RoadVitals

1997 Cadillac Eldorado Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
59
Latest Jun 13, 2016
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.
10
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jul 1, 1997

What this page shows

Our database holds 59 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Cadillac Eldorado. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 59 · page 1 of 3

Fuel systemSteering
Filed Jun 13, 2016
Fire reported

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
Engine
Filed Oct 14, 2015
Fire reported

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
BrakesElectrical
Filed Jul 20, 2015

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
Fuel system
Filed Mar 13, 2012

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
BrakesOther / unspecified
Filed Jan 4, 2011

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
ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 23, 2010

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
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 31, 2010

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
Fuel system
Filed Sep 24, 2009
Fire reported

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
Fuel system
Filed Jun 16, 2009

VEHICLE IS HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME STARTING. CONSUMER FEELS THAT IT IS RELATED TO THE GAS LINE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK OWNER HAS BEEN SMELLING GASOLINE ODOR OFF AND ON FOR 6 WEEKS. HAS NOT STARTED ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS OVER THE LAST 6 MONTHS. TAKEN TO ED MORRIS CADILLAC (KEN FAGAN)

NHTSA ID
10050421
Incident
Jun 16, 2009
Mileage
66,500 mi
Fuel system
Filed Aug 28, 2008
Fire reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO. THE CONTACT SMELLED GASOLINE WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. ONCE HE ARRIVED HOME, HE OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED FLAMES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT BECAUSE HE WAS THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE, HE DID NOT RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V110000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE DELIVERY HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS). THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE THE CONTACT WANTS THE MANUFACTURER TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 113,200. UPDATED 09/24/08 *BF UPDATED 10/01/08. *JB

NHTSA ID
10240099
Incident
Jul 15, 2008
Mileage
113,200 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 9, 2008

VEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE COOLANT, BUT WASN'T SEEING ANY LEAKS. I THEN DECIDED TO OPEN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR AND SMELL FOR GASOLINE, AND THE ODOR OF GASOLINE IS PRESENT IN THE COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND FOUND TO HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *TR

NHTSA ID
10223829
Incident
Dec 20, 2007
Mileage
101,859 mi
Fuel system
Filed Oct 25, 2007

I WAS NOTIFIED OF A SAFETY RECALL ON MY 1997 CADILLAC EL DORADO THAT TUBING USED IN THE FUEL RAIL CONST. MAY DEGRADE AND CRACK. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT DONE I WAS TOLD THAT THEY POSSIBLY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP, AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I FEEL THIS IS COMPLETELY UNFAIR, I DIDN'T CREATE THIS PROBLEM AND FEEL GM SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE IT SAFE BY REPLACING IT AT NO CHARGE. ANYWAY! I THOUGHT I WOULD LET YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN DO ANYTHING. THANKS GREG *TR

NHTSA ID
10206897
Incident
Oct 25, 2007
Brakes
Filed Sep 25, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND HEARD A SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DISENGAGED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AGAIN AND THE SCREECHING NOISE RECURRED. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW MINUTES, SHE PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. SHE WAITED APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AND THE ABS MESSAGE WAS NO LONGER DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE BRAKES. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V064000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK), HOWEVER, THE CONTACT BELIEVED IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE, PURCHASE DATE, SPEED, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,155.

NHTSA ID
10204092
Incident
Oct 10, 2006
Fuel system
Filed Aug 2, 2007
Crash reported1 injury reported

RECALL REQUEST FOR ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CUSTOMER IS ASKING FOR INFO ABOUT RECALL EA04-003**CC THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS INJURED DUE TO HIS FRIENDS 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO STALLING. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL NUMBER 04V110000. *JB

NHTSA ID
10199132
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
EngineTransmission
Filed Mar 22, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO. THE LOW COOLANT INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY HAD TO REFILL THE COOLANT RECEPTACLE. THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ONCE. WHILE DRIVING THE CONTACT NOTICED A CLOUD OF SMOKE APPEARING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS BLOWN HEAD BOLTS FROM WITHIN THE BLOCK. THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 53000.*AK

NHTSA ID
10185928
Incident
Feb 22, 2007
Mileage
53,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 6, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 97V064000, REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES; HYDRAULIC; ANTILOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA ID
10175298
Incident
Dec 6, 2006
Mileage
60,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 20, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE MAKES NOISE AND VIBRATES EVERY TIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. A VARIETY OF MANEUVERS ARE USED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO BRAKE EFFECTIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE OR THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
10155788
Incident
Apr 20, 2006
Mileage
90,382 mi
Fuel system
Filed Sep 13, 2005

DT: 1997 CADILLAC EL DORADO. THE CONSUMER STATES HE HAD RECALL, 04V110000REPAIRS PERFORMED ON VEHICLE. THIS WAS DONE APPROXIMATELY ON AUGUST 30, 2005. WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP IT BEGAN LEAKING FUEL. THE REPLACED COMPONENTS WERE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. THIS CAUSED THE FUEL TO LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SINCE THIS WAS REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10136331
Incident
Aug 30, 2005
Filed Aug 24, 2005

CONSUMER LETTER REGARDING THE RECALL FOR THE 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO.*MR *NM

NHTSA ID
10135586
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Airbags
Filed Jul 15, 2005
Crash reported2 injuries reported

DURING A 70 MPH ROLL OVER, THE VEHICLE HIT A GUARD RAIL AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10109426
Incident
Sep 24, 2004
Mileage
100,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 15, 2005
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER TO SUSTAIN MAJOR INJURIES, AND WERE TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP. *AK THE VEHICLE HIT A GUARD RAIL AND ROLLED OVER. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10107275
Incident
Sep 24, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Aug 31, 2004

HAVE HAD TWO CADILLAC EL DORADO'S. BOTH OF WHICH HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUNK LEAKING. HAVE HAD TO DRILL HOLES IN THE BOTTOM OF OUR FIRST CADILLAC TO ALLOW THE WATER TO DRAIN. HAVE ALSO HAD TO USE A SHOP AND VAC TO SUCK OUT THE WATER. THOUGHT IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE OLDER CADILLAC'S. HOWEVER, A YEAR AGO, PURCHASED A 1997 CADILLAC EL DORADO AND HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ALTHOUGH NOT TO THE SAME EXTENT. THE WETNESS IN THE TRUNK IS CAUSING CONDENSATION AND MILDEW. THE ODOR COMES INTO THE CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID
10088870
Incident
Aug 28, 2004
Fuel system
Filed Jun 23, 2004

RECALL 04V110000 CONCERNING FUEL RAIL FAILURE. WHILE FILLING THE GAS TANK CONSUMER SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL. A MECHANIC EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, AND FOUND THAT THE FUEL RAIL HAD PIN HOLES, AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
10079707
Incident
Jun 9, 2004
Mileage
110,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 30, 2003

WHILE DRIVING THE ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10052162
Incident
Dec 30, 2003
Fuel system
Filed Nov 23, 2003

FUEL SYSTEM GASOLINE, FUEL INJECTION, FUEL RAIL. *LA

NHTSA ID
10047432
Incident
Jul 27, 2003
Mileage
72,067 mi

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.

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