FaultScore report
Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 1994 Cadillac Eldorado with NHTSA between 2004 and 2016. The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain. Across this model's run it ranks 9 of 9 worst.
FaultScore 26/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Cadillac Eldorado.
How this is worked out12
Complaints
0
Crashes reported
1
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
75,000 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
0%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Median failure at 75,000 miles
Median failure at 120,000 miles
Median failure at 52,500 miles
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 130,000 mi
Median failure at 180,000 miles
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.
Fuel System
NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.9 LITRE ENGINES. AN INCORRECT ENRICHMENT CALIBRATION TO THE FUELING STRATEGY OF THESE VEHICLES WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS BEING USED MAY RESULT IN NON COMPLIANCE WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. CORRECTION: A NEW SERVICE PROM WILL BE INSTALLED WHICH WILL RESULT IN THE REDUCTION OF AIR POLLUTANTS WITHOUT REDUCING DRIVEABILITY.
Engine
IF THE A/C COMPRESSOR CLUTCH ASSEMBLY CONTACTS THE AUXILIARY ENGINE OIL COOLER OUTLET HOSE, THE HOSE MAY WEAR THROUGH, ALLOWING ENGINE OIL TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE COULD RESULT. CORRECTION: A TIE STRAP WILL BE INSTALLED TO RETAIN THE OUTLET HOSE TO THE INLET HOSE AND ASSURE ADEQUATE CLEARANCE FROM THE A/C COMPRESSOR CLUTCH ASSEMBLY.
Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CADILLAC ELDORADO TOURING COUPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION. SHE THEN EXITED THE VEHICLE AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SHE THEN WENT TO OPEN THE HOOD AND FOUND PIECES OF THE GASKET. THE CONTACTS MECHANIC ARRIVED TO ASSIST AND WHEN HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FUEL INJECTOR AND IT HAD FRACTURED INTO PIECES. THE CONTACT INQUIRED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #10365694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
ENGINE
WATER PUMP LEAK AFTER 50K MILES. HAD TO BE REPAIRED 3 TIMES. POSSIBLY DUE TO OVERHEATING WHEN RADIATOR CAP WAS LEFT LOOSE.
NHTSA complaint #10854607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
TRANSMISSION FAILED AFTER 60K MILES AND NEEDED TO BE REBUILT.
NHTSA complaint #10854604 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
REAR MAIN SEAL LEAK AFTER 70K MILES. WILL REQUIRE OVER $4K DUE TO ENGINE NEEDING TO BE REMOVED.
NHTSA complaint #10854605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CADILLAC ELDORADO TOURING COUPE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION. SHE THEN EXITED THE VEHICLE AND SAW SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. SHE THEN WENT TO OPEN THE HOOD AND FOUND PIECES OF THE GASKET. THE CONTACTS MECHANIC ARRIVED TO ASSIST AND WHEN HE STARTED THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE FUEL INJECTOR AND IT HAD FRACTURED INTO PIECES. THE CONTACT INQUIRED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #10365694 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CADILLAC ELDORADO.ON SEPTEMBER 5, 2008, WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH , THE RPMS SUDDENLY INCREASED TO 6000.THIS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER IN REFERENCE TO RECALL 93V164000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 186,000.
NHTSA complaint #10331977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE CONTACT FELT HEAT COMING FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND STAYED THAT WAY. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE FAILURE. WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE IT VIBRATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE A VIBRATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
NHTSA complaint #10186509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE CONTACT FELT HEAT COMING FROM THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT AND VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND STAYED THAT WAY. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE FAILURE. WHEN SHE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE IT VIBRATED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE A VIBRATED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
NHTSA complaint #10186509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVING REAR RIGHT TIRE EXPLODED. THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME THAT TIRES HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER. MICHELIN TIRES, RADIAL ALL SEASON TIRE, DOT M33VE4JX4302, P225/60R16 97S.
NHTSA complaint #10114932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
PASSENGER'S REAR TIRE BLEW OUT UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE RIM TO BE DAMAGED, AND BE REPLACED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BY CONSUMER.*AK THE REAR FENDER WAS ALSO DAMAGED.
NHTSA complaint #10109421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE CONSUMER STATED RECALL #93V164000 WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. BUT, CONSUMER HAD TO PAY LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO TRY AND GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. *AK THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY DIED WHILE IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE LOCKED WHILE IN PARK, THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, THE ENGINE SURGED AND DIED WHEN STOPPING AND THE EGR VALVE BINDING. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED HOSE AND REAR MAIN SEAL LEAKAGE AND A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DIE.
NHTSA complaint #10097592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
THE CONSUMER STATED RECALL #93V164000 WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN THE RECALL. BUT, CONSUMER HAD TO PAY LARGE AMOUNTS OF MONEY TO TRY AND GET THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. *AK THE VEHICLE CONSTANTLY DIED WHILE IN MOTION, THE VEHICLE LOCKED WHILE IN PARK, THERE WAS A LOSS OF STEERING, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, THE ENGINE SURGED AND DIED WHEN STOPPING AND THE EGR VALVE BINDING. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED HOSE AND REAR MAIN SEAL LEAKAGE AND A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE THAT CAUSED THE ENGINE TO DIE.
NHTSA complaint #10097592 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DOES NOT RETRACT PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *SC
NHTSA complaint #10082160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.