FaultScore

Cadillac Eldorado brake problems

26 of the 234 complaints filed about the Cadillac Eldorado are about the braking system — 11% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1997.

26

Complaints

11%

Share of all complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

Brakes complaints by model year

1983 Eldorado 1 3.8%
1994 Eldorado 1 3.8%

Median failure at 180,000 miles

1996 Eldorado 2 7.7%

Median failure at 68,337 miles

1997 Eldorado 7 26.9%

Median failure at 70,000 miles

1998 Eldorado 4 15.4%

Median failure at 79,059 miles

1999 Eldorado 4 15.4%

Median failure at 24,500 miles

2000 Eldorado 1 3.8%

Median failure at 62,000 miles

2001 Eldorado 5 19.2%

Median failure at 21,000 miles

2002 Eldorado 1 3.8%

What owners said

1997 Cadillac Eldorado at 80,000 miles Oakland, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ANTI BRAKING SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT NOTICED A FUEL ODOR WHEN SHE TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH INTO THE RUN POSITION. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH INTO THE RUN POSITION INTERMITTENTLY AND HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA complaint #10735170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Cadillac Eldorado at 62,000 miles Stanford, CT Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CADILLAC ELDORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE YELLOW SERVICE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000. PAM

NHTSA complaint #10609039 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Cadillac Eldorado at 23,000 miles North Ridgville, OH

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CADILLAC ELDORADO. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE BRAKES ENGAGED ON THEIR OWN AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE STABILIZER CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT LOCATED THE FAILURE WITHIN THE STEERING SENSOR MODULE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE STEERING SENSOR MODULE, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, AND WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 23,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 26,000.

NHTSA complaint #10427546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Cadillac Eldorado at 62,000 miles Manitou Springs, CO

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE PARKED THE TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE SERVICE AND STEERING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED WHO BOTH TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WAS ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER AND THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF WHEN THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS PLACED ON WAITING LIST FOR THE PART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. UPDATED 02/18/11

NHTSA complaint #10378005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Cadillac Eldorado at 34,800 miles Hope, RI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO TOURING COUPE (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED SHORTLY AFTER AND THE VEHICLE JERKED. THE VEHICLE SLOWED TO 15 MPH AND THE CONTACT COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN AFTER IT WAS STARTED UP AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN BECAUSE OF A CORRODED TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM OR ABS SYSTEM SENSOR. THE CONTACT SHUT OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,200.

NHTSA complaint #10374633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Cadillac Eldorado Oregon City, OR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND HEARD A SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DISENGAGED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AGAIN AND THE SCREECHING NOISE RECURRED. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW MINUTES, SHE PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. SHE WAITED APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AND THE ABS MESSAGE WAS NO LONGER DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE BRAKES. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V064000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK), HOWEVER, THE CONTACT BELIEVED IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE, PURCHASE DATE, SPEED, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,155.

NHTSA complaint #10204092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1994 Cadillac Eldorado at 180,000 miles Houston, TX

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.

2001 Cadillac Eldorado at 33,000 miles Gates Mills, OH

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE CONTACT ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL MADE CONTACT WITH THE FLOORBOARD. THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED THREE TIMES AT 9,000, 23,000 AND 33,000 MILES. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT DUE TO RUST AND WHAT THEY WERE MADE OFF THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK UPDATED 04/12/07.

NHTSA complaint #10184443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Cadillac Eldorado at 60,000 miles SAN Antonio, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 97V064000, REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES; HYDRAULIC; ANTILOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.

NHTSA complaint #10175298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Cadillac Eldorado at 90,382 miles Portland, ME

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE MAKES NOISE AND VIBRATES EVERY TIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. A VARIETY OF MANEUVERS ARE USED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO BRAKE EFFECTIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE OR THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10155788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Cadillac Eldorado at 7,000 miles Gates Mills, OH

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

DT: THE BRAKE ROTORS RUSTED AND WERE DEFECTIVE. THE FRONT ROTORS WERE RESURFACED AT 7,000 MILES. THIS WAS ON FEBRUARY 28, 2003. THE REAR ROTORS WERE RESURFACED AT 8,000 MILES. THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS WERE REPLACED AT 9,000 MILES. THE REAR ROTORS WERE RESURFACED AT 11,000 MILES. THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AT 23,000 MILES. AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE MADE THE REPLACEMENT PARTS HAD THE SAME FAILURES. THE CONSUMER HAD TO PAY FOR THE LAST REPAIR OUT OF POCKET BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THERE HAVE BEEN NO ACCIDENTS AS OF YET. WHEN THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY TOLD HIM THAT THEY DID NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE ROTORS.

NHTSA complaint #10137286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Cadillac Eldorado Alexandria, VA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

1999 CADILLAC EL DORADO. AT APPROX 75,000 MILES SUDDEN FAILURE OF REAR BRAKE LINE (BETWEEN TWO REAR WHEELS) DUE TO CORROSION. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. COST TO REPAIR $550.

NHTSA complaint #10134884 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Cadillac Eldorado Whittier, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS 1999 CADILLAC ELDORADO. IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL ON PAGE. 6-31 ON BRAKE WEAR IT STATES THAT BRAKE PADS HAVE BUILT IN INDICATORS THAT WILL MAKE A SOUND WHEN NEW BRAKES ARE NEEDED. THE INDICATORS DO NOT WORK. THERE ARE TWO SIDES TO THE BRAKE PADS. ON THE CADILLAC ELDORADO IT IS WEARING DOWN QUICKER ON THE INSIDE THAN ON THE OUTSIDE. THE INSIDE BRAKE PAD WEAR DOWN AND THERE IS METAL TO METAL SOUND. ONLY THE OUTSIDE BRAKES HAVE WARNING INDICATORS. THERE ARE NONE ON THE INSIDE. CONTACT EXPLAINED THIS TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE MANUFACTURER. HE THINKS THAT THEY SHOULD LET PEOPLE KNOW NOT TO WAIT UNTIL HEARING THE INDICATOR. BECAUSE IF THE INSIDE BRAKES WEAR OUT CONSUMER WILL NOT HEAR THE INDICATOR SOUND.*AK

NHTSA complaint #10128799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Cadillac Eldorado Bonita, CA

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.

1996 Cadillac Eldorado Prospect Park, NJ

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED, BUT MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM . ALSO, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. HOWEVER, MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM . *AK *BF

NHTSA complaint #10117550 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1996 Cadillac Eldorado at 68,337 miles Washington, DC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS

CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT VEHICLE LOST THE BRAKES, AND THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, AND NEITHER WAS WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.

NHTSA complaint #10097860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Cadillac Eldorado at 9,000 miles Arlington, VA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ON TWO OCCASIONS, MY MOTHER DROVE TO GROCERY STORES, PARKED HER 2001 EL DORADO CADILLAC, SHOPPED, GOT BACK IN THE CAR AND PUT IT REVERSE, TO BACK OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, PUT IT IN DRIVE, BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND THE BRAKES FAILED. THE FIRST TIME SHE ALMOST HIT A PEDESTRIAN. THE SECOND TIME SHE ENDED UP BLOWING A STOP SIGN AND ENDED UP IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC BEFORE THE BRAKES ENGAGED. THERE WERE TWO SERVICE CALLS REGARDING THE PROBLEM WITH GUY HILL CADILLAC IN SAN DIEGO AND ANOTHER SERVICE CALL WITH DE LA FUENTE CADILLAC IN EL CAJON CALIFORNIA. ALL THREE SERVICE CALLS RESULTED IN THE SAME RESPONSE. THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED.

NHTSA complaint #10093174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Cadillac Eldorado Overland Park, KS

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES NUMEROUS TIMES BUT IT FAILED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND PULLED OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND REPLACED IT. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS AT THIS TIME. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #10082119 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Cadillac Eldorado at 26,000 miles Greenfield, WI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

THE BRAKES WOULD PULSATE WHEN APPLIED. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE ROTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK THE DEALER ONLY GROUNDED THE ROTORS DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #10053955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Cadillac Eldorado Philadelphia, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

WHILE DRIVING THE ABS BRAKING LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD UNTIL THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE DRIVER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANALYSIS. THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #10052162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Cadillac Eldorado problems