RoadVitals

1996 Cadillac Eldorado Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints 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.
14
Latest Dec 4, 2015
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
23%
of 60 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Cadillac Eldorado submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Dec 4, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE STOP ENGINE NOW WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND OBSERVED THAT THE OIL WAS LOW IN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO ADD OIL TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. UPDATED 02/05/16*LJ

NHTSA ID
10808377
Incident
Mar 4, 2015
Mileage
100,000 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 11, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE OVERHEATS. THIS OCCURS BECAUSE THE HEAD BOLTS RUST CAUSING THE HEAD GASKET TO BLOW. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE ENGINE WAS MANUFACTURED BY NORTHSTAR.

NHTSA ID
10155035
Incident
Apr 11, 2006
Mileage
160,000 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed May 13, 2005

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM . ALSO, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM . *AK *BF *NM

NHTSA ID
10117550
Incident
Mar 2, 1997
Engine
Filed Oct 13, 2004

CRACKING OF FUEL RAIL OR RETURN LINE TUBING CAN RESULT IN FUEL LEAK. *BF THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. RECALL FOR FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS # 04V110000. *TC

NHTSA ID
10097288
Incident
Oct 8, 2003
Engine
Filed Aug 20, 2004

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT OIL WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC THE OIL PAN GASKET WAS REPLACED.*JB

NHTSA ID
10073903
Incident
Aug 1, 2004
Mileage
65,000 mi
BrakesEngine
Filed Oct 30, 2002
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE. *YH

NHTSA ID
568002
Body & structureEngineTransmission
Filed May 25, 2002

CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, ON SEPARATE OCCASION WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER, ONCE CONSUMER PULLED OVER, CONSUMERS DAUGHTER SAW WHAT LOOKED LIKE GASOLINE THAT HAD SPILLED FROM THE CAR. (COMPLAINT WAS SUBMITTED BY SHARON HARRIS DAUGHTER OF SANDRA HARRIS). *YD

NHTSA ID
566225
BrakesHeating & air conditioningElectrical+2 more
Filed Jun 2, 2000

ENGINE DRIVE BELT CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING, CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE WATER PUMP AND CAMSHAFT PULLEY. YH

NHTSA ID
552468
Incident
Mar 14, 2000
ElectricalEngineInterior & seats+1 more
Filed Feb 25, 2000

INSTRUMENT LIGHTS WOULD GO COMPLETELY OUT. ON TWO OCCASIONS, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH, ALARM SYSTEM ACTIVATE.D DEALER NOTIFIED, AND WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. ALSO SMOKE WAS COMING FROM VEHICLE, AND FUSE FOR ENGINE FAN WAS MISSING. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
857585
Incident
Jan 15, 2000
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 5, 1998

DEALER INFORMED OWNER NOT TO USE FRAM TRANS OIL PAN GASKET AS IT WILL CAUSE A LOSS OF PRIME AND RAPID CLUTCH WEAR AN ONLY TO USE CHRYSLER SPECIAL SILICONE GASKET SEALANT OR THE WARRANTY WILL BE VOIDED.

NHTSA ID
536651
Incident
Apr 1, 1998
Engine
Filed Mar 11, 1998
Fire reported

VEHICLE FIRE

NHTSA ID
530972
Engine
Filed Oct 28, 1997

ENGINE STALLS WHEN MAKING 'U' TURNS.

NHTSA ID
524007
ElectricalEngineFuel system
Filed Oct 27, 1997

LEFT SIDE HEAD GASKET FAILED.

NHTSA ID
604228
Incident
May 1, 1996
EngineSteeringTires & wheels
Filed Oct 27, 1996

POWER STEERING FAILED.

NHTSA ID
605227
Incident
Jun 1, 1996

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .