FaultScore

Cadillac Seville brake problems

89 of the 1,049 complaints filed about the Cadillac Seville are about the braking system — 8% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1997.

89

Complaints

8%

Share of all complaints

13

Crashes

4

Fires

Brakes complaints by model year

1986 Seville 2 2.2%
1987 Seville 1 1.1%
1988 Seville 5 5.6%
1989 Seville 2 2.2%
1990 Seville 4 4.5%

Median failure at 45,000 miles

1991 Seville 6 6.7%
1992 Seville 1 1.1%
1993 Seville 7 7.9%

Median failure at 133,000 miles

1994 Seville 7 7.9%

Median failure at 116,000 miles

1995 Seville 6 6.7%

Median failure at 95,000 miles

1996 Seville 2 2.2%
1997 Seville 18 20.2%

Median failure at 138,000 miles

1998 Seville 4 4.5%

Median failure at 56,212 miles

1999 Seville 9 10.1%

Median failure at 71,000 miles

2000 Seville 5 5.6%

Median failure at 70,000 miles

2001 Seville 4 4.5%

Median failure at 60,000 miles

2002 Seville 4 4.5%

Median failure at 59,500 miles

2003 Seville 1 1.1%

Median failure at 19,000 miles

2004 Seville 1 1.1%

Median failure at 88,000 miles

What owners said

2000 Cadillac Seville at 80,000 miles Sterling Heights, MI

SERVICE BRAKES

WHILE GOING 45 APPROACHING A RED LIGHT I CASUALLY HIT THE BRAKES. THE CAR DID NOT STOP. HITTING THE BRAKES TO THE FLOOR FOR A 2ND TIME, THE CAR DID NOT STOP. THUS, AFTER RUNNING THE RED LIGHT IN A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE AND DRIVING WITHOUT BRAKES UNTIL I COULD FIND A PARKING LOT TO PULL OVER IN, GOT THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT AND WAS TOLD THE BRAKE LINE RUSTED OUT. VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION GOING APPROXIMATELY 45, CAR DID NOT STOP DUE TO RUSTED BRAKE LINE (SNAPPED BRAKE LINE)

NHTSA complaint #10986198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Cadillac Seville at 300,000 miles Manassas, VA

SERVICE BRAKES

HAVE TO TURN IGNITION ON SEVERAL TIMES TO START. RIMS PRESSURING TIRES.

NHTSA complaint #10643414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Cadillac Seville Stockton, CA

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

2002 CADILLAC SEVILLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON FIVE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. ON ONE OCCASION, THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. ALSO, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS, THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESS.

NHTSA complaint #10609387 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Cadillac Seville at 88,000 miles Sacramento, CA

SERVICE BRAKES

MY 2004 SEVILLE LOSES ALL POWER STEERING, AND I LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE DO TO THE LACK OF BEING ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE. NOW I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS WITH MY SERVICE STABILITY LIGHT COMING ON AFTER THESE OCCURRENCES WHEN DRIVING IN ANY WET CONDITIONS! , I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED DUE TO THIS DEFECT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. I NOW REFUSE TO DRIVE MY CAR IN OR AFTER RAIN. OBVIOUSLY, THIS CAUSES FREQUENT PROBLEMS FOR ME BOTH PERSONALLY AND BUSINESS WISE. I HAVE ALSO FIND IT REALLY UNFAIR DO TO PAYING 50,000+ FOR A VEHICLE WITH LESS THEN 90,000 MILES ON IT TO HAVE SUCH PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAS BEEN AND STAYS MAINTAINED REGULARLY.

NHTSA complaint #10488929 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Cadillac Seville at 71,000 miles Pasadena, CA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

APPLIED BRAKES AND FRONT END DID NOT DIP AS IT SHOULD HAVE; NO GRIPPING AS IT SHOULD HAVE; FELT GRINDING AND SLIPPAGE AS VEHICLE CONTINUED FORWARD WITHOUT LOSING ANY MOMENTUM. THERE WAS SUFFICIENT STOPPING DISTANCE THAT VEHICLE SPEED SHOULD HAVE BEEN REDUCED AND STOPPED.

NHTSA complaint #10448239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1990 Cadillac Seville at 45,000 miles NEW York City, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I BOUGHT A NEW 1990 CADILLAC FROM CADILLAC DEALER IN 1990 THAT I HAVE DRIVEN ONLY 53,678 MILES, WELL CARED FOR AND GARAGED. .THE ABS MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR SOME TIME AND I HAVE CONTACTED NUMEROUS CADILLAC DEALERS AND BRAKE MECHANICS AND CANNOT FIND ANYONE TO REPAIR LEAK. I HAVE LEARNED THAT MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER (COMBINED PUMP BOOSTER AND ABS MASTER CYLINDER WAS ONE UNIT MFG BY ATE FOR CADILLAC AS PER CADILLAC'S SPECIFICATIONS AND PLANS AND WAS USED IN 1989 AND 1990 CADILLACS AND DISCONTINUED THEREAFTER) ADDITIONALLY I HAVE LEARNED THAT CADILLAC MADE CHANGES/REPAIRS OF SOME KIND TO ABS BRAKE SYSTEM, UNANOUNCED PUBLICALLY, WHEN SEVILLES WERE BROUGHT TO CADILLAC FOR OTHER SERVICING. MY PRESENT AUTO MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT PART OF THE MASTER CYLINDER IS NEWER THAN THE REST OF THE UNIT. CADILLAC NEVER OBTAINED MY CONSENT TO MAKE CHAGES TO MY CAR NOR WAS I EVER INFORMED BY CADILLAC OR CADILLAC DEALER OF SUCH WORK. THE DEFECT IN THE ABS MASTER BRAKE SYSTEM IS A LATENT DEFECT AND THE OBLIGATION AND WARRANTY BY GM OF THE SERVICABILITY OF THEIR PRODUCTS NEVER EXPIRES. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT CADILLAC, NOTWITHSTANDING THE CAR'S AGE OF 21 YEARS BE INSTRUCTED TO FIX THE DEFECTIVE LEAKY ABS MASTER BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS LEAK HAS NOT RESULTED FROM USE AND WEAR IT IS THE RESULT OF A INHERENT LATENT DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10443669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Cadillac Seville at 93,000 miles Woodlawn, VA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING UNIT FAILED. THE DEALER MADE REPAIRS TO THE AIR CONDITIONER BUT TO NO AVAIL. IN ADDITION, THE WHEELS LOCKED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CALIPERS TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA complaint #10349534 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Cadillac Seville at 60,000 miles Merced, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ABS, BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND INSPECTED THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALERSHIP BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. THE LIGHTS STAYED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA complaint #10325476 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Cadillac Seville at 190,000 miles Chalfont, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

BRAKE LINE FAILURE - 1997 CADILLAC SEVILLE STS - 4.6L ENGINE - REAR BRAKE LINE FAILED - DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION AND ABRASION CAUSED BY NORMAL USAGE - BRAKE FLUID LOSS LEADS TO NO PEDDLE PRESSURE AND GREATLY DIMINISHED OR ZERO BRAKING CAPABILITY. SUGGEST RECALL TO INSPECT ABRADED BRAKES LINES.

NHTSA complaint #10285361 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Cadillac Seville at 138,000 miles Fort Myers, FL

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

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.

1995 Cadillac Seville at 95,000 miles Smithville, GA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 CADILLAC SEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO CONTINUOUSLY PUMP THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AFTERWARDS, THE ABS AND ENGINE LIGHTS BEGAN ILLUMINATING ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR A DIAGNOSTIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA complaint #10247217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Cadillac Seville at 120,100 miles Baltimore, MD

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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.

2003 Cadillac Seville at 19,000 miles Cedar Rapids, IA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS NOT ENOUGH ROOM BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHILE RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE CONTACT'S FOOT CATCHES ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED.

NHTSA complaint #10155376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Cadillac Seville Iowa City, IA

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

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 97V064000 CONCERNING THE ABS BRAKES. THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED DUE TO EXCESSIVE COST.

NHTSA complaint #10144068 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1999 Cadillac Seville Troy, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

DT: CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE BRAKE PEDAL DISASSEMBLED FROM THE BRAKE BOOSTER, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKES. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED EVERYTHING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WITHIN THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THERE WAS NO SAFETY CLIP BETWEEN THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKE BOOSTER.

NHTSA complaint #10121941 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1997 Cadillac Seville Chicago, IL

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

WHILE DRIVINGA ND UPON HITTING THE BRAKES ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THIS WAS A RECALL.CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE VERY SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN RECALL 97V064000 CONCERNING ECBM REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA complaint #10113262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Cadillac Seville at 60,000 miles Kenmore, NY

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

THE BRAKE LINE RUSTED WITHIN A THREE YEAR TIME SPAN. UPON DEPRESSING THE PEDAL IT WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE LOST FLUID. CONTACTED THE DEALER, WHO WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING FOR THE CONSUMER.

NHTSA complaint #10105345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Cadillac Seville at 166,000 miles Westlake Village, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

JUST AFTER LEAVING HOME AND DRIVING AT 30 MPH I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WHEN TO THE FLOOR. I DETERMINED THAT I HAD A MASSIVE BRAKE FLUID LEAK JUST TO THE REAR OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. PROBLEM: ONE OF TWO REAR BRAKE LINES THAT ARE LOCATED ON THE TOP OF THE FRAME RAIL HAD BEEN WORN THROUGH BY CONSTANT RUBBING ON THE FRONT ANTI-SWAY BAR. THE LINES ARE ROUTED OVER THE TOP OF THE SWAY BAR AND ONE OF THE LINES WAS PUSHING DOWN ON THE TOP OF THE SWAY BAR. THE BAR HAD WORN A SEMI-CIRCULAR AREA OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF THE BRAKE LINE, TO THE POINT OF FAILURE. I REPAIRED THE LINE AND TOOK THE DEFECTIVE SECTION OF THE LINE TO MY DEALER. I ALSO HAD THE SYSTEM FULLY CHECKED AND THE REPAIR INSPECTED. THE DEALER SAID THAT THEY WOULD CONTACT THE REGIONAL OFFICES OF CADILLAC TO INFORM THEM OF THE FAILURE AND ITS CAUSE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER 166,000 MILES ON A 1998 SETS, BUT, BRAKE LINES SHOULD NEVER BE IN CONTACT WITH A MOVING ASSEMBLY, A SWAY BAR WHICH ROTATES). THIS MIGHT BE AN ASSEMBLE ERROR ON JUST MY CAR BUT THE LINES ARE FORMED TO CLEAR THE BAR AND WERE HELD IN PLACE BY FRAME MOUNTED "CLIP BLOCKS". EVERYTHING WAS MOUNTED IN THE CORRECT FACTORY POSITIONS BUT THIS LINE WAS PUSHING DOWN ON THE SWAY BAR. IF IT HAPPENED TO ME IT MIGHT HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT I FILED A PHONE REPORT ON NOVEMBER 1 . I RECEIVED A FORM FROM YOU TODAY 11/9/04 THE REFERENCE NUMBER ON THE FORM IS 10099163. AFTER READING THE NARRATIVE/DESCRIPTION ON THE FORM I AM STUNNED. AFTER 15 MINUTES ON THE PHONE WITH YOUR REPRESENTATIVE, NOT ONE THING ON THE FORM IS CORRECT. WHOEVER I SPOKE TO IS, TO PUT IT BLUNTLY, AN IDIOT. DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT I WOULD FILE A REPORT BECAUSE MY BRAKES WERE WORN OUT? I WOULD HOPE THAT OTHER REPORTS ARE NOT TOTALLY WRONG AS IS THE CASE FOR ME. I WOULD APPRECIATE A CALL FROM A SUPERVISION AT YOUR EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY. FRANK CULMONE - PRESIDENT T.D.C. INC. CELL 818 216 5862.

NHTSA complaint #10098575 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Cadillac Seville Shelbyville, IN

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

WHILE TURNING LEFT AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND VIBRATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE ABS LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO VIBRATE. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #10092523 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Cadillac Seville Clarkston, MI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:HYDRAULIC:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

WHERE THE BRAKE LINE IS NEAR THE ENGIVE A HOLE WORE THROUGH METALLIC LINE, LOSING BRAKE FLUID. VEHICLLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT THE TIME OF BRAKE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10089348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Cadillac Seville problems