1994 Cadillac Seville Owner Complaints

THIS VEHICLE IS FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH A DELCO/BOSE SOUND SYSTEM. I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AND 1/4 MILE, THE RADIO SOUND BECAME DISTORTED AND INTERRUPTED. THE VEHICLE'S VOLTAGE DISPLAY INDICATED 13.3 VOLTS, RATHER THAN THE NORMAL 14.2 OR ABOVE. I TURNED OFF THE RADIO. I NOTICED AN ODOR I IDENTIFIED AS "HOT ELECTRICAL." I IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO A NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION KEY. VISIBLE SMOKE WAS FLOWING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE AREA OF THE LEFT REAR RADIO SPEAKER UNDER THE REAR WINDOW. I OPENED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HOOD TO ACCESS THE BATTERY AND OPENED THE TRUNK. THE TRUNK LINER MATERIAL ON THE ROOF OF THE TRUNK BETWEEN THE SEAT BACK AND TRUNK OPENING WAS BURNING. THE FLAMES WERE SPREADING IN A CIRCULAR PATTERN CENTERED ON THE LEFT REAR SPEAKER. I PULLED THE BURNING MATERIAL FROM THE VEHICLE AS MY FRIEND BROUGHT ME A DRY CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I PUT OUT THE FIRE AS ANOTHER FRIEND DISCONNECTED THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. THESE SPEAKERS HAVE AN ELECTRONIC MODULE MOUNTED TO THEM. THE MODULE WAS BURNED AND THE WIRES LEADING TO IT WERE BURNED AS FAR BACK AS THE TRUNK LINING MATERIAL HAD BURNED. I ISOLATED THE BURNED MODULE AND DAMAGED PORTION OF THE WIRES LEADING TO IT BY CUTTING THE WIRE HARNESS. I INSULATED THE WIRES AND CONNECTED THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY. THE RADIO PLAYED NORMALLY THROUGH THE REMAINING SPEAKERS. THE VOLTAGE INDICATOR SHOWED NORMAL VOLTAGE, 14.2 - 14.3 VOLTS. I OBSERVED NO ANOMALIES OR WARNINGS. NO FUSES NOR CIRCUIT BREAKERS TRIPPED TO INTERRUPT THE POWER TO THE MODULE AND PREVENT THE FIRE. THE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE SPEAKER AND SURROUNDING TRUNK LINING MATERIAL. I AM SURE IF THIS ISSUE BEGAN AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, THE RESULT WOULD HAVE BEEN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10627490

Incident

Aug 18, 2014

Mileage

188,000 mi

THE THROTTLE IS STILL OPEN AFTER RELEASING THE GAS PEDAL, CAUSING THE CAR TO CONTINUE MOVEMENT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. SIMILAR TO RECALL CAMPAIGN 93V164000. *NM

NHTSA ID

10167892

Incident

Jun 1, 2006

I OWN A 1994 CADILLAC 4 DOOR SEVILLE. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. RECENTLY WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TUNE UP THE VEHICLE, I DISCOVERED THAT THE PLASTIC COVER COVERING THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR MOUNTED ON THE FIREWALL HAD LITERALLY BEGAN TO DISINTEGRATE. THIS EXPOSED THE INSIDE INSULATION WHICH IS WITHIN INCHES OF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE IF NOT PROTECTED. I HAVE TAKEN DIGITAL PHOTOS OF THE AREA AND CAN PRESENT THEM TO THE NHTSA AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE BLOWER MOTOR PLASTIC COVER JUST LITERALLY FALLS OFF THE FIREWALL..ITS CRACKS LIKE THE CHOCOLATE COVERING A CAKE SO TO SPEAK..TOUCH IT AND IT JUST FLAKES OFF IN CHUNKS LIKE YOU WERE BREAKING A CANDY BAR IN HALF. I HAVE ALSO SAVED SOME OF THOSE PIECES FOR YOUR PERUSAL. NOW THE PROBLEM IS THE MORE I DRIVE, THE MORE PLASTIC FALLS OFF THE PLASTIC HOUSING. I AM AFRAID THAT AFTER A WHILE I WON'T BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR WITH OUT THE CHANCE OF A FIRE IN THAT AREA. *JB

NHTSA ID

10147957

Incident

Dec 28, 2005

Mileage

140 mi

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING HE FELT BOILING WATER HIT HIS FEET. HE HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND PARK IT. THIS CAUSED BURNS TO BOTH OF HIS FEET. HE IS A MECHANIC AND FEELS IT IS BECAUSE THE HEATER CORE BUSTED. HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE OF THE BURNS TO HIS FEET. *AK

NHTSA ID

10142997

Incident

Nov 16, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT IN 7-04. HE BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2000. WHEN HE DROPPED THE FUEL TANK TO GET TO THE FUEL PUMP HE NOTICED THE ELECTRICAL WIRES GOING INTO THE PUMP WERE BLACK. WHEN HE UNSCREWED THE PUMP HE NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL WERE WIRES WERE FRIED. HE TOOK THE FUEL PUMP TO A COUPLE OF CAR PARTS RETAIL PLACES, AND THEY TOLD HIM THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT. A MECHANIC AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONTACT THAT WHEN RUN NINES THE CAR A LOT THE FUEL PUMP LOOKED LIKE THAT, THE WIRES WERE FRIED TOGETHER. THE MECHANIC IMPLIED THAT HE HAD SEEN A LOT OF FUEL PUMPS IN CADILLAC THAT LOOKED LIKE THAT. ALSO, TOLD THE CONTACT THAT BECAUSE THE FUEL TANK WAS SEALED IT WAS MORE THAN LIKELY IT WILL NOT CATCH ON FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ID

10137563

Incident

Jul 9, 2004

Mileage

98,380 mi

1994 CADILLAC SEVILLE HAD HOT COOLANT POUR ONTO THE DRIVER'S FOOT CAUSING SEVERE BURNS.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE HEATER CORE HAD RUPTURED, IN ADDITION THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE WATER PUMP WATER PUMP HOUSING, HOSES AND THERMOSTAT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10130250

Incident

Jun 22, 2005

Mileage

147,295 mi

OIL WAS LEAKING OUT THE LOWER CRANK CASE, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FAIL. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER, AND WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

10115845

Incident

Mar 18, 2005

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067047

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN AIR BAG PROBLEM. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. *AK *SC THE VEHICLE HIT A LIGHT POLE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10056041

Incident

Apr 12, 2003

Mileage

104,000 mi

I CALL THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE SYSTEM OVERHEATING AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT DOING ANYTHING IN HELPING ME WITH THE VEHICLE, NOT EVEN TOWTRUCK. I CALL THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN BEFORE MY WARRANTY IS ABOUT TO EXPIRED AND HE SAID HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME. THE BRAKES WERE BAD ON THE CAR AND THE COOLING SYSTEM HAD A HOLE IN IT.

NHTSA ID

10070788

Incident

Aug 15, 2003

Mileage

11,900 mi

REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING FIVE TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR, CAUSING THE REAR BRAKE PADS TO SMOKE AND CATCH ON FIRE. CONSUMER REPLACED THE REAR CALIPERS/ROTORS AND MASTER CYLINDER. CONSUMER CALLED GMC, AND WAS TOLD THAT WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED CONSUMER WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10045782

Incident

Nov 6, 2003

Mileage

116,000 mi

THE POSITIVE POST OF THE BATTERY WAS CRACKED AND LEAKED ACID. THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM HAD FAILED DUE TO THE POSITIVE TERMINAL BOLT CORRODING. SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10008874

Incident

Aug 1, 1998

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE'S POSITVE BATTERY POST WILL OPEN CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHUT OFF AND UNABLE TO START. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS DEALERSHIP STATED STRESS ON THE POSITIVE TERMINAL CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DIE OUT, THE BATTERY TO CRACK AND LEAK ACID. CORROSION WAS ALSO FOUND IN THE BATTERY TRAY AND THE BATTERY AND CABLES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS THE FOURTH BATTERY REPLACED. *TT

NHTSA ID

10001949

Incident

Aug 1, 1998

Mileage

63,070 mi

THERE IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH CRANK CASE LOWER SEAL ON THE 4.6 NORTHSTAR ENGINE AND MANUFACTURER HAS NOT RESPONDED. OIL LEAK IS HITTING EXAUST AND CAT CONVERTER WHICH COULD CAUSE A FIRE. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND A RECALL FOR REPAIR. THERE IS A TSB ON THIS ISSUE , BUT NO RECALL. I WANT A FIX!!! LOCAL DEALER WANTS OVER $2000 FOR REPAIR! DT

NHTSA ID

769791

ON 7/25/01, ENGINE OVERHEATED AS PER ENGINE SCREEN. 255 DEGREES. REPLACED "FAILED THERMOSTAT" TOPPED OFF COOLANT AND RECHECKED. CAR SMELLED LIKE ENGINE HOT. VEHICLE LOST COOLANT. CALLED PUTNAM CADILLAC/BUICK. THEY CHANGED OIL & CHECKED. NO DETECTION OF OVERHEATING. 7/23/02 CAR DRIVEN TO PUTNAM CADILLAC. $5,153 CHARGED TO TEAR DOWN HEADS & FOUND 5 STRIPPED HEAD BOLTS ON FRONT BANK AND ONE ON REAR BANK. SIX TOTAL THREAD REPAIRS. CYLINDER HEAD PRESSURE TESTED. RESURFACED & RESET VALVES. 6 HELI COILS INSTALLED. REINSTALL CYLINDER HEADS AFTER MACHINE SHOP REPAIRS. HEADS WERE CHECKED FOR WARPAGE DUE TO EXTREME HEAT CAUSED BY MANUFACTURER'S OVER-TORQUING THE HEAD BOLTS AND SPINNING THEM IN THEIR THREADS. NEW VALVE SEALS ADDED. REPLACED WATER PUMP. CADILLAC SERVICING CENTER REVEALED THAT NUMEROUS OTHER 94 SLS CADILLACS HAVE BEEN REPORTED AT OTHER SERVICE CENTERS TO HAVE THE SAME FLAW OF "LOOSE HEADBOLTS COMING LOOSE FROM THE ENGINE BLOCK CAUSING HEAD GASKETS TO LEAK & OVERHEATING." THIS IS DANGEROUS AND EXPENSIVE BECAUSE THE COMPUTER IN THE ENGINE STATES "SHUT OFF ENGINE" THIS OCCURRED JULY 23, 2002 WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT . WE HAD TO PULL OFF THE SHOULDER OF THE FREEWAY AND ALLOW THE CAR'S TEMPERATURE TO DECLINE. WE LIMPED HOME DANGEROUSLY BY HAVING TO DRIVE SLOWLY AND STOP SEVERAL TIMES TO KEEP THE TEMPERATURE DOWN.*AK

NHTSA ID

765799

Incident

Jul 25, 2001

TIRE WAS SO HOT INSERT ON HUB CAPE BLEW OFF CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

763462

Incident

Jun 17, 2002

ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING UP MOUNTAIN ROAD DUE TO OVERHEATING. PROBLEM DIAGNOSED BY DEALER AS BLOWN HEAD GASKETS DUE TO LOOSENING OF HEAD BOLTS. PROBLEM IS USE OF STEEL BOLTS DIRECTLY IN ALUMINUM BLOCK WHICH VIBRATE LOOSE OVER TIME, CAUSING LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT. WIDELY RECOGNIZED PROBLEM BY REPAIR SHOPS AND THERE IS A TECHNICAL SEVICE BULLETIN ADDRESSING THIS REPAIR; NEVERTHELESS CADILLAC CLAIMS IT IS NOT AWARE OF ANY DESIGN DEFECT AND REFUSES TO ASSIST WITH REPAIR. REPAIR COST $4,600 TO REBUILD ENGINE OR $7,800 TO REPLACE ENGINE. PROBLEM DEVELOPED WITH NO WARNING AND CAUSED OCCUPANT AND FAMILY TO BE STRANDED.*AK

NHTSA ID

758849

Incident

Jan 20, 2002

CAR WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 1 MONTH. IT WAS STARTED, ALLOWED TO RUN FOR A FEW MINUTES, THEN MOVED APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET TO ANOTHER LOCATION IN OUR YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND THE KEYS REMOVED. ABOUT 20 MIN. LATER, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. BURNING PIECES OF PLASTIC WERE SEEN FALLING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH ON THE INSIDE OF THE CAR. TWO FIRE EXTINGUISHERS WERE EMPTIED IN ATTEMPT TO PUT OUT THE FLAMES WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES WITHIN A FEW MINUTES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON THE SCENE AND FINALLY PUT OUT THE FIRE. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. WE CONTACTED THE PRODUCT ALLEGATIONS DEPT. AT CADILLAC. THEY ASSUME NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR LOSS. OUR INSURANCE HAD EXPIRED 11 DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRE WITHOUT OUR KNOWLEDGE. THEY FAILED TO NOTIFY US OR OUR LEIN HOLDER THAT WE NO LONGER HAD INSURANCE ON THE CAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

758533

Incident

Nov 6, 2001

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 15-25 MPH REAR ENDED A VEHICLE IN FRONT AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER FELT THAT VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A PRIOR ACCIDENT DUE TO AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOYING. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

8002842

Incident

Dec 31, 2001

WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 15-25 MPH ON A WET ROAD APPLIED BRAKES TO AVOID REAR ENDING A VEHICLE IN FRONT, BUT BRAKES DID NOT WORK AND VEHICLE CRASHED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

8002840

Incident

Dec 31, 2001

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER DIAGNOSED THAT FUEL PUMP SHORTED OUT. CONSUMER REPLACED IT WITH NEWLY DESIGNED FUEL PUMP.*AKTHE ORIGINAL PUMP HAD A FAULTY DESIGN WHICH CAUSED IT TO COLLAPSE SQUEEZING THE HOT GROUND WIRING TOGETHER RESULTING IN THE FUEL PUMP SHORTING OUT AND BLOWING THE PUMP FUSE. NLM

NHTSA ID

897170

Incident

Aug 14, 2001

THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS STRETCHED RESULTING IN OIL LEAK AND HEAD GASKET FAILURE. LEAK VARIES FROM DROPS ON GARAGE FLOOR TO SMOKING OIL CLOUD FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CADILLAC MISDIAGNOSED PROBLEM WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AND PERFORMED WRONG REPAIR TWICE. CADILLAC WILL NOT ASSUME ANY RESPONSIBILITY EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM REGARDLESS OF ENGINE MILEAGE.*AK

NHTSA ID

747621

Incident

Mar 28, 2001

ENGINE HALF CASE OIL SEAL FAILED RESULTING IN LEAKAGE, POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE HAZARD. *MJS

NHTSA ID

785384

I UNDERSTAND FROM MY MECHANIC THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CASES OF CRACKED TRANSMISSION CASES, WHICH ARE VERY EXPENSIVE. I WOULD HAVE HOPED THAT CADILLAC WOULD PAY FOR THE PARTS TO REPAIR THIS REPAIR, SINCE IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATILITY. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE A SAFETY ISSUE LIKE THIS IS ACTED UPON? *AK

NHTSA ID

742152

Incident

Feb 28, 2001

ENGINE IS MADE OF 2 METALS, THEY EXPAND DIFFERENTLY, OIL USAGE IN VEHICLE IS 3 QUARTS WEEKLY. CADILLAC DEALER MADE CONSUMER AWARE OF THIS FACT. *AK

NHTSA ID

879194

Incident

Jan 1, 1998