RoadVitals

1998 Cadillac Seville 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.
21
Latest May 4, 2017
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.
32%
of 65 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.
2

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 1998 Cadillac Seville submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 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 May 4, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC SEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTOR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO ALLOW THE ENGINE TO COOL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED, AND THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD BOLTS WERE NOT LONG ENOUGH. AS A RESULT, IT CAUSED THE PRESSURE TO LEAD THROUGH THE HEAD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

NHTSA ID
10983495
Incident
Mar 15, 2017
Mileage
102,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 19, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE STOPPED OR DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WOULD OVERHEAT AND A MESSAGE INFORMING HIM TO ADD COOLANT WOULD DISPLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS ROUTINELY ADDED TO THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID
10413517
Incident
Jun 20, 2011
Mileage
138,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 22, 2006

SUDDEN ERRATIC READINGS SUCH AS ENGINE HOT, AC OFF, AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON. ENGINE REDUCED CYLINDER OPERATION TO 4 CYLINDERS, POWER REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY. FAMILY IN CAR AND HEAVY TRAFFIC COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS SITUATION IN BOTH CASES. FOUND BLOWN HEAD GASKETS AND COOLANT ENTERING INTO 2 CYLINDERS. MILEAGE ONLY 70,343. *NM

NHTSA ID
10163145
Incident
Jul 9, 2006
Engine
Filed Jun 8, 2005

DT: HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN. VEHICLE MILAGE IS ONLY 78, 000. *AK *TT *SB CONSUMER DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW A VEHICLE THAT DOESN'T RECEIVE A TUNE-UP UNTIL 100,000 MILES HAVE A HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 78,000. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A COMMON OCURRANCE AND CONSUMER FEELS THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. *SB

NHTSA ID
10120521
Incident
May 10, 2005
Mileage
78,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 23, 2005

ENGINE NEED TO BE TIME SERT AND COOLANT LEAKS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10112051
Incident
Oct 10, 2004
Mileage
80,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 26, 2004

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR FOR THE FOURTH TIME. AGAIN CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10101679
Incident
Nov 8, 2004
Engine
Filed Sep 10, 2004

WE HAVE A 1998 CADILLAC STS AND ARE RUNNING INTO PROBLEMS WITH IT RUNNING HOT. AFTER REPLACING THE RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT AND COOLANT, THERE IS STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WILL ONLY BE AFTER THE ENGINE IS WARMED FROM DRIVING WILL THIS OCCUR, IT WILL START TO RUN HOT IF YOU GIVE THE VEHICLE GAS TO TRY AND GET INTO TRAFFIC FLOW. WE HAVE CONSULTED QUITE A FEW MACHANICS ON THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE ALL GIVEN US THE SAME EXPLANATION FOR THE PRESUMED PROBLEM. ESPECIALLY ONE THAT USE TO WORK DIRECTLY FOR CADILLAC AS A MECHANIC, THEY STATE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEEL BOLTS IN THE ALUMINUM ENGINE AND IF THERE IS ANY TYPE OF SUDDEN EXCELERATION THEN THE ENGINE WILL RUN HOT OR OVERHEAT. THIS IS A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM STATED BY ANY MECHANIC THAT KNOWS ABOUT THIS TYPE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE TELLING US THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME TO CADILLACS. WE HAVE NOT REPLACED ANYTHING YET BUT HAVE BEEN ADVISED THIS WOULD BE A VERY EXPENSIVE JOB TO DO, AND WE WERE ADVISED THE PROBLEM WILL GET SO BAD IN THE NEAR FUTURE THE REPAIRS WILL HAVE TO BE PERFORMED TO EVEN DRIVE THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10090787
Incident
Jul 3, 2003
Mileage
78,600 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 21, 2004

CAR WAS SERVICED 2 WEEKS PRIOR FOR SLUGGISH PERFORMANCE AND HUGE OIL CONSUMPTION. CAR IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN! NOW FOR BLOWN HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. THIS CADILLAC HAS TOO MANY DEALER/MANUFACTURER PROBLEMS. DEALER SHOULD PAY FOR THESE PROBLEMS. NOT CUSTOMER. VIN [XXX] CHECK SERVICE HISTORY. UNBELIEVABLE! *LA UPDATED 07/25/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
10082356
Incident
Jul 19, 2004
Mileage
79,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine+2 more
Filed Jan 15, 2004

THERE IS SOME BILLS I DID NOT KEEP.BOUGHT THE CAR SEPT 4TH 1998. I HAD TO HAVE THEM MAKE REPAIRS EVERYTIME I TOOK IT IN FOR A OIL CHANGE, I DRIVE AN HOUR TO THE BARBOURSVILLE AUTOMALL, INC. IN WEST VA WHERE I BOUGHT IT. THE COMPUTER CONTROL CHIP FOR THE STRUT SENSOR IS STILL NOT FIXED, IT FLASHES DO NOT DRIVE OVER 90 MILES AN HOUR CONSTANTLY WHEN I DRIVE, WHICH IS DISTRACTING,THAT HAS BEEN DOING IT SINCE 12/02. THEY JUST PUT A NEW ONE IN AND IT ALSO DOES NOT WORK. THE FRONT SEAT HEATER WENT OUT IN NOVEMBER AND DID NOT GET ONE TILL APRIL. I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE BUMPING OF THE CAR SINCE I GOT IT AND THEY JUST PUT 1 STRUT ON THE CAR. THEY PUT GREASE ON THEM AND ALSO THEY TOLD ME THEY FOUND A PIECE OF PAPER,AND THEY CHANGED THE BRAKES PADS AND TURNED THE ROTORS TWICE TRYING TO FIX THE BUMPING. THE PAINT ON THE CAR DOESN'T FELL LIKE IT SHOULD. I HAVE BOUGHT OTHER CADILLACS IN THE PAST YEARS. I DIDN'T FIGHT THE LAST CADILLAC IT WAS A 98 CADILLAC ELDORADO SERIAL NUMBER #[XXX] CHANGED CARS BECAUSE IT HAD A LEAK IN THE TRUNK AND I TOOK IT BACK 5 TIMES AND THEY ENDED UP PACKING IT WITH SUPER GLUE WHERE EVERYONE COULD SEE IT. IT WAS ALSO IN A HAIL STORM AND THEY BONDED IT INSTEAD OF GETTING ME NEW PARTS,IT WAS MAKING ME TO NERVOUS SO MY HUSBAND BOUGHT THE STS. THERE IS OTHER BILLS WHICH I CAN'T FIND BUT I HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH THIS STS SINCE I GOT IT.I DID WRITE THE CADILLAC PEOPLE AND THEY SAID I HAD TO TAKE IT UP WITH THE DEALER WHICH I HAVE BEEN WITH NO SATISFACTION, I'M TALKING TO [XXX] AND MY CASE NUMBER IS 1-119401313. THE CADILLAC COMPANY SAID THEY WOULD KEEP MY LETTER I WROTE THEM FEW YEARS AGO. I'M STILL WANTING TO DRIVE A CADILLAC,WHICH I TOLD [XXX] AND KEPT TELLING THE DEALERSHIP. I HAVEN'T GOT THE BILLS WHEN I FIRST HAD THE TROUBLE BUT SOMEONE MUST, [XXX] AGREED THAT I HAVE HAD IT WORKED ON EVERY TIME I WENT FOR AN OIL CHANGE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10070621
Incident
Jan 15, 2003
Mileage
48,775 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 15, 2004

PAINT BUBLE ON LEFTT REAR FENDER AT 124000 M BLOWN HEADGASKET DUE TO LOOSE HEADBOLTS I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE NORTHSTAR ENGINE.

NHTSA ID
10069000
Incident
Aug 15, 2003
Mileage
124,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 28, 2003
Fire reported1 injury reported

THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING THE GEARS WHEN A PASSER BY INFORMED HIM TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TOTALED THE VEHICLE. *MR *CB *NLM

NHTSA ID
10031525
Incident
May 13, 2003
Engine
Filed Jul 28, 2003
Fire reported1 injury reported

THE CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING THE GEARS WHEN A PASSER BY INFORMED HIM TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TOTALED THE VEHICLE. *NLM. *AK *CB *NLM THE CONSUMER NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM THE GEAR SHIFT AND WAS TOLD THE FIRE HAD COME FROM THE ENGINE. *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10021618
Incident
May 13, 2003
Mileage
50,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 28, 2003

VEHICLE STALLS PERIODICALLY WHILE DECELERATING. PH

NHTSA ID
10022363
Mileage
40,000 mi
BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Mar 10, 2003

THE POWER STEERING WAS VERY STIFF, AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT BROKE AND HAT TO BE REPLACED. FRONT BRAKES WERE WORN TO THE SENSOR AND HAD TO BE RELINED.*TT *JB

NHTSA ID
10009435
Incident
Nov 26, 2002
Mileage
56,212 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 7, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE IS STALLING WITHOUT WARNING. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *MR

NHTSA ID
8020276
Incident
Jul 4, 2002
Engine
Filed Aug 27, 2002

VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE CHECKED BY DEALER WHO ADVISED CONSUMER HE COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
8017386
Incident
Aug 1, 2002
Engine
Filed Aug 6, 2002

THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN DECEMBER 2001 AS A REAQUIRED VEHICLE FROM GENERAL MOTORS WITH A 12 MONTH, 12,000 MILE NEW CAR WARRANTY WITH THE OPTION FOR US TO PURCHASE AN EXTENDED NEW CAR WARRANTY WHICH WE DID. THIS VEHICLE HAD AN INTERMITTENT STALLING PROBLEM WHEN IT WAS REAQUIRED THE FIRST TIME. WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IT WAS SOLD AS HAVING BEEN CORRECTED FOR THE PROBLEM. ON MARCH 27, 2002, BEGAN THE SERIES OF HEADACHES. THE CAR STALLED AND WE TOOK IT TO KACHINE CADILLAC. TO DATE THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THERE 7 TIMES FOR THE INTERMITTENT STALLING. TO DATE 8/6/02, THE CAR IS AGAIN IN THE DEALER SHOP AND HAS BEEN SINCE JULY 26, 2002. AT FIRST THEY REFUSED TO KEEP THE CAR BECAUSE THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING THE STALLING AND DID NOT WANT TO PAY FOR RENTAL CARS FOR US ANYMORE OF WHICH WE HAVE NOW HAD 7 RENTAL VEHICLE AND TO DATE STILL ARE DRIVING A RENTAL. WHEN WE REPORTED IT TO BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU, THEY THEN CHANGED THEIR TUNE AND AGAIN GAVE US ANOTHER RENTAL AND SINCE, THE CAR IS STILL IN THEIR POSSESSION. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN THE CAR IS GOING TO STALL AND WE ARE AFRAID OF THIS CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND/OR SERIOUS INJURIES. WE EXPLAINED OUR CONCERN TO THEM, BUT AT THE TIME THEY SAID JUST BRING IT BACK IF IT STALLS AGAIN. IT IS NOT SAFE FOR OURSELVES MUCH LESS ANYONE ELSE. THE REFERENCE NUMBER TO THIS IS 8014734. *AK

NHTSA ID
765293
Incident
Mar 27, 2002
Engine
Filed Jul 25, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY STALL WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND/OR ACCELERATING FROM A STOP POSITION. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM IS REOCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*JB

NHTSA ID
8014734
Incident
Mar 25, 2002
Engine
Filed May 22, 2002

WHILE IN MOTION, THE ENGINE STOPPED WHILE IN GEAR AND WITH THE STARTING SWITCH STILL ON. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE IN GEAR. *JG

NHTSA ID
565838
Incident
Dec 12, 2001
Engine
Filed Mar 15, 2002

WHILE IN MOTION, THE ENGINE STOPPED WHILE IN GEAR AND WITH THE STARTING SWITCH STILL ON. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE IN GEAR. *JG

NHTSA ID
564662
Incident
Dec 12, 2001
Engine
Filed Dec 29, 1998

THE ENGINE IDLES EXTREMILY ROUGH AND DEALER SAYS HE CANT FIX

NHTSA ID
701703
Incident
Nov 6, 1998

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 .