FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1997 Cadillac Eldorado
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 59 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Cadillac Eldorado, most frequently naming the fuel system, brakes and engine categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 63 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 1997 | 4 | 4 |
| Nov 1997 | 1 | 5 |
| Dec 1997 | 1 | 6 |
| Jan 1998 | 1 | 7 |
| Feb 1998 | 1 | 8 |
| Apr 1998 | 1 | 9 |
| May 1998 | 1 | 10 |
| Jul 1998 | 1 | 11 |
| Feb 1999 | 6 | 17 |
| Jun 1999 | 1 | 18 |
| Aug 1999 | 2 | 20 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 21 |
| Oct 1999 | 1 | 22 |
| Jul 2000 | 1 | 23 |
| Mar 2001 | 1 | 24 |
| Jun 2002 | 1 | 25 |
| Sep 2002 | 1 | 26 |
| Oct 2002 | 2 | 28 |
| Mar 2003 | 2 | 30 |
| Apr 2003 | 1 | 31 |
| May 2003 | 2 | 33 |
| Oct 2003 | 1 | 34 |
| Nov 2003 | 1 | 35 |
| Dec 2003 | 1 | 36 |
| Jun 2004 | 1 | 37 |
| Aug 2004 | 1 | 38 |
| Jul 2005 | 2 | 40 |
| Aug 2005 | 1 | 41 |
| Sep 2005 | 1 | 42 |
| Apr 2006 | 1 | 43 |
| Dec 2006 | 1 | 44 |
| Mar 2007 | 1 | 45 |
| Aug 2007 | 1 | 46 |
| Sep 2007 | 1 | 47 |
| Oct 2007 | 1 | 48 |
| Apr 2008 | 1 | 49 |
| Aug 2008 | 1 | 50 |
| Jun 2009 | 1 | 51 |
| Sep 2009 | 1 | 52 |
| Mar 2010 | 1 | 53 |
| Apr 2010 | 1 | 54 |
| Jan 2011 | 1 | 55 |
| Mar 2012 | 1 | 56 |
| Jul 2015 | 1 | 57 |
| Oct 2015 | 1 | 58 |
| Jun 2016 | 1 | 59 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Fuel system1824.7%
- Brakes1723.3%
- Engine1013.7%
- Steering68.2%
- Electrical45.5%
- Airbags22.7%
- Body & structure22.7%
- Heating & air conditioning22.7%
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
2 campaigns 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.govSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
FUEL RAIL LEAKS
ON MARCH 3, 2004, GENERAL MOTORS NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WAS RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 94,000 MY 1995-97 OLDSMOBILE AURORA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L V8 ENGINES (RPO L47 - VIN8 C) TO ADDRESS CONCERNS WITH UNDERHOOD FUEL LEAKAGE FROM CRACKED FUEL RAILS AND, IN SOME OF THE VEHICLES, CRACKED FUEL RETURN LINES. ACCORDING TO GM, THE NYLON TUBING (PA12) USED IN THE FUEL RAIL CONSTRUCTION IN THESE VEHICLES MAY DEGRADE AND CRACK.GM'S SUPPLIER ATTRIBUTED THE CRACKING TO THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF HEAT, TIME, ALCOHOL FUEL, FUEL PRESSURE CYCLING, AND DESIGN STRESSES.IN ADDITION, GM STATED THAT THE MY 1995 AURORA USES A UNIQUE UNDERHOOD FUEL RETURN LINE THAT MAY ALSO CRACK AT UNUSUALLY HIGH RATES.GM DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FUEL RAIL CONSTRUCTED OUT OF STAINLESS STEEL IN ALL OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES AND WILL ALSO INSTALL A REVISED CHASSIS FUEL RETURN LINE IN THE MY 1995 AURORAS. ON APRIL 16, 2004, GENERAL MOTORS NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WAS ADDING APPROXIMATELY 389,000 MY 1995-97 CADILLAC SEVILLE, DEVILLE AND ELDORADO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.6L V8 ENGINES (RPO'S LD8 AND L37 - VIN8 Y AND 9) TO RECALL 04V-110.THE RECALLED CADILLACS WILL RECEIVE THE NEW STAINLESS STEEL FUEL RAILS.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.
FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE
THE FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLIES USED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED BY DANA.THE FUEL RAIL JUMPER TUBES WERE MADE OF MONOLAYER NYLON 12 (PA12).IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998, THE JUMPER TUBE MATERIAL WAS CHANGED FROM PA12 TO M-BOND (A MULTI-LAYER PTFE/PA12).IN ADDITION, ALL SERVICE PARTS PRODUCED SINCE THE END OF PRODUCTION 1997 USE THE M-BOND JUMPER TUBES. MATERIAL ANALYSIS PERFORMED BY DANA ON FAILED FUEL RAILS SHOWED THAT THE MONO-LAYER NYLON 12 JUMPER TUBES ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS CRACKING (ESC).GM BELIEVES THE ESC IS A RESULT OF HEAT, TIME, ALCOHOL BLENDED FUEL, FUEL PRESSURE CYCLING, AND DESIGNED IN STRESS. EIGHT OF THE GM COMPLAINTS ARE DUPLICATIVE OF ODI COMPLAINTS.ODI HAS RECEIVED 77 OF IT'S 123 COMPLAINTS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS.FUEL RAIL PART SALES OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS RANGE FROM 3.0 PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR THE MY 1997 CADILLAC VEHICLES TO 13.1 PERCENT FOR THE MY 1995 AURORAS.AT LEAST ONE OF THE FIRE INCIDENTS OCCURED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITHIN A GARAGE ATTACHED TO THE CONSUMERS HOME.THE FIRE RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE DWELLING AS WELL AS THE TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V110000 (FUEL SYSTEM/GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. ...UPDATED 08/29/16 UPDATED 6/11/18*JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10873929
- Incident
- Jun 9, 2016
- Mileage
- 90,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN SMOKING. THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10782173
- Incident
- Oct 11, 2015
- Mileage
- 100,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ANTI BRAKING SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL ODOR WHEN SHE TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH INTO THE RUN POSITION. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH INTO THE RUN POSITION INTERMITTENTLY AND HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10735170
- Incident
- Jan 1, 2015
- Mileage
- 80,000 mi
MY VEHICLE STARTED STALLING ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, IT WOULD SUDDENLY JUST CUT OFF AS IF THE GAS WAS NO LONGER FUELING THE VEHICLE. IT WOULD STOP AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN FOR ABOUT AND HOUR. AFTER STARTING IT WOULD RUN FOR ABOUT TWENTY MIN. IT WOULD THEN STOP AGAIN. I CHANGED THE FUEL PUMP WITH A NEW ONE AND IT DID THE SAME THING. IT APPEARS THERE IS NO SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10451355
- Incident
- Mar 12, 2012
- Mileage
- 165,000 mi
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO TOURING COUPE (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED SHORTLY AFTER AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO 15 MPH AND THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN AFTER IT WAS STARTED UP AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN BECAUSE OF A CORRODED TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM OR ABS SYSTEM SENSOR. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,200.
- NHTSA ID
- 10374633
- Incident
- Dec 14, 2010
- Mileage
- 34,800 mi
1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN IN TRAFFIC *TGW THE DEALER REPLACED THE OIL SENDER, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE IDLE WAS BELOW FACTORY SPECS. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THEY COULD NOT OVERRIDE THE COMPUTER, TO PLACE THE VEHICLE AT THE FACTORY SETTING. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, IT IDLED AT 900 RPM AND NOT IT IDLES AT 400 IN WARM WEATHER. *JB UPDATED 05/05/10.*JB THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY SHUT DOWN WHEN IT WAS WARM. THE DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL COMPONENTS, BUT TO NO AVAIL. UPDATED 06/15/10.*JB UPDATED 06/29/10. *JB UPDATED 08/03/10.*JB
- NHTSA ID
- 10327426
- Incident
- Jan 1, 1901
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE DISENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE PULLED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCATION OTHER THAN THE RESIDENCE. THERE WAS NO PERSONAL INJURY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 125,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10323015
- Incident
- Mar 31, 2010
- Mileage
- 125,000 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF RECALL # 04V110000, FUEL SYSTEM GASOLINE, DELIVERY HOSES, LINES, PIPING, AND FITTINGS. AS A CONSEQUENCE IN 2008, THE FUEL LEAKAGE LEAD TO AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. HE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. HE NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER AND A REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT SINCE THE COMPANY FILED BANKRUPTCY THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY. HE HAS PHOTOS OF THE FAILED COMPONENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 113,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10285152
- Incident
- Jul 16, 2008
- Mileage
- 113,000 mi
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable. E version update is to add administrative details.
EQUIPMENT
This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
EQUIPMENT
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.
EQUIPMENT
This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 38.5 |
| 2001 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 27.6 |
| 2000 | 30 | 1 | 0 | 45.7 |
| 1999 | 23 | 0 | 0 | 35.1 |
| 1998 | 38 | 1 | 0 | 37.6 |
| 1997Viewing | 59 | 2 | 2 | 58.7 |
| 1996 | 60 | 2 | 3 | 56.6 |
| 1995 | 54 | 2 | 4 | 63.5 |
| 1994 | 35 | 2 | 2 | 53.3 |
| 1993 | 35 | 2 | 0 | 49.6 |
| 1992 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 42.7 |
| 1991 | 9 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1990 | 25 | 4 | 0 | 55.2 |
| 1989 | 8 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 9 | 1 | 2 | — |
| 1987 | 7 | 2 | 2 | — |
| 1986 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 60.3 |
| 1985 | 10 | 2 | 2 | 60.6 |
| 1984 | 7 | 3 | 4 | — |
| 1983 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1982 | 3 | 3 | 1 | — |
| 1981 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1968 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
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.