1997 Cadillac Seville engine problems

ENGINE

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.

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED FIFTEEN TIMES WITHIN AN HOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000. UPDATED 8/11/14

NHTSA complaint #10596577 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING COOLANT (MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED) AT A VAST RATE. HE HAD TO REPLACE THE COOLANT IN THE VEHICLE ALMOST EVERY OTHER DAY. IN ADDITION, THE HEATING GAUGE WOULD SPORADICALLY MOVE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE DEALER IS CURRENTLY PERFORMING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

NHTSA complaint #10272969 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DRIVING AT 60 TO 65 MILES AN HOUR, THE DISTANCE BEFORE THE MALFUNCTION BEGAN WAS APPROXIMATELY 5 MILES BEFORE MY BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY WERE APPLIED DURING A NON BRAKING APPLICATION. THE CADILLAC STS SLOWED DOWN INTO A CAR THAT HIT MY REAR BUMPER. I TRIED TO RECOVER FROM THE BUMP. AS AN RESULT, THE MOMENTUM SENT ME INTO A ROCKY BUT GRASSY DITCHED AREA ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY. AS A RESULT OF THE EBTCM FAILING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, MY BUMPER WAS DAMAGED, FRONT BUMPER WAS DAMAGED, ALONG WITH MY STEERING AND STRUTS. I CONTACTED GM ABOUT THE ISSUE WITH THIS DEFECTIVE EBTCM AND THE REMEDY HAS BEEN THAT A INSPECTOR WILL EVALUATE THE CAR THEN NEXT(....) I WILL BE NOTIFIED WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL REPAIRED. THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED MAJORITY OF THE TIME SINCE MY INCIDENT. I'M WAITING FOR THE INSPECTOR TO CALL AND SCHEDULE AN DATE TO VIEW VEHICLE. AFTER THE DATE OF ACCIDENT, I WENT TO GET A DIAGNOSIS OF THE DAMAGE FROM AN AUTHORIZED CADILLAC DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO START WITH THE EBTCM AND STRUTS. IN ADDITION, THEY WOULD NEED MORE TIME TO DIAGNOSIS OTHER ISSUES.

NHTSA complaint #10237912 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC SEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE MULTIPLE COOLANT LEAKS INSIDE THE ENGINE AND THEY REPLACED FOUR GASKETS, A WATER PUMP, AND HOSE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. AS OF FEBRUARY 15, 2008, THE DEALER HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 57,813.

NHTSA complaint #10218163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

1997 CADILLAC SEVILLE SLS STALLS IN TRAFFIC. *TS THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH THE STALLING.

NHTSA complaint #10141005 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

HEADS ON 1997 CADILLAC SEVILLE (SLS) PULLED LOOSE FROM ENGINE LETTING ANTIFREEZE ENTER INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER OF ALL EIGHT CYLINDERS. HEADS WERE WARPED AND HAD TO BE TAKEN OFF ENGINE AND MILLED TO REFIT TO ENGINE BLOCK. THIS WORK DONE AT LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER (SAM SWOPE CADILLAC, SERVICE MANAGER DAVE HOLLAND 502 499 5015) COST TO REPAIR ENGINE $4,999.47........I HAVE SPOKEN TO QUITE A FEW CADILLAC OWNERS AND SERVICE PERSONNEL AND THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH THE CADILLAC NORTHSTAR ENGINE AND ALL CADILLAC DEALERSHIPS ARE WELL VERSED IN REPAIRING THIS ENGINE DEFECT........I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IF GENERAL MOTORS HAD PUT STEEL INSERTS INTO THE ALUMINUM BLOCK FOR THE HEADBOLTS TO TIGHTEN INTO AT THE FACTORY THAT THIS PROBLEM WOULD NOT REPEATEDLY OCCUR! FROM WHAT I HAVE BEEN TOLD GM WAS TRYING TO SAVE WEIGHT AND IMPROVE FUEL CONSUMPTION AND THAT IS WHY THEY WENT TO AN ALUMINUM BLOCK AND HEADS.

NHTSA complaint #10125234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #10097438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I BOUGHT A USED CAR WITH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. A WEEK LATER THE FUEL SWITCH WENT OUT. I HAD TO SPEND $80 TO GET THAT FIXED AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP. AFTER A FEW WEEKS THE TURING SWITCH STARTED SMOKING SO I TOOK IT TO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP TO GET CHECK OUT AND THEY FIXED IT FOR $100 (CO PAY) WHILE MY CAR WAS BEING FIXED THEY FOUND A MAJOR OIL LEAK AND ASKED ME IF I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF MY WARRANTY WOULD FIX IT. THE WARRENTY PEOPLE CAME OUT AND SAID NO WE ARE NOT GOING TO PAY THE $1,500 -$2,500 TO FIX IT. THE CAR NEEDS TO GO BACK TO WHERE YOU BOUGHT IT SO THEY CAN FIX THE CAR BECAUSE THE LEAK WAS PREEXISTING . AT THAT TIME I WENT AND TALKED TO ONE OF THE OWNERS. HE SAID HE WOULD LOOK INTO IT AND ADVISED ME TO GO AND LET THE SERVICE MANAGER TAKE A LOOK AT THE CAR. COME TO FIND OUT THE USED CAR LOT KNEW ABOUT THE LEAK AND DID NOT TELL ME AT THE TIME OF SALE OTHERWISE I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR . I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE SALES DEPARTMENT MAY PAY TO GET IT FIXED AND THEY DECLINED. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A $320.00 A MONTH PAYMENT ON A CAR THAT I CAN'T DRIVE VERY MUCH UNTIL THE LEAK IS FIXED . I WOULD LIKE TO GET MY OLD CAR BACK THAT I TRADED IN. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD BE ABLE TO UNDER THE USED CAR LEMON LAW ACT. ONE MORE NOTE I ALSO NEED TO GET THE STEERING COLUM REPAIRED THAT WOULD BE ANOTHER $210.00 AND I WORK FOR THE COMPANY I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM.

NHTSA complaint #10070348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

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.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE EXHIBITED EXTENDED CRANKS AFTER SITTING FOR SEVERAL HOURS. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR($$$). ENGINE CONTINUED TO EXHIBIT EXTENDED CRANKS ONLY MORE SEVERE. DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP ($$$$). ENGINE CONTINUED TO EXHIBIT EXTENDED CRANKS. DEALER REPLACED FUEL FILTER ($$) AND FUEL PUMP AGAIN. CRANK PROBLEM NOW REPLACED BY STALLING AFTER DECELERATING TO NEAR STOP THEN DOING A GENTLE TIP IN ON ACCELERATOR AS IN MAKING A TURN OR ENTERING A TRAFFIC CIRCLE.

NHTSA complaint #10045551 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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 AN IMPENDING FAILURE. CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE ACKNOWLEDGED TO ME ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THAT THERE IS NO KNOWN CURE OTHER THAN REPLACEMENT AND THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS ON SEVERAL YEARS OF THAT MODEL. THE REPLACEMENT COST IS $500 PER SET OF TAIL LIGHTS AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE IT WILL LAST OR HOW LONG IT WILL LAST. ON E OF THE METHODS PEOPLE HAVE USED IN AN ATTEMPT TO CURE THE ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM IS TO DRILL HOLES IN THE BOTTOM OF THE LENS TO ALLOW WATER TO ESCAPE. WHEN I LAST TALKED TO THE CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO TALK TO THE AVM (ZONE MANAGER FOR THIS DISTRICT), NOR WOULD THEY OFFER TO WORK WITH ME ON REPLACING THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES. I BELIEVE THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY ISSUE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED BY GENERAL MOTORS, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE CUSTOMER SERVICE READILY ADMITS IT IS A PROBLEM AND THERE IS NO KNOWN CURE OTHER THAN REPLACEMENT AT THE CUSTOMERS EXPENSE. INCIDENTALLY, THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLIES WERE REPLACED ONCE UNDER WARRANTY WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR A COMPLETELY UNRELATED PROBLEM. SO, THAT IS EVIDENCE THE PROBLEM WAS WELL KNOWN BY BOTH GM AND THE DEALERSHIP NETWORK. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10014105 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED A MAJOR LEAK THAT IS PUMPING OIL ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. NLM OIL LEAK CAUSED BY A FAULTY REAR MAIN SEAL. ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH DUE TO FAULTY 02 SENSOR, FUEL GAUGE READING ERRATICALLY DUE TO BAD SPOT ON SENDER. WHILE DRIVING AND HITTING A BUMP, THERE WAS A RATTLE UNDER THE VEHICLE, DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT STRUT AND MOUNT. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #8006540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE ENGINE CRACKED AT 68000 MILES. I CALLED CADILLAC TO REPLACE THE ENGINE, BUT THEY REFUSED. I HAD A OST OF OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR FROM THE BEGINNING. THEY SHOULD ALL BE RECORDED BY THE CADILLAC DEALER IN CONROE, TEXAS AND HERE IN LEXINGTON KY. I BELIEVE THAT THIS CAR WAS A LEMON WHEN I BOUGHT IT.

NHTSA complaint #753510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

I HAVE HAD EXTREME OIL COMPSUMPTION SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR FROM SUPERIOR . IT WAS USED AND STILL IS UNDER WARRENTY. I HAVE HAD IT BACK TO THEM THREE TIMES FOR THIS AND THEY RAN TWO DIFFERENT OIL COMSUMPION TESTS.. ONE FOR 4000 MILES WHICH TOOK 5 1/2 QUARTS OIL AND ONE 500 MILE TEST THAT TOOK 1 QRT.. SINCE THEN THEY HAVE DECLINED TO TELL ME WHAT THE STATIS OF THE COMPLAINT TO GM IS..THANKS.

NHTSA complaint #747196 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE BACKFIRES AT START---ENGINE STOPS ON DECELLERATION BOTH INTERMITTENTLY . DEALERS HAVE REPLACED AIR INTAKE SENSOR, FUEL SENSOR, FUEL FILTER AND CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS.

NHTSA complaint #739947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE BACKFIRES AT START---ENGINE STOPS ON DECELLERATION BOTH INTERMITTENTLY . DEALERS HAVE REPLACED AIR INTAKE SENSOR, FUEL SENSOR, FUEL FILTER AND CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS.

NHTSA complaint #739947 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)

EGR VALVE AND GASKET FAILED. MJS

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

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION VERY HIGH, UNABLE TO REPAIR/RECTIFY ON SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS. MJS

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