1997 Cadillac DEVILLE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
185 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
82,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 81 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting:Headlights is the most frequently named component, appearing in 19 of 185 complaints (10.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 37 | 20.0% |
| Steering behavior | 14 | 7.6% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 6.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 6.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 4.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 19 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail | 16 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 13 |
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 11 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 10 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 6 |
Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 19; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail: 16; Engine And Engine Cooling: 13; Electrical System: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 11; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 10; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 13 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 19 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 24 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 22 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 13; 50,000 to 74,999: 19; 75,000 to 99,999: 24; 100,000 to 149,999: 22; 150,000 and above: 3
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (24). 104 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 24 |
| 2001 | 22 |
| 2002 | 30 |
| 2003 | 25 |
| 2004 | 28 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 5 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2000: 24; 2001: 22; 2002: 30; 2003: 25; 2004: 28; 2005: 13; 2006: 7; 2007: 3; 2008: 5; 2009: 5; 2010: 3; 2011: 3; 2012: 4; 2013: 2; 2014: 5; 2015: 3; 2016: 1; 2018: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting:Headlights leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 37 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002997 · 2003-01-20 (January 20, 2003)
THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON A 1997 CADILLAC. WHE THE SYSTEM FAILED THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM AN EMERGENCY STOP. THERE WAS NO BACKUP SYSTEM UNDER THIS CONDITION. AT A LITTLE LESS THAN 90,000 MILES THE BRAKES FAILED. THERE WAS NO BACKUP. WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED IT WOULD BLEED DOWN UNTIL IT BOTTOMED OUT. IT WAS DURING THE 2002 HOLIDAY SEASON AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR SERVICED. I INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND IT TO BE A BRAKE LINE IN THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WELL HAD A HOLE RUBBED …
Owner-reported narrative. 89,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002997 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003906 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING OIL IS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO REFILL MORE THEN OFTEN. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003906 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004763 · 2003-01-27 (January 27, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY ALL FOUR TIRES BEING OUT OF ROUND. THEY HAD HIGH SPOTS IN THEM. THESE ARE 70,000 MILE TIRES. NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004763 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007161 · 2002-11-15 (November 15, 2002)
1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****769735
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007161 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007872 · 2003-02-20 (February 20, 2003)
1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE HAS INTERMITTENT TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATION. DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD REPLACE WIREING HARNESS AT A COST OF $600 BUT DID NOT KNOW IF IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY STATED THAT SOMETIMES IT DOES AND AT OTHER TIMES IT DOES NOT. INFORMED THEM OF A RECALL ON ABS SYSTEM AND CADILLAC HQ. HAS NEVER HEARD OF IT. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007872 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008178 · 2003-02-27 (February 27, 2003)
THIS IS A COPY OF AN EMAIL I SENT TO CADILLAC. CADILLAC DID RESPOND, HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT PURSUING THIS ISSUE ANY FURTHER. I HAD A VERY DISTURBING EXPERIENCE THIS PAST SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 15, 2003. MY WIFE AND MYSELF WENT OUT FOR DINNER AND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT. IT WAS ONLY 15 DEGREES OUT AND I DECIDED TO CHANGE THE TIRE MYSELF. I LOOSENED THE LUG NUTS, THEN USING THE FACTORY JACK, RAISED THE CAR, TOOK OFF THE FLAT TIRE, INSTALLED THE SPARE, AND HAND TIGHTENED ALL THE LUGS NUTS. I THEN WENT TO LOWER THE JAC…
Owner-reported narrative. 46,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008178 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009793 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
THE CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD ONLY TURN TO THE RIGHT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009793 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009794 · 2003-03-04 (March 4, 2003)
BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STRAIGHTEN OUT OR TURN TO LEFT. DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE, DEALER REPLACED RACK AND PINION, AND PROBLEM DISAPPEARED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009794 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V110000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 2004-03-04 (March 4, 2004)
SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L V8 ENGINES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE NYLON TUBING USED IN THE FUEL RAIL CONSTRUCTION MAY DEGRADE AND CRACK. ADDITIONALLY, THE 1995 MODEL YEAR USES A UNIQUE UNDERHOOD FUEL RETURN LINE THAT MAY CRACK. CRACKING OF THE FUEL RAIL OR RETURN LINE TUBING CAN RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL WITH A NEW STAINLESS STEEL FUEL RAIL. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSTALL A REVISED CHASSIS FUEL RETURN LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 2, 2004, FOR 1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE AURORA VEHICLES. OWNERS OF 1995 CADILLACS AND 1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE AURORA WERE SENT LETTERS ON AUGUST 6, 2004. ADDITIONAL LETTERS TO OWNERS WILL BE FORTHCOMING. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
NHTSA campaign record ↗97V064000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Reported: 1997-04-28 (April 28, 1997)
THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE OR THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE CAN CAUSE THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) TO CYCLE DURING A NON-ABS BRAKE APPLICATION.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE OR THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗