OPERATION. I WAS TOO FAR FOR A TOW, SO I DROVE ~50 MILES TO MY DAUGHTER'S HOUSE. THE CAR ACCELERATED TWICE MORE AT FREEWAY SPEEDS. HARD BRAKE, PULL TO THE SIDE, SHUT OFF ENGINE, RESTART, EVERYTHING NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED 5 MORE TIMES, TWICE WITH WITNESSES TO SEE THAT I DID NOT MISTAKENLY HIT THE GAS PEDAL INSTEAD OF THE BRAKE. MORE STUFF REPLACED OVER THE NEXT THREE YEARS, BUT THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS OCCASIONALLY. INDEPENDENT GM MECHANIC THINKS THAT THE COMPUTER DROPPING OUT AND RESTARTING AGAIN AT FULL-THROTTLE COULD CAUSE IT, AND THAT REPLACING THE COMPUTER WOULD NOT GUARANTEE A FIX. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 85,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND IS IN OTHERWISE FINE SHAPE AS FAR AS THE DRIVETRAIN IS CONCERNED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10711825
Incident
Feb 3, 2011
Mileage
67,409 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 17, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR THE VEHICLE TO COOL DOWN FOR AN HOUR AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE RELAY SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE MADE BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
10390532
Incident
Mar 17, 2007
Mileage
100,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 1, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
726327
Incident
Jun 1, 2000
Body & structure
Filed Jul 8, 1999

ROOF OF VEHCLE FLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING. IT COULD HAVE CAUSED CRASHES. DEALER WON'T LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
841953
Incident
Jul 5, 1999
Engine
Filed Aug 10, 1998

KNOCKING COMING FROM ENGINE.

NHTSA ID
539610
Incident
Sep 23, 1997
Engine
Filed Mar 11, 1997

ENGINE FAILED.

NHTSA ID
516242
Incident
Mar 30, 1995
Brakes
Filed Jul 2, 1996

ABS, YELLOW ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND RED BRAKE LIGHT ALSO COMES ON, NOISE OCCURS, IF CONTINUED TO APPLY BRAKES FAIL. *AK

NHTSA ID
986439
Incident
Jun 17, 1996
Other / unspecified
Filed Dec 7, 1995

WHILE DRIVING, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPOKES COMPLETELY DISINTEGRATED; LOUD NOISE CAME FROM AREA OF WHEEL; NO OTHER WARNING. TT

NHTSA ID
976272
Incident
Dec 6, 1995

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Cadillac Eldorado by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002100038.5
2001240027.6
2000301045.7
1999230035.1
1998381037.6
1997592258.7
1996602356.6
1995542463.5
1994352253.3
1993352049.6
1992251042.7
1991910—
1990254055.2
1989820—
1988Viewing912—
1987722—
1986123260.3
1985102260.6
1984734—
1983421—
1982331—
1981110—
1980010—
1979110—
1977010—
1973210—
1968010—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.