1997 Cadillac SEVILLE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
71 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
91,204 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 38 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 71 complaints (8.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 16 | 22.5% |
| Braking behavior | 14 | 19.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 7.0% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 5.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 2.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail | 6 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 6 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 4 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Fuel Rail: 6; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 6; Electrical System: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline: 4; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 4
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 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 3
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 33 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 | 5 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 16 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2000: 5; 2001: 6; 2002: 7; 2003: 16; 2004: 12; 2005: 9; 2007: 1; 2008: 4; 2009: 5; 2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2017: 1; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 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 10002648 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
WHEN TURNING LEFT THE POWER STEERING IS NOT WORKING BUT WORKS TO THE RIGHT. THEN IT SEEMS TO WORK ALRIGHT A FEW TIMES THEN QUIT AGAIN WHEN TURNING LEFT. IT IS SO HARD TO TURN THAT I HAVE PARKED THE CAR.
Owner-reported narrative. 53,353 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002648 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014105 · 2003-04-08 (April 8, 2003)
I PURCHASED A 1997 CADILLAC STS WITH ALL OPTIONS. THE CAR HAD JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING GO WRONG WITH IT, INCLUDING IT REQUIRING A NEW ENGINE. MANY OF THE PROBLEMS EARLY ON WERE UNDER WARRANTY, BUT LATER ONES WEREN'T. HOWEVER, THE MOST DISTURBING PROBLEM WAS THE REAR TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES. THEY DO NOT SEAL PROPERLY AND ALLOW WATER TO SEEP IN. THIS CAUSES CORROSION OF THE BULB SOCKETS AND EVENTUALLY CAUSES A SHORT THAT BLOWS A FUSE, EXTINGUISHING THE TAIL LIGHTS. OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND THE DRIVER HAS NO WAY OF KNOWING THERE IS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014105 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018314 · 2003-05-06 (May 6, 2003)
1997 CADILLAC REAR LIGHT HOUSINGS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THESE HOUSINGS CONTINUALLY LEAK CAUSING EXCESSIVE MOISTURE TO BE TRAPPED. WE HAD DELIVERY ON OUR STS ON 10/09/96. THESE HOUSING WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ON 2/18/97 DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. AGAIN ON 3/25/98, THESE HOUSINGS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO SAME PROBLEM. THE MOISTURE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND WHEN PRESENTED TO DEALER ON 09/07/01 FOR SERVICE, WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL CONDITION AND CADILLAC HAS WASHED ITS HANDS WITH NO REPLACEMENT. THEY HAVE IMPLIED THAT THIS A DE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10018314 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10018480 · 2003-05-09 (May 9, 2003)
I BOUGHT A USED 1997 CADILLAC SLS IN 1999 WHICH WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE CAR HAS HAD ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL PROBLEMS OFF AND ON. I HAVE RELIGIOUSLY HAD MY CAR SERVICED AT THE RECOMMENDED SCHEDULE. I WAS TOLD AND LED TO BELIEVE THAT THE ENGINE WAS VIRTUALLY MAINTENANCE FREE UP TO 100,000 MILES. MY CAR HAS 82,000 MILES AND NOW THEY TELL ME THAT I NEED A NEW HEAD GASKET AT NICE COST OF $2800.00. I'M TIRED OF BEING CHARGED FOR "SOME LITTLE PROBLEM" EVERY TIME I BRING IT IN! *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 86,447 miles reported. Look up ODI 10018480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029763 · 2003-07-21 (July 21, 2003)
CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, INJECTORS. INJECTORS WERE MADE OUT OF PLASTIC, GAS WAS LEAKING THROUGH THEM, AND WAS FALLING RIGHT ON TOP OF THE ENGINE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT CONSUMER SHOULD PURCHASE THE EXTRA WARRANTY ON THE VEHICLE. BUT THE WARRANTY WILL ONLY COVER THE INJECTORS MADE OUT OF METAL AND NOT PLASTIC.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 83,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029763 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034111 · 2003-10-01 (October 1, 2003)
FUEL RAIL LEAKED. DEALER STATED RAIL WAS INSTALLED BACKWARDS. THE FUEL RAIL DEVELOPED A LEAK IN THE HEAT SHRINK TUBING WHICH CAUSED FUMES TO ENTER THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. *AK *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 106,817 miles reported. Look up ODI 10034111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039917 · 2003-09-12 (September 12, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE FISH-TAILS WHEN HITTING BUMPS. THE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REPAIR THIS VEHICLE EIGHT TIMES AND SAYS THAT THIS VEHICLE CAN NOT BE FIXED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10039917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043457 · 2003-10-23 (October 23, 2003)
1997 SEVILLE STS WHILE STARTING TURN FROM A STOP THE TRACTION CONTROL APPLIES THE BRAKES SKIDS THE TIRES, TAKES AWAY THE ABILITY TO STEER AND DECELERATES THE ENGINE, THIS ALSO OCCURS WHEN DOING THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT (70) MPH. THE BOOK REQUIRES DRIVERS TO PULL OVER AND TURN CAR OFF THEN RESTART, DOING THIS ON THE FREEWAY PERMITS THIS TO OCCUR AT HIGH WAY SPEEDS. WENT TO DEALER, THEY SAY TO REPLACE THE STEERING SENSOR, CALLED MANUFACTURER THEY SAY TOO BAD CONSUMER. *LA
Owner-reported narrative. 100,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043457 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 ↗