Owners filed 18 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the suspension › front › control arm › lower ball joint. It has been recalled 5 times.
| Component | Reports | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Visibility › Windshield | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Structure › Body › Trunk Lid | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Steering › Hydraulic Power Assist System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Master Cylinder | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defect. THE WHEEL LUG NUTS WERE NOT TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION DURING ASSEMBLY.
Risk. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A FRACTURE OF THE WHEEL STUDS CAUSING THE WHEEL TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL TIGHTEN THE VEHICLE'S WHEEL LUG NUTS TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.
Defect. DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AND CAN LOOSEN.
Risk. IF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT LOOSENS, FATIGUES AND SEPARATES FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION KNUCKLE, IT COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS FOR PROPER TORQUE. IF THE BALL JOINT HAS LOOSENED FROM THE KNUCKLE, BOTH THE BALL JOINT AND THE KNUCKLE WILL BE REPLACED.
Defect. DEFECTIVE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS WERE NOT PROPERLY TORQUED AND CAN LOOSEN.
Risk. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT CAN LOOSEN, FATIGUE, AND SEPARATE FROM THE FRONT SUSPENSION KNUCKLE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT BOTH FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL JOINT ATTACHMENT NUTS FOR PROPER TORQUE. IF THE BALL JOINT HAS LOOSENED, BOTH THE BALL JOINT AND THE KNUCKLE WILL BE REPLACED.
Defect. THESE VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH AN IMPROPERLY ADJUSTED TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL LINKAGE. THIS DOES NOT MEET WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION."
Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IT MAY BE POSSIBLE TO SHIFT FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION KEY REMOVED INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT RESULTING FROM THE UNINTENDED MOVEMENT OF A PARKED VEHICLE.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL ADJUST THE SHIFT CONTROL LINKAGE SYSTEM.
Defect. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FMVSS NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS." AT LOW TEMPERATURES, EXCESSIVE FRICTION CAN OCCUR IN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY.
Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN THE EVENT OF A FAILURE OF THE TROTTLE RETURN SPRING, IF THERE IS EXCESSIVE FRICTION IN THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY, THE ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY.
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE RECEIVED A RECALL BACK IN 1999, IT DEALT WITH HAVING THE BALL JOINTS AND KNUCKLES REPLACED. HE STATED THAT AT THAT TIME, HIS DEALER TOLD HIM THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH HIS VEHICLE AND THAT EVERYTHING WAS OK. NOW 20,000 MILES LATER, HE FINDS THAT THE NUT HAS CHEWED THE COTTER KEY OFF AND IN HALF. HE STATED WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND SHOWED IT TO THEM, THEY SAID THEY DID NOT HAVE TO REPAIR IT. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED, BECAUSE HE IS TRAVELING UP AND DOWN THE HIGHWAY, AND HIS WHEEL WAS ABOUT TO COME OFF. HE STATED THAT THE DEALERS NAME IS VAN TROW OLDS AND CADILLAC DEALER, IT IS LOCATED AT 2015 LOUISVILLE AVENUE MONROE, LA 318 387 2021. HE STATES ALL HE WANTS IS HIS VEHICLE REPAIRED, WHERE THEY DID NOT REPAIR IT BEFORE. *NM THE CONSUMER HAD THE FAULTY NUT IN THE BALL JOINTS REPAIRED BY A DIFFERENT DEALER PRIOR TO MEETING WITH THE VAN-TROW DEALERSHIP. *LA *JB
DURING THE DAY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS VERY HARD TO SEE. LIGHT STARTS OUT BEING BRIGHT AND SLOWLY GOES DIM. INSTRUMENT PANEL AT NIGHT DOESN'T AFFECT THE DRIVER. CADILLAC WAS CONTACTED. *AK CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT SOMETIMES SHE'S NOT ABLE TO SEE HOW FAST THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. *SCC
WHILE BACKING OUT OF DEALERSHIP CONSUMER LOST ALL CONTROL OF VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD TO STEP ON BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING WHEN DRIVER'S SIDE OF VEHICLE DROPPED. LOWER BALL JOINT HAD BROKEN. REPAIRED AT DEALERSHIP.*AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TAPERED PART OF THE THE BALL JOINT WAS NEVER PULLED TIGHT IN THE TAPER IN THE SPINDLE, THE TAPER IN THE SPINDLE IS EGG SHAPED AND HOLLOW FROM MOVING AROUND. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING AT 68 MPH ON ROUTE 35E 40 MILES SOUTH OF DALLAS, TEXAS, THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CAME OFF THE CAR. ALL FIVE OF THE LUG STUDS SHEARED OF AT THE FACE OF THE ROTOR ASSEMBLY. THE TIRE WEDGED AGAINST THE LOWEST REAR PART OF THE FENDER WELL WHICH RESULTED IN A CLEAN CUT THROUGH THE TIRE SIDEWALL. I WAS TRAVELLING IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE AND WAS ABLE TO BRING THE CAR TO A SAFE STOP ON THE RIGHT SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE TIRE TRAVELED ABOUT 350 YARDS ACROSS THE RIGHT HAND DRAINAGE AREA AND STOPPED IN A CULTIVATED FIELD ABOUT 100 YARDS FROM WHERE I STOPPED THE CAR. THE TIRE HAD BEEN PUT ON THE CAR ABOUT THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT AND HAD BEEN TORQUED TO THE MANUFACTURERS SPECIFICATIONS OF 100 FT/LBS. THE ROTOR REQUIRED REPLACEMENT ALONG WITH THE SHIELD THAT IS INSTALLED BEHIND THE ROTOR. THE RIGHT FRONT QUARTER PANEL (FENDER) WILL REQUIRE EXTENSIVE WORK OR REPLACEMENT. CADILLAC HAS SAID THAT THE LUG NUTS WERE OVERTORQUED AT SOME POINT. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE STUDS FAILED BECAUSE OF THE MATERIAL THAT WAS USED IN MANUFACTURE. I FEEL THAT FAILURES OF THIS TYPE ARE SERIOUS BECAUSE OF POTENTIAL TURNOVERS AND DAMAGE THAT MAY RESULT TO OTHER VEHICLES BY THE LOOSE WHEEL.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 15 MONTHS AGO LEFT FRONT WHEEL FELL OFF. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING ON JUNE 18,2001, FRONT LEFT WHEEL FEEL OFF VEHICLE WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. WHEN STOPPING VEHICLE IT FELL ON THE GROUND. CONTACT DEALER. DEALER STATED IT JUST HAPPENED. *AK CONSUMER ALSO MENTIONS RECALLS 96V019 AND 96V018, POSSIBLY RELATING TO PROBLEM ALONG WITH THE RECALL 96V245 REGARDING LUGS, NUTS, AND BOLTS. *SLC
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FOR UNKNOWN REASONS AND WAS CONSIDERED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. * NOTE: CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS EVENT OCCURRED AFTER FIRST TIME HE USED TRACTION BUTTON IN VEHICLE.*AK
WHILE TRAVELLING ON A SLIGHT INCLINE AT 40 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY. THE CAR HAD TO BE TURNED INTO A GAS STATION AND HAD THE ENGINE CUTOFF TO HALT THE VEHICLE AS IT HIT A CURB 40 YARDS FROM THE STREET. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CALLED, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MC WAS REPLACED BY ANOTHER MECHANIC.*AK
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT NOT LOCKING PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND REPLACED SEAT BELT ON TWO OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETIALS. *AK
DURING VEHICLE COLLISION VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS WHICH SPLIT FROM FORCE CAUSED INJURY TO CONSUMERS (ARMS). MJS
WHILE DRIVING APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE THROTTLE WAS WIDE OPEN WHICH CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS RECALL 95V082000. VEHICLE ALSO HAS EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. *AK
IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO MOVE COLUMN SHIFT LEVER FROM PARK TO DRIVE OR REVERSE.
OWNER STATES WHILE USING HIGH BEAM LIGHTS AT NIGHT, THEY WONT SHUT OFF AUTOMATICLY, BLINDING ONCOMING DRIVERS. *AK *JB
THE VEHICLE STALLS/HESITATES/STUMBLES WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. TT
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE TRUNK POPS OPEN. TT
THERE IS A REFLECTION FROM THE DASH ON THE WINDSHIELD, WHICH CUTS DOWN ON THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. TT
DRIVER'S SEAT SITS 2-3 INCHES FROM CENTER OF STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING DIFFICULTY WITH BRAKE/ACCELERATOR PEDALS AND STEERING. *SKD
DASHBOARD REFLECTS INTO WINDSHIELD, CAUSING DISTORTIONS OF VIEW. *SKD
18 of 18 complaints, reproduced as filed.
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Dec 10, 1996. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.