1998 Cadillac Seville

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN DEVELOP IN THE GENERATOR, EVEN WHEN THE ENGINE IS OFF.

Risk. THE ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE THAT COULD SPREAD TO THE REST OF THE VEHICLE AND ANYTHING NEAR IT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GENERATOR.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR 'LOW' SPEED FUNCTION CAN BECOME INOPERATIVE WHEN THE MOTOR IS SWITCHED FROM 'HIGH' TO 'LOW' SPEED.

Risk. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY COULD BE AFFECTED.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR COVER WHICH CONTAINS THE MICROPROCESSOR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC SEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE TEMPERATURE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MOTOR BEGAN TO OVERHEAT. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO ALLOW THE ENGINE TO COOL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED, AND THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AGAIN WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAD BOLTS WERE NOT LONG ENOUGH. AS A RESULT, IT CAUSED THE PRESSURE TO LEAD THROUGH THE HEAD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO WORK ON LOW, INTERMITTENT OR "RAIN SENSE" SETTINGS. FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT AND SOMETIMES THE WIPERS WOULD NOT STOP OR THEY CAME ON VOLUNTARILY. ADDITIONALLY, THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. THIS WOULD OCCUR WHETHER THE CAR WAS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION AND WAS LOCAL INDEPENDENT. I WENT TO THE LOCAL DEALER WHO INFORMED ME THEY DID NOT WORK ON CARS BUILT BEFORE 2000 MODEL YEAR. ALSO, THEY SAID PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THEY SENT ME TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP. I FOUND A SHOP THAT COULD REPAIR THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE "PULSE BOARD" WITH A KIT FROM CADILLAC [REMEMBER I WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE]. I HAD THE ISSUE REPAIRED AND I THEN RETURNED TO THE DEALER AND ASKED ABOUT THE PARTS AGAIN. THIS TIME, I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A KIT AVAILABLE. I REALIZE THAT OLDER CARS ARE SOMETIMES CHALLENGING TO FIND PARTS, BUT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE WHICH SHOULD BE GIVEN PRIORITY CONSIDERATION AND HANDLING. NOTE: THE DATE GIVEN IS APPROXIMATE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC SEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AS THE WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS THE STEERING FAILED, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF HER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO REPORTED INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF WHAT REPAIRS WOULD BE NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER THE VEHICLE STOPPED OR DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE WOULD OVERHEAT AND A MESSAGE INFORMING HIM TO ADD COOLANT WOULD DISPLAY ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE ENGINE COOLANT WAS ROUTINELY ADDED TO THE VEHICLE, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE MOTOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

I HAVE A 1998 CADILLAC SEVILLE SLS AND WAS GOING THROUGH LEFT CURVE ON ROAD 40-45 MPH RIGHT REAR AXLE BROKE, CAUSING CAR TO SPIN LEFT THEN RIGHT. PARALLEL TO ROAD ON THE RIGHT AND CRASHING INTO A BIG ROCK BETWEEN TWO PONDS THAT SAVED MY LIFE. CAR HAD 70,000 MILES ON IT. IS THERE ANY ONE ELSE THAT HAD A REAR AXLE BREAK BEHIND THE ROTOR? PLEASE CONTACT ME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC SEVILLE. IN INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR'S 'LOW' SPEED FUNCTION BECOMES INOPERATIVE. THE FAILURE OCCURS WHEN THE MOTOR IS SWITCHED FROM 'HIGH' TO 'LOW' SPEED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V144000 (VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME ANY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE SPEAKERS. THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE AND WAS REPLACED. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V070000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR) AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE A FREE REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE BECAUSE THE RECALL EXPIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 110,000.

TWO (2) GM OEM RACK AND PINION REPLACEMENTS REQUIRED WITHIN AN 18 MONTH TIME FRAME DUE TO PART FAILURES. STEERING WHEEL BECAME UNRESPONSIVE ON INTERSTATE RESULTING IN A NEAR CRASH. *JB

POWER RACK AND PINION FAILURE. *AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS OPERATED AT AN ACCELERATED PACE WHEN SWITCHING THE SPEED FROM HIGH TO LOW. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT INSPECTED. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT REFERRED THE MANUFACTURER TO NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN # 98V144000 ( CONCERNING VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER, AND WAS TOLD THAT NHTSA'S INFORMATION WAS INCORRECT. THE MANUFACTURER ISSUED CASE # 71-510434063. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 63,000, AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.*AK THE CONSUMER STATED MAYBE THE CAR WAS ON THE DEALERS LOT AT THE TIME THE RECALL WAS ISSUED. UPDATED 06/08/07 *TR

SUDDEN ERRATIC READINGS SUCH AS ENGINE HOT, AC OFF, AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ON. ENGINE REDUCED CYLINDER OPERATION TO 4 CYLINDERS, POWER REDUCED SIGNIFICANTLY. FAMILY IN CAR AND HEAVY TRAFFIC COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS SITUATION IN BOTH CASES. FOUND BLOWN HEAD GASKETS AND COOLANT ENTERING INTO 2 CYLINDERS. MILEAGE ONLY 70,343. *NM

THE UPPER MOUNT TAIL LIGHT IS NOT LIGHTING. I HAVE SINCE FOUND AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET THAT THERE IS A 100% FAILURE RATE OF THE LED DISPLAY IN THESE UPPER TAIL LIGHT OF THE CADILLAC. I OWN A 1998 CADILLAC SEVILLE SLS WHICH HAS THE LEFT HALF OF THE UPPER MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT OUT. THERE ARE REFERENCE THAT THE BRAKE STRIP FAILURE IS DUE TO MOISTURE THAT GETS IN THE STRIP. PLEASE INVESTIGATE BECAUSE IF THIS HAPPENS TO MANY PEOPLE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THESE BRAKE LIGHTS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU FIND OUT. THE LED DISPLAY WAS MANUFACTURED BY STANLEY ELECTRONICS (I FOUND THAT OUT ON THE INTERNET). *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS NHTSA RECALL, CAMPAIGN 04V110000 REGARDING THE FUEL SYSTEM. THE CONTACT STARTED THE ENGINE AND DETECTED THE STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, THE CONTACT INSPECTED UNDER THE HOOD AND DISCOVERED THE FUEL RAIL AND RETURN LINE TUBING WAS CRACKED AND SPRAYING LARGE AMOUNTS OF GASOLINE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THIS WAS THE SAME PROBLEM AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL.AKI

DT: HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN. VEHICLE MILAGE IS ONLY 78, 000. *AK *TT *SB CONSUMER DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HOW A VEHICLE THAT DOESN'T RECEIVE A TUNE-UP UNTIL 100,000 MILES HAVE A HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 78,000. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM IS A COMMON OCURRANCE AND CONSUMER FEELS THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE. *SB

ENGINE NEED TO BE TIME SERT AND COOLANT LEAKS.*AK

THE ELECTRONIC REAR SUSPENSION HAS RAISED BY ITSELF AND LOCKED IN PLACE. THE VEHICLE IS RAISED OFF THE GROUND. THE REAR LIFT COMPRESSOR IS DEFECTIVE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR FOR THE FOURTH TIME. AGAIN CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

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 STUN

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED BOTH FRONTAL DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES REPORTED. CONSUMER DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE AIR BAG HIT THE CONSUMER IN THE FACE. *SC

WE HAVE A 1998 CADILLAC STS AND ARE RUNNING INTO PROBLEMS WITH IT RUNNING HOT. AFTER REPLACING THE RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT AND COOLANT, THERE IS STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WILL ONLY BE AFTER THE ENGINE IS WARMED FROM DRIVING WILL THIS OCCUR, IT WILL START TO RUN HOT IF YOU GIVE THE VEHICLE GAS TO TRY AND GET INTO TRAFFIC FLOW. WE HAVE CONSULTED QUITE A FEW MACHANICS ON THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE ALL GIVEN US THE SAME EXPLANATION FOR THE PRESUMED PROBLEM. ESPECIALLY ONE THAT USE TO WORK DIRECTLY FOR CADILLAC AS A MECHANIC, THEY STATE THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEEL BOLTS IN THE ALUMINUM ENGINE AND IF THERE IS ANY TYPE OF SUDDEN EXCELERATION THEN THE ENGINE WILL RUN HOT OR OVERHEAT. THIS IS A KNOWN COMMON PROBLEM STATED BY ANY MECHANIC THAT KNOWS ABOUT THIS TYPE VEHICLE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE TELLING US THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME TO CADILLACS. WE HAVE NOT REPLACED ANYTHING YET BUT HAVE BEEN ADVISED THIS WOULD BE A VERY EXPENSIVE JOB TO DO, AND WE WERE ADVISED THE PROBLEM WILL GET SO BAD IN THE NEAR FUTURE THE REPAIRS WILL HAVE TO BE PERFORMED TO EVEN DRIVE THE VEHICLE.*AK