1997 Cadillac Deville complaints

THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING. *JB

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER SMELLED A STRONG GAS ODOR. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONSUMER NOTICED GAS ALL OVER THE VEHICLE'S UNDERBODY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A RUPTURED FUEL RAIL. *JB

THE CONSUMER PULLED THE VEHICLE OUT OF A PARKING SPACE BUT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD ONLY TURN TO THE RIGHT. *NLM

BACKING OUT OF PARKING SPACE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STRAIGHTEN OUT OR TURN TO LEFT. DEALER REPLACED POWER STEERING PUMP, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE, DEALER REPLACED RACK AND PINION, AND PROBLEM DISAPPEARED.*AK

THIS IS A COPY OF AN EMAIL I SENT TO CADILLAC. CADILLAC DID RESPOND, HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT PURSUING THIS ISSUE ANY FURTHER. I HAD A VERY DISTURBING EXPERIENCE THIS PAST SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 15, 2003. MY WIFE AND MYSELF WENT OUT FOR DINNER AND THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT. IT WAS ONLY 15 DEGREES OUT AND I DECIDED TO CHANGE THE TIRE MYSELF. I LOOSENED THE LUG NUTS, THEN USING THE FACTORY JACK, RAISED THE CAR, TOOK OFF THE FLAT TIRE, INSTALLED THE SPARE, AND HAND TIGHTENED ALL THE LUGS NUTS. I THEN WENT TO LOWER THE JACK AND AS I STARTED TURNING THE BOLT TO LOWER THE CAR, THE JACK BROKE AND THE CAR FELL. LUCKILY I WAS NOT UNDER THE TIRE OR ANY OTHER PART OF THE CAR. WHEN I PULLED THE JACK OUT FROM UNDER THE CAR, THE SIDES OF THE JACK TORE. IT APPEARS THAT THE JACK WAS MADE OUT OF MATERIAL ABOUT TWICE THE THICKNESS OF SHEET METAL. THE JACK WAS NOT ROBUST ENOUGH TO HANDLE A 4000 LB. CAR. I WAS PARKED ON A LEVEL PARKING LOT WHEN I CHANGED THE TIRE. *JB

1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE HAS INTERMITTENT TRACTION CONTROL ACTIVATION. DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD REPLACE WIREING HARNESS AT A COST OF $600 BUT DID NOT KNOW IF IT WOULD SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THEY STATED THAT SOMETIMES IT DOES AND AT OTHER TIMES IT DOES NOT. INFORMED THEM OF A RECALL ON ABS SYSTEM AND CADILLAC HQ. HAS NEVER HEARD OF IT. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS WAS CAUSED BY ALL FOUR TIRES BEING OUT OF ROUND. THEY HAD HIGH SPOTS IN THEM. THESE ARE 70,000 MILE TIRES. NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT.*AK

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARDS TO THE FAILURE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON A 1997 CADILLAC. WHE THE SYSTEM FAILED THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM AN EMERGENCY STOP. THERE WAS NO BACKUP SYSTEM UNDER THIS CONDITION. AT A LITTLE LESS THAN 90,000 MILES THE BRAKES FAILED. THERE WAS NO BACKUP. WHEN THE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED IT WOULD BLEED DOWN UNTIL IT BOTTOMED OUT. IT WAS DURING THE 2002 HOLIDAY SEASON AND I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE CAR SERVICED. I INVESTIGATED THE PROBLEM AND FOUND IT TO BE A BRAKE LINE IN THE LEFT REAR WHEEL WELL HAD A HOLE RUBBED IN IT. IT WAS OBVIOUS THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS THE RESULT OF POOR DESIGN AND DUE TO THE POINT OF FAILURE CAUSED THE ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM TO FAIL. I REPAIRED THE LINE WITH A SPLICE. I CALLED THE CADILLAC DEALER IN SAN ANTONIO, TX AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO SERVICE BULLETIN, HOWEVER THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THEY HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM IN THE PAST AND REFERRED ME TO CUSTOMER SERVICE. CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID THERE WERE NOT ANY SERVICE BULLETINS RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE BRAKE LINE AREA WHERE THE HOLE WAS CREATED. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN THE RESULT OF POOR DESIGN IN THE ROUTING OF THE REAR BRAKE LINE AND I WOULD SUSPECT THAT THE SAME PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR ON LIKE MODELS. MY INTEREST IN REPORTING THIS INCIDENT IS TO HOPEFULLY PREVENT ACCIDENTS RESULTING FROM THIS FAILURE OCCURRING ON ANOTHER VEHICLE. REGARDS, DAVID MASON

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING OIL IS LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO REFILL MORE THEN OFTEN. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA#8209-97-V-064-000 GM ABS. THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE OR THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE TRACTION: CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND APPLYING THE BRAKE GOT NOISE AND VIBRATION. DEALER REPLACE THE CONTROL MODULE AND COST $2.000. THIS VEHICLE WAS UNDER THE MANUFACTURER RECALL AND WON'T HONOR BECAUSE PASS ALLREADY 5 YEARS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE TURN SIGNAL WILL NOT GO ON. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS

1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE. *JB ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS****769735

AIR RIDE SUSPENSION STOPPED WORKING A WEEK AFTER I PURCHASED CAR. TWO CADILLAC DEALERS SAID THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT BUT VEHICLE FEELS LIKE ITS RIDING ON THE RIMS AND NOT THE TIRES. MR

THE LENS ON THE HEADLIGHT LAMPS ARE LOSING THE GLUE, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHT LENS TO FALL OUT OF PLACE. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY WERE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT ON THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT HOLDING THE 11 BY 7 INCH LENS FAILED CAUSING THE LENS TO COME OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH. *SCC

CONSUMER STATES AIR CONDITIONING WASN'T COOLING. DEALER FOUND COMPRESSOR HAD FAILED. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT COMPRESSOR FAILED WITH ONLY 26,383 MILES ON VEHICLE. *TT

THE HEADLIGHT LENS HAS CLOUDED, REDUCING THE LIGHT BEAM AFFECTING NIGHT TIME DRIVING. THIS IS NOT A SURFACE PROBLEM, BECAUSE IT CANNOT BE CLEARED. THE DEFECT IS A MATERIAL PROBLEM CAUSED BY THE SUNLIGHT. THIS PROBLEM HAS EXISTED FOR ABOUT 8 MONTHS NOW MAKING THE LENS APPEAR OPAQUE EVEN IN THE DAY LIGHT. CADILLAC REFUSES RESPONSIBILITY AND SAYS THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *JG

CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN SEPT.1996, DURING NHTSA RECALL BULLETIN, CAMPAIGN NO. 97V064000, 77449 AFFECTED VEHICLES, APRIL -DEC. 1996. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

ABS BRAKING RELAY SWITCH BURST INTO FLAMES FROM A CORROSION. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE A FIRE DEVELOPED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SPREAD INTO THE INTERIOR. CAUSE UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

ENGINE IS CONSUMING MORE THAN A QUART OR OIL IN LESS THAN 1000 MILES. ONCE THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK BUT IT HAS SINCE BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT OIL MAYBE LEAKING INSIDE ENGINE. MECHANIC HAS TRIED A NUMBER OF REPAIRS, AND NONE OF THEM WERE WORKED TO STOP THIS OIL USAGE.*AK CONSUMER STATES ENGINE STALLS AND COOLANT LEAKS, THE ENGINE WAS ALSO OVERHEATING AND THE VHEICLE WAS BLOWING BLUE SMOKE. *YH

BATTERY TERMINAL IS DISLODGED FROM BATTERY CASE AND ACID DRIPPED OUT OF IT. CONSUMER LOST ALL POWER. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK BATTERY WAS DELCO. *YH

VEHICLE ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND AT FIRST START. CONSUMER HAS TO SHIFT TO NEUTRAL TO SLOW THE VEHICLE DOWN. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER, DEALER SUGGESTED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CABLE FROM THE THROTTLE BODY BE DISCONNECTED, SINCE THIS ACCTION WAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE HAS NOT EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION.*AK

OIL IS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH OF ENGINE. *AK VEHICLE IS UNDER 50,000 MILE/4 YEAR WARRANTY, HOWEVER, DEALERSHIP COVERED 60 PERCENT OF REPAIRS. *TT

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH POWER STEERING WENT OUT. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN EXAMINED BY DEALER YET.*AK

POWER SEAT SEATBACK GOES DOWN WHILE DRIVING. IN DECEMBER OF 1999, DEALER REPLACED MEMORY MODULE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM. SINCE NOVEMBER OF 2001 SEATBACK WILL INTERMITTENTLY GO DOWN ON IT'S OWN.*AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES MORE OFTEN THEN NOT, WHEN YOU START THE CAR THE SEAT WILL MOVE IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS. WHEN THE BACK GOES FLAT IT PINS ANY PASSENGER IN THE REAR SEAT. PH 09-DEC-2002

VALVE COVER GASKET WAS LEAKING OIL ONTO ENGINE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH ON THE OPEN ROAD A HEADLIGHT LENS CAME LOOSE, AND BOUNCED OFF THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS UNTIL WE STOPPED AND EXAMINED THE AUTO. THERE WAS A SLIGHT DENT IN THE POST BETWEEN THE WINDSHIELD AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. THE LEFT HEADLIGHT LENS WS EXAMINED AND FOUND TO BE LOOSE. ON THE RETURN TRIP THE LEFT HEADLIGHT LENS CAME OFF. FI MAY HAVE GONE UNDER THE CAR AS I RECALL A SLIGHT NOISE WHILE DRIVING. THE PARTS MAN AT THE DEALER MADE THE COMMENT THAT THIS USUALLY DOESN'T HAPPEN TO CADILLACS AND WHEN IT DOES THEY USUSLLY JUST DROP OFF. THE LENSES ARE SECURED TO THE HEADLIGHT WITH GLUE. APPARENTLY THIS IS COMMON ON OTHER AUTOS. THE REPAIR ENTAILED REPALCING BOTH HEADLIGHT AT A TOTAL COST OF ABOUT $610 PROBLEM. IN MY OPINION THIS IS POOR ENGINEERRING.*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 72 MPH IN LIGHT RAIN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SPIN AND RUN OFF THE ROAD AND RAN INTO A TREE AND NONE OF THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ALL. CONTACTED DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ACT CORRECTLY. NLM

TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED, DEALER DENIED THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE TRACTION CONTROL MODULE AS PER NHTSA.*AK

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHT LENS FELL OFF. TOOK TO DEALER. PROBLEM WAS NOT REMEDIED. *AK *JG

WHILE DRIVING GLASS LENS ON HEADLIGHTS ON BOTH SIDES FELL OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING.*AK

VEHICLE IS USING OIL. STARTED AFTER ABOUT 45,000 MILES WHICH WAS REPORTED TO AUTOMOBILE DEALER WITH NO SOLUTION. JUST WANT TO CHECK IF OTHERS ARE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. *AK

I HAVE HAD RECURRING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS SINCE BUYING THE CAR. THE RECORD AT THIS SAME DEALERSHIP SHOWS THAT THE PREVIOUS OWNER BEGAN HAVING MULTIPLE PROBLEMS AS WELL IN 1998. 2001 WAS THE FIRST YEAR AN EMISSIONS TEST FOR THE CAR WAS REQUIRED TO BE LICENSED. IT FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP COULD PROVIDE NO EXPLANATION, BUT DID FIX NUMEROUS COMPONETS AND IT FINALLY PASSED A MANUEL TEST. THIS YEAR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. AGAIN, THE DEALERSHIP HAS NO EXPLANATION. THE TECHNICIAN HAS 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE AND SAID HE CALLED GM AND THE ENGINEERS COULD OFFER NO EXPLANATION. THERE ARE 23 PAGES OF RECURRING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS RANGING FROM INOPERATIVE SEAT HEATERS (REPAIRED 3 TIMES AND DON'T WORK NOW), SEAT BELT ON DRIVERS SIDE DOES NOT LATCH, CLIMATE CONTROL, THERMOMETER AND TEMPERATURE CONTROL PANEL...IT GOES ON AND ON. I HAVE THE 23 PAGE REPORT THAT HARMON'S PRINTED OUT THEMSELVES. RYAN, THE TECHNICIAN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AGREES THAT THE REPAIRS ARE EXTENSIVE AND NEEDS INVESTIGATING. THE SERVICE MANAGER, SCOTT JOHNSON, REFUSED TO EVEN MAKE A SINGLE PHONE CALL TO GM FOR ANY HELP AT ALL. I OFFERED AN EQUITABLE TRADE SOLUTION AND WAS COMPLETELY AND FLATLY REJECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP BEFORE EVEN SPEAKING WITH GM. I CALLED GM AND THEY HAD MISINFORMATION AS TO MY COMPLAINT ABOUT THE CAR AND THE SERVICE MANAGER AT HARMON'S CADILLAC. I AM HOPEFUL THE CASE FILE HAS BEEN CORRECTED, BUT CANNOT TRUST THIS, GIVEN MY EXPERIENCE SO FAR. THE CASE FILE NUMBER AT GM CUSTOMER SERVICE IS C065

NONE

TWO FRONT LENSES THAT COVER HEADLIGHTS FELL OUT WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *YH

WHILE DRIVING HAS LOST BOTH LIGHT FIXTURES.*AK

THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPALCED AT NO CHARGE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT LENSES BLEWOUT. THERE ARE NO HEADLIGHTS IN THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AKCONSUMER HAD BOTH THE LENSES FIXED. PER PHONE CONVERSATION WITH CADILLAC, CADILLAC AGREED TO PAY 75% OF COST. CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS TO BE A DEFECT CADILLAC SHOULD INVESTIGATE. CONSUMER IS AWAITING REIMBURSEMENT. *JG(POSSIBLE NEW ADDRESS: SHARON BADGLEY 33248 SAND DUNE LANE, LEESBURG, FL 34788 352-314-2444)

DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT COVER FELL OFF. DEALER REPLACED COVER. CHECKED PASSENGER'S SIDE AND NOTICED IT WAS LOOSE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS COULD CAUSE LIGHT FAILURE OR A FIRE. *JB

DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT COVER FELL OFF, PASSENGER SIDE IS LOOSE AND POSSIBLY LEAKS WATER IN TO THE ELECTRICAL SOCKETS. *JG *AK

THIS CONDITION APPEARS TO BE THE SAME AS LISTED IN SERVICE BULLETIN 150201. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

VEHICLE DOES NOT SLOW DOWN WHEN COMING TO A STOP. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. SOMETIMES IT WILL GO A MONTH THIS WAY. CONSUMER HAS TO BRAKE REALLY HARD TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP, AND IT IS WEARING DOWN THE BRAKES. TOOK VEHICLE DEALER, AND THEY PUT A BLACK BOX ON VEHICLE. PROBLEM STILL HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES AT 45 TO 60 MPH,THEY PULSATED. BRAKES WERE VERY ROUGH. DEALER STATED THAT BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

WHILE JACK WAS DEPLOYED IN PROPER MANNER ON LEVEL CONCRETE, WITHIN MINUTES OF RAISING VEHICLE THE SCISSOR ARMS OF JACK BROKE AND VEHICLE FELL. IN ADDITION THE JACK SCREW WAS BENT SLIGHTLY. *YH

WHEN GOING DOWN HILL AND APPLYING BRAKES ,FRONT WHEELS VIBRATES. CONSUMER CAN FEEL VIBRATIONS IN STEERING WHEEL. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY WHEN GOING DOWN HILL. CONTACTED DEALER.*AK

HEADLAMP LENS SEPARATED FROM HOUSING DUE TO ADHESIVE FAILURE, EXPOSING REFLECTOR AND LAMP TO MOISTURE AND POTENTIAL FAILURE. SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED THAT THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM. COMPONENT AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION.*AK

CONSUMER COULD HEAR A KNOCKING NOISE IN STEERING COLUMN, DEALER REPLACED STEERING GEAR. *SLC

SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE DID NOT MAKE CLICKING SOUND TO ASSURE CONSUMER THAT SEATBELT WAS LOCKED. CLICKING OF OTHER SEATBELTS IN VEHICLE COULD BE HEARD TO ASSURE THAT THEY WERE LOCKED. DEALER STATED THAT LOCKS DIDN'T HAVE A PROBLEM. BUT, CONSUMER WANTED A STATEMENT IN WRITING THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. CONSUMER WROTE MANUFACTURER, AND WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A RESPONSE IN WRITING STATING THAT SEATBELT WAS STILL SAFE TO USE ALTHOUGH IT DIDN'T MAKE THE CLICKING SOUND. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT DEALER STATED IT WAS OKAY IF THE CLICK WAS NOT HEARD, DEALER WOULD NOT GIVE ANY DOCUMENTATION BACKING UP THERE RESPONSE. *SLC

BRAKES CHATTER WHEN VEHICLE GOES OVER 50MPH OR MAKES A SUDDEN STOP. FRONT DISC ROTORS WORE OUT OF ROUND, AND DEALER HAD TO ADJUST FRONT DISC BRAKES BY RESURFACING THEM. 2 WEEKS LATER, AFTER THE REPAIRS SHATTERING CAME BACK. WHEN PROBLEM RETURNED CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, AND WAS TOLD "THAT WAS THE WAY ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM WAS SUPPOSED TO WORK.*AK CONSUMER STATES THIS STILL OCCURS. *SLC