1996 Cadillac Seville Engine Problems

The contact owned a 1996 Cadillac Seville. The contact stated while parked, the contact noticed smoke coming from the vents. The contact was able to exit the vehicle, and once the contact exited the vehicle, the vehicle burst into flames. The fire department was able to extinguish the fire. The contact was unsure if a police report was filed. No one was injured. The vehicle was towed and deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11497745

Incident

May 16, 2022

Mileage

100,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER STATED THE CRANK SHAFT SENSORS, SPARKS PLUGS AND IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. . THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSORS,WIRING, SPARKS PLUGS AND IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE. HOWEVER THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT STATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V047000 (AIR BAGS , ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) IS THE SAME FAILURE HE EXPERIENCED. HOWEVER, THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE THE CONTACT'S YEAR MAKE OR MODEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 07-23-14 *BF UPDATED 7/31/14*CN

NHTSA ID

10573986

Incident

Nov 28, 2012

Mileage

80,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CADILLAC SEVILLE STS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND SMELLED A STRONG BURNING ODOR OF FUMES INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO OVERHEAT, CAUSING THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE TO INCREASE RAPIDLY TO HOT. THE CONTACT MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF COOLANT LEAKAGE UNDERNEATH THE DASHBOARD AND THE FRONT PASSENGER FLOOR AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.

NHTSA ID

10438577

Incident

Dec 3, 2011

Mileage

138,000 mi

GM HAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE CADALLIC NORTHSTAR 4.6L HEAD GASKETS. THEY BROKE DOWN BETWEEN 70,000 AND 140,000 MILES GM WILL NOT ASSIST IN THE REPAIR OF THE HEAD GASKETS. OUR CADILLAC IS A 1996 WITH 72,000 MILES AND HAS HAD THE LEAKING SINCE 40,000 MILES. THE DEALER WAS AND IS WILLING TO REPAIR FOR APPROX. $3500.00. WE HAVE NEVER BEEN TOLD ABOUT THE LAWSUIT THAT WAS FILES AND THE DEALER HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE DEX COOLANT PROBLEM. THE DEALER WILL NOT GUARANTEE THE HEAD GASKET THEY SAID WAS NEEDED . I DID NOT KNOW THAT THERE WERE SERVICE BULLITTINS ON PUTTING INSERTS IN THE BLOCK FOR THE HEAD BOLTS. I THINK OVER 50% OF THESE ENGINES HAVE HAD THE GASKET REPLACED. THIS WAS A PROBLEM, BUT I KNOW THAT THEY LIKE THE MONEY THAT IT BRINGS IN TO THEM.

NHTSA ID

10391428

Incident

Jun 1, 2006

Mileage

40,000 mi

MY 1996 CADILLAC SEDAN DEVILLE CAUGHT ON FIRE ON 3-20-10 AFTER I STARTED THE ENGINE. I HAD IT TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHICH INFORMED ME THAT THERE WAS AN OPEN RECALL ON THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL WHICH I WAS NOT AWARE OF. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND INFORMED THEM OF THE DAMAGES TO MY CAR AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE STATUE OF LIMITATION HAD EXPIRED ON MY CAR. MY PROBLEM IS HOW COULD THEY HAVE FORSEEN THAT THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN UNLESS THEY KNEW THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE STATUE OF LIMITATION EXPIRED ON 2-13-02 AND THE RECALL WAS ISSUED UNTIL 4-16-04 WHICH DOES NOT MAKE SENSE UNLESS THEY KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND JUST DIDNT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MY QUESTION IS DID I HAVE TO GET BURNT OR LOSE MY LIFE IN THAT CAR FOR GENERAL MOTORS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILTY FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR. NOW I HAVE NO TRANSPORTATION AND GENERAL MOTORS WONT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAPPENED. AN EMPLOYEE FROM GERALDS TIRES HAD TO RUN AND GET A FIRE EXTINGUSHER TO PUT THE FIRE OUT BEFORE ANY OF THERE CUSTOMERS OR EMPLOYEES GOT HURT WHEN THE FIRE IGNITED. WHO IS GOING TO HOLD THESE MANUFACTURES LIABLE FOR THERE NEGLIGENCE. IF I HAD RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE I WOULD HAVE HAD THE FUEL LINE REPLACED BECAUSE THATS SOMETHING VERY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS AND I DRIVE MY KIDS AND GRANDKIDS IN THAT CAR BECAUSE THATS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND I FEEL THAT GENERAL MOTORS SHOULD STAND UP AND TAKE RESPOSIBILITY FOR THERE NEGLIGENCE IT IS SOMETHING THAT THEY MANUFACTURED AND ALSO DANA THE MAKER OF THE FUEL LINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10324893

Incident

Mar 20, 2010

NORTHSTAR ENGINE PROBLEM - THE HEAD BOLTS PULLED LOOSE CAUSING ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE EXHAUST. HAD INSERTS PUT IN BY LOCAL MECHANIC WHO HAD PREVIOUSLY DONE TWO SUCH REPAIRS (CADILLAC ADVISED THAT IT ONLY HAD A 60% CHANCE OF FIXING THE PROBLEM IF THEY DID THE WORK AND THE COST WOULD BE $3,000 - $4,000). CAR HAD ABOUT 70,000 MILES ON IT AT TIME OF FAILURE. CAR RAN WELL UNTIL OCTOBER 2008 WHEN COOLANT LOSS STARTED AGAIN. HAVE TRIED VARIOUS SEALANT BUT IT IS LIKELY THE HEAD BOLTS AGAIN. AN ALUMINUM BLOCK WITH ALUMINUM HEADS AND HIGH COMPRESSION APPEARS TO BE COMBINE WITH A WEAK DESIGN OF THE HEAD BOLTS. FROM WHAT I HEAR ALL NORTHSTAR'S OF THIS ERA WILL HAVE THIS PROBLEM AT SOME POINT AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT FIXED UNTIL 2001 OR SO. IT IS SAID THAT A JEG'S MOTOR HAS ADDRESSED THIS PROBLEM BUT AT A COST OF WHAT, $3,000 PLUS INSTALLATION? I LIKE THE CAR BUT IT IS HARD TO WORK ON AND HAS ITS SHARE OF ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10256236

Incident

Aug 15, 2007

Mileage

70,000 mi

GM HAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THE CADALLIC NORTHSTAR 4.6L HEAD GASKETS. THEY BROKE DOWN BETWEEN 70,000 AND 140,000 MILES GM WILL NOT ASSIST IN THE REPAIR OF THE HEAD GASKETS. AT THE DEALER BY MY HOUSE THERE WERE 3 OF THESE VEHICLES IN THE SHOP IN THE LAST WEEK THEY CLAIMED THAT THEY DID 2 A MONTH. THIS WAS ONLY ONE DEALER YES THIS COULD BE ON A CAR THAT WAS A 1994 OR UP THAT I KNOW OFF. THIS WAS A $3500-$6500 REPAIR THEY WILL NOT GUARANTEE THE REPALACMENT OF JUST THE HEAD GASKET THEY SAID WAS NEEDED . I KNOW THAT THERE WERE SERVICE BULLITTINS ON PUTTING INSERTS IN THE BLOCK FOR THE HEAD BOLTS. I THINK OVER 50% OF THESE ENGINES HAVE HAD THE GASKET REPLACED OR A NEW ENGINE PUT IN FROM THE LITTLE BIT OF RESEARCH I HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO DO, AND THE DEALER HAVE CALLED A FEW . THIS WAS A PROBLEM, BUT I KNOW THAT THEY LIKE THE MONEY THAT IT BRINGS IN TO THEM. I THINK SOME ONE NEEDS TO INVESTAGE THIS, AND I DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP WITH ALL THE TALK OF PEOPLE BUYING OVERSEAS CARS I DO NOT WANT TO BUY ONE MYSELF BUT WITH THE INPUT FROM GM ON THIS THEY ARE FORCING PEOPLE TO DO THIS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10190559

Incident

May 11, 2007

WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHTAPPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE REGISTERED HOT, AND OVERHEATED. COULD NOT DRIVE THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT FOR INSPECTION AND REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10092000

Incident

Sep 13, 2004

WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, BUT WOULD ONLY CHANGE THE OIL. THE NOISE IS STILL BEING HEARD WHILE THE VEHICLE IS ON. *AK

NHTSA ID

10050517

Incident

Nov 4, 2003

Mileage

96,100 mi

THE VEHICLE STALLED OUT INTERMITTENTLY WHEN COMING TO A STOP. *JB PH

NHTSA ID

10015681

Incident

Apr 1, 2003

Mileage

78,000 mi

CAR WAS PURCHASED (LEASED) ON 2/22/00. CAR KEPT STALLING WHILE DRIVING OR WOULDN'T START AT ALL. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER ON 2/29/00. THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM ON 6/8/00. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP AND I HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DASH BOARD PANEL WOULD READ BATTERY, NO CHARGE WHEN IT WOULD RAIN HAD BELT REPLACED. HAD SEVERAL STIFF SPOTS WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL ON 11/1/01. RACK AND PINION AND WATER PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED WITH ONLY 45654 MILES. ON 1/30/01 DEALER PERFORMED "PROTECT INJECTOR SERVICE" AT 49481 MILES. 2/20/02 RETURNED CAR TO DEALER, GAS PEDAL WAS STICKING. THEY CLEANED DEPOSIT IS FROM THROTTLE BLADES AT 49533 MILES. CAR BEGAN STALLING AGAIN. 10/29/01 EGR VALVE REPLACED WITH 60324 MILES. 12/12/01 SPARK PLUGS HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO POOR PERFORMANCE WITH 60324 MILES. WE HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES, FRONT AND BACK BRAKES. THE AIR CONDITIONING WENT OUT MAY, 2002. HAD IT REPAIRED ON 7/9/02 REPLACED R&R COMPRESSOR ASSEMBLY, EXPANSION TUBE ASSEMBLY, A/C RECHARGE, FREON, DYE KIT, A/C OIL AND ORIFICE TUBE WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 69860!! RIDICULOUS ISN'T IT?? NOT DONE YET 7/11/02 - A/C IS OUT AGAIN. THIS TIME HAD TO REPLACE THE A/C SENSOR, A/C SWITCH, ACM MODULE, R&R SWITCH COMPRESSOR CUT-OFF, R&R SENSOR SUNLOAD (ATC), R&R MODULE CLIMATE CONTROL. TODAY, IT STILL DOESN'T WORK. I'M TIRED OF PUMPING $$ INTO SOMETHING THAT IS A LEASE. WE CONTACTED CADILLAC ON HELPING US GET OUT OF THIS LEASE AND INTO A DIFFERENT GM LEASE, THEY WOULDN'T HELP. THIS CAR HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE SINCE DAY 3. WHEN PARKING THE CAR AND TRYING TO REMOVE KEYS IS ANOTHER PROBLEM. WE HAVE TO HIT THE TOP OF THE SHIFTER TO GET THE KEYS TO RELEASE. THE SHIFTER STICKS AND WON'T RELEASE THE KEYS. CURRENTLY, THE PROBLEM WE HAVE IS THE BANGING UNDER THE CAR, WHICH WE FOUND ARE THE STRUTS. THEY DON'T EVEN MAKE AFTER MARKET ONES YET! LET US KNOW IF ANY OF THESE THINGS ARE "RECALLED". CADDY CRAP!! THANK YOU. DT

NHTSA ID

769910

Incident

Nov 1, 2001

WHILE DRIVING 30MPH ON FLAT SURFACE VEHICLE WILL SHUTOFF. . DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8015532

Incident

Jul 22, 2002

THE STEERING MECHANISM VIBRATES WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED AT LOW SPEEDS DUE TO WORN STEERING GEAR. THE FIRST FAILURE, THE POWER STEERING GEAR AND PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE SECOND, CONSUMER IS BEING TOLD IT NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN. *JG

NHTSA ID

566042

Incident

Mar 7, 2000

I PAID FOR A NEW ENGINE I BELIEVE RHAT MATAGA OF STOCKTON REBUILD MY OLD ENGINE. MY OLD ENGINE HAD SUGAR IN THE OIL . HAD THE SAME TAPPING NOISE . WOULD LIKE FOR THEM TO PROVE IT. I WAS TOLD THE 2000 ENGINE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I WANT IT FIX OR REPLACE.*AK

NHTSA ID

760446

Incident

Apr 2, 2002

I HAD A OIL CINSUMPTION PROBLEM THE CAR HAD BEEN USING 3 QTS OF OIL EVERY 1800 MILES. WE FOUND OUT FROM A TECH THAT WORK THERE AT THE DEALERSHIP THAT THERE HAD BEEN A NOTICE SENT OUT TO ALL TECH THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THIS AND HAD BEEN FOR SOMETIME WITH THE NORTHSTAR ENGINE. AND THAT THERE STILL IS. THE PROBLEM IS WITH CARBON BUILT UP IN THE RINGS THEY ADDED A CLEANER TO TAKE THE CARBON OFF. THIS IS ALL AT THE COST OF THE CUSTOMER . WHICH WAS $524.24 AND HAS NOT TAKEN CARE OF THE PROBLEM. I CALLED CADILLAC THEY TOLD ME I WAS NOT TO GET THIS INFORMATION IT WAS FOR TECK USE ONLY.*AK

NHTSA ID

758992

Incident

Feb 12, 2002

ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WOULD COME ON DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DETERMINE A CAUSE FOR THE PROBLEM. THEN WITH APPROXIMATELY 61,000 MILES ON VEHICLE , ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT AN ENGINE COOLANT BYPASS HOSE LEAKED, AND CAUSED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE, WHICH HAS TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8001395

Incident

Jun 1, 2001

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON OCCASIONALLY SINCE 1998. TAKEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES, COULD NOT FIND A CAUSE. ON 19 DEC 2001, ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE LIGHT STOPPED ENGINE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, WHO DETERMINED ENGINE COOLANT HAD LEAKED INTO ENGINE. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID

8001346

Incident

Dec 19, 2001

I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THE OIL CONSUMPTION THAT IS BEING USED IN MY CAR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY CADILLAC THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR THIS ENGINE TO USE 2-3 QUARTS OF OIL FOR EVERY 3000 MILES, WITH THE MANY DIFFERENTS CARS THAT WE HAVE OWNED I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE. THE WARRANTY FOR THE CAR EXPIRES AT 70000 MILES. WHAT OTHER ACTION CAN I TAKE. *AK

NHTSA ID

752514

Incident

Sep 20, 2001

ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON ,AND WE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. WE WERE TOLD WE MAY NEED A NEW ENGINE. WITH ONLY 62,00 MILES ON AN ENGINE THAT IS NOT NEEDING SERVICED UNTIL 100,000 MILES WE ARE SEEKING OUTHER CONSUMERS THAT MAY HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THIS ENGINE. NORTH STAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

749654

Incident

May 14, 2001

CADILLAC KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM. PLEASE STOP THEM FROM STIFFING THE OWNERS OF ANY YEAR NORTHSTAR ENGINE WITH THE BILL OF $1800 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAD A 76 GRAND PRIX 400 V8 ENGINE WITH 245000MILES ON IT THAT DIDNT LEAK OIL LIKE THIS ENGINE. IF I KNEW CADILLAC HAD A DESIGN DEFECT WITH NORTHSTAR ENGINES I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

742375

Incident

Dec 1, 2000

1. ENGINE OVER HEAT, THE CAR HAS OVER 120 TICKET REPAIR, THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED 3 TIMES, ENGINE WAS REPLACED TWO TIME, PROGRAM CONTROL MODULE REPLACED 3 TIME, ESC MODULE REPLACED 3 TIMES, REDIATOR WAS FLUSHED, HOSES REPLACED AT MY COST., AFTER REPLACING THE FISRT ENGINE, CAR HEAT UP TO 248F THAT BROKE TIME SERTS, COOLING WAS COMING AS STEAM WILL DRIVING FROM THE ENGINE MADE HARD TO SEE. NOW ENEN AFTER REPLACING THE SECOND ENGINE STILL THE ENGINE WILL HEAT UP QUICKLY IF DRIVING AT LOW SPEAD OR SHORT IDLE OR CLIMIMNG A SHORT HILE. DEALER DON'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THE PROBLEM, CAR THIS YEAR ONLY WAS AT THE DEALER OVER 60 BUSSINES DAY ALONE, AS FOR THE ENGINE OIL CONSUMTION, PRIOR TO REPLACING THE ENGINE, THE ENGILE WILL CONSUM 1 QTR PER 1000 MILE, THE CAR WILL GIVE AN INDICATION OF ADDING OIL AFTER 2000 MILES BEFORE I GET THE CHANCE TO CHANGE OIL. CURRENTLY HAVE A NEW ENGINE, DON'T KNOW IF THE PROBLEM RESOLVED YET. THERE WAS NO LEAK OF OIL

NHTSA ID

732086

Incident

Nov 16, 1998

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WITH LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. MAY CAUSE OR BE CAUSE OF ACCIDENT. HAVE BEEN TO DLR 2X IN PAST BUT UNABLE TO DUPLICATE AND FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

713385

Incident

Oct 15, 1999

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. BEEN TO DLR 3 TIMES, DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

843455

Incident

Jul 23, 1999

2ND TIME TO EXPERIENCE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WHILE DECELERATING. LAST TIME IT OCCURRED AROUND 5/7/99 AT 38,000 MILES, AUTOMOBILE DEALER HAD NOTICED ON EXACT PROBLEM AND MILEAGE WHEN SERVICED 5/21/99. THE ENGINE LOSES POWER AND NO ACCELERATION EXPERIENCED WHEN STEP ON GAS. AUTO SLOWS DOWN AND MUST COAST TO STOP, HARD TO STEER, ETC. WHEN TURNED OFF ENGINE, AND RESTARTED AUTOMOBILE THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY BOTH IN MAY AND AGAIN IN JUNE. *AK

NHTSA ID

707224

Incident

Jun 4, 1999

ENGINE SURGES CONTINUALLY.

NHTSA ID

604407