1997 Cadillac ELDORADO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
31 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
90,191 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 18 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 31 complaints (12.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 6 | 19.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 12.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 9.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 6.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 3.2% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module | 2 |
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Electrical System: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip:Control Unit/Module: 2
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 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 1
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 13 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
2003: 8; 2004: 2; 2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 4; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2015: 2; 2016: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 3 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 10014702 · 2003-03-28 (March 28, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. WHEN THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND LIFTED UP THE HOOD, HE DISCOVERED THAT GASOLINE HAD LEAKED ALL OVER THE ENGINE. *JB DEALER REPLACED LEAKING FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLY.
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014702 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014705 · 2003-03-28 (March 28, 2003)
THE FUEL READING WAS OFF, THE VEHICLE STOPPED AS IF THERE WAS NO GAS, HOWEVER THERE WAS A HALF TANK. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014705 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016634 · 2003-04-28 (April 28, 2003)
ON A NUMBER OF OCCASIONS WHEN I STAR OUT AND IT HAPPENED TO OR IS RAINING I HAVE HAD THE POWER STEERING LOCKED UP. AFTER I BELIEVE THE BELT TO DRY IT IS OKAY. AT ONE TIME IT LOCKED UP IN A TURN AND IT TAKES SUPERMAN TO STEER. THIS COULD BE THE CAUSE OF AN ACCIDENT. I BELIEVE THAT AT ONE TIME I READ THAT THE NHTSA BOARD WAS TALKING ABOUT THIS BUT CADILLAC DID NOT CORRESPOND TO THE BOARDS COMPLAINT. THIS IS A DEFINITELY A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT COULD PROBABLY SOLVED BY SOME TYPE OF COVER. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016634 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018475 · 2003-05-09 (May 9, 2003)
CADILLAC 4.6 ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO HEAD BOLT PROBLEM THE THREADS PULL OUT OF BLOCK CAUSING COOLANT LEAKS AND COOLING SYSTEM PRESSURE AND LOST. CADILLAC HAS A FIX FOR THE THREADS IN THE BLOCK ALONG WITH NEW GASKETS AND BOLTS. TSB IS 00-06-01-016 FOR A LIST OF PARTS AND A SPECIAL TOOL IS NECESSARY FOR THE REPAIR. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018475 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019408 · 2003-05-07 (May 7, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10019408 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044374 · 2003-10-21 (October 21, 2003)
CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 97V064000 CONCERNING ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044374 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047432 · 2003-11-23 (November 23, 2003)
FUEL SYSTEM GASOLINE, FUEL INJECTION, FUEL RAIL. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 72,067 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047432 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050421 · 2009-06-16 (June 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)
Owner-reported narrative. 66,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050421 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 ↗