FaultScore

1997 Cadillac Seville electrical problems

14 of the 135 complaints about the 1997 Cadillac Seville are about the electrical system — 10% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 91,443 miles.

C

14

Complaints

0

Crashes

2

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Electrical System 5 35.7%
12V/24V/48V Battery 3 21.4%
Front Underhood 1 7.1%
Horn 1 7.1%
Ignition 1 7.1%
Wiring 1 7.1%
Interior/Under Dash 1 7.1%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 1 7.1%

Electrical System across every Cadillac Seville year

1995 10 15.6%
1996 24 37.5%
1997 14 21.9%
1999 16 25.0%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 89,007 miles Buffalo, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ROUGHLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS FLICKERING ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,007.

NHTSA complaint #11408255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cameron Park, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC SEVILLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL DRIVEWAY, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND INDICATED THAT THERE MAY HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED BECAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED BY E-MAIL AND RESPONDED THAT THEY WOULD FOLLOW-UP TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT YET RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10980227 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 138,000 miles Fort Myers, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC SEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ANTILOCK BRAKE AND TRACTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATE SIMULTANEOUSLY DURING NON-ABS APPLICATIONS. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V064000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 139,000. UPDATED 6/22/09 *CN THE HORN, FAN BLOWER AND STABILIZER LINK WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 06/25/09.

NHTSA complaint #10267238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 138,000 miles Fort Myers, FL

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC SEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ANTILOCK BRAKE AND TRACTION LIGHTS ILLUMINATE SIMULTANEOUSLY DURING NON-ABS APPLICATIONS. THE ISSUE HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V064000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK), ALTHOUGH THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 139,000. UPDATED 6/22/09 *CN THE HORN, FAN BLOWER AND STABILIZER LINK WERE REPLACED. UPDATED 06/25/09.

NHTSA complaint #10267238 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELK Grove, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THE CONTACT PURCHASED A NEW ECM AND HAD IT INSTALLED, BUT LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY RECALL INFORMATION. THE TOTAL COST OF THE REPAIRS WAS $1,200. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 198,000.

NHTSA complaint #10216697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 57,062 miles NEW Providence, NJ Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

SMOKE AND SMELL OF ELECTRICAL FIRE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN. IMMEDIATELY TOOK TO GM CADILLAC DEALER. THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AS THEY HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM IN OTHER CADILLAC'S "SEVERAL TIMES". THE TURNSIGNAL SWITCH MELTED. THEY REPLACED TURNSIGNAL SWITCH & CANCELING CAMS. REASEEMBLED AND TESTED. PRICE: $392.47

NHTSA complaint #10127441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 93,879 miles Greensburg, LA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE IT MADE A GROWLING NOISE. CONSUMER FELT UNSAFE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. HOWEVER, THERE WAS A MILDEW SMELL IN THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10066913 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 86,447 miles Lexington, KY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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!

NHTSA complaint #10018480 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hackensack, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

WHILE PULLING IN VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF, LOST ALL POWER. AAA CAME, LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, BATTERY ACID LEAKED AND BURNED BATTERY CABLE.

NHTSA complaint #8016959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hackensack, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHILE PULLING IN VEHICLE JUST SHUT OFF, LOST ALL POWER. AAA CAME, LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, BATTERY ACID LEAKED AND BURNED BATTERY CABLE.

NHTSA complaint #8016959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Redlands, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

I REPORTED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL AT A STOPPED POSITIONS. THE DEALERSHIP HAD MY CAR FOR TWO DAYS AND "DROVE IT FOR TWO DAYS" AND COULD NOT "FIND" ANYHING WRONG WITH IT. DEALER REFUSES TO LET A CERTIFIED CADILLAC DEALERSHIP INSPECT MY CAR.

NHTSA complaint #756183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Norcross, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WIRING/CONNECTOR ENGINE REPAIR. MJS

NHTSA complaint #546110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Norcross, GA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY FAILED. MJS

NHTSA complaint #546110 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Torrance, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERY DIED TWO TIMES. MJS

NHTSA complaint #606932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1997 Cadillac Seville problems

← Full 1997 Cadillac Seville report