FaultScore report
Owners have filed 12 complaints about the 2002 Cadillac Eldorado with NHTSA between 2003 and 2012. The largest single group is the airbags. Across this model's run it ranks 4 of 9 worst.
FaultScore 64/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Cadillac Eldorado.
How this is worked out12
Complaints
2
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
28,288 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
63%
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 12,108 miles
Median failure at 63,254 miles
2 crashes, 0 fires
Median failure at 51,000 miles
Median failure at 12,108 miles
Median failure at 30,361 miles
Median failure at 26,215 miles
Median failure at 26,215 miles
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
The agency crash-tested this model year itself. These are its own photographs and star ratings.
These stars come from the pre-2011 crash test programme. NHTSA rebuilt the programme for the 2011 model year and states that ratings either side of that change are not comparable — so do not read these against a 2011-or-newer car's stars.
| Configuration | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Cadillac El Dorado 2-DR. | — | — | — | — |
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.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE HIT SEVERAL OBJECTS BEFORE HITTING A TREE HEAD ON AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*MR THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HIT THE BACK OF A CONCRETE TRUCK, A DITCH AND A TREE. THE DEALER STATED THE CONSUMER DIDN'T HIT THE OBJECTS AT THE RIGHT ANGLE, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAGS NOT TO DEPLOY. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10042076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10012401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ELDORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THE OVERHEAD EYEGLASS COMPARTMENT DETACHED AND BLOCKED THE VIEW OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER WHO STATED THE LATCH FOR THE OVERHEAD EYE GLASS COMPARTMENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,757. UPDATED 07/19/12 *BF UPDATED 07/23/12
NHTSA complaint #10459074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS AT DON MACKEY CADILLAC SHOWING THE SERVICE ADVISER A PROBLEM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE FIREWALL HAD A HOLE IN IT. IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ADVISED I POINTED OUT THE OPENING AND WHEN I TOUCHED THE FIREWALL A PIECE OF THE PL ASTIC BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. I ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISER IF THIS WAS TYPICAL AND HE STATED THAT IT WAS NOT. HE ALSO STATED THAT TO REPLACE THE PART WOULD BE PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE FIREWALL IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE OR ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10223608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A CLINKING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VALVE SOLENOID AND TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY AND LOWER VALVES CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT UPSHIFT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SPACER PLATE AND GASKET ASSEMBLY CAUSED THE FAILURE AND MADE THE REPLACEMENT. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SOLENOID CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY REPLACED THE SOLENOID, VARIABLE PRESSURE SOLENOID, AND FILTERS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,215 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,500. UPDATED 12/27/07
NHTSA complaint #10211331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A CLINKING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VALVE SOLENOID AND TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY AND LOWER VALVES CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT UPSHIFT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SPACER PLATE AND GASKET ASSEMBLY CAUSED THE FAILURE AND MADE THE REPLACEMENT. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SOLENOID CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY REPLACED THE SOLENOID, VARIABLE PRESSURE SOLENOID, AND FILTERS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,215 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,500. UPDATED 12/27/07
NHTSA complaint #10211331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT CONSUMER STATES WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED, IT DOESN'T STOP THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING SLOWLY. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY CAN'T FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES.
NHTSA complaint #10121097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO TURN OFF. *PH THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH CRANK SENSORS. *NM (NAR)
NHTSA complaint #10057180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WARRANTY AND SAFETY ISSUE * CADILLAC MARKET IMAGE.*MR (NAR) THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS CAUSED BY FAULTY VOGUE TIRES.
NHTSA complaint #10055324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES
WARRANTY AND SAFETY ISSUE * CADILLAC MARKET IMAGE.*MR (NAR) THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS CAUSED BY FAULTY VOGUE TIRES.
NHTSA complaint #10055324 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR INTO CAR DEALERSHIP FOR THE FIFTH TIME DUE TO SAME SAFETY PROBLEM--CAR, WITHOUT WARNING GOES INTO PASSING GEAR CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, WITH RPM'S GOING TO 6000 & SPEEDOMETER GOING TO 0-- HIGH PROBABILITY OF A CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #10082585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:SIDEWALL
FRONT TIRES WORE OUT PREMATURELY, CAUSING THE SIDEWALL TO CRACK. DEALER RECOMMENDED TIRE REPLACEMENT.
NHTSA complaint #10044110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE HIT SEVERAL OBJECTS BEFORE HITTING A TREE HEAD ON AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*MR THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HIT THE BACK OF A CONCRETE TRUCK, A DITCH AND A TREE. THE DEALER STATED THE CONSUMER DIDN'T HIT THE OBJECTS AT THE RIGHT ANGLE, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAGS NOT TO DEPLOY. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10042076 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10012401 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.