Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Cadillac Deville, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes, hydraulic55
- Engine and engine cooling47
- Fuel system, gasoline34
- Exterior lighting29
- Electrical system28
- Steering22
- Power train11
- Air bags10
- Suspension10
- Equipment10
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 6 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 1997 Deville vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1997 Cadillac Deville failed the safety check 1.32% of the time — 18% less often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 94,897 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
2 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 13.0 L/100 km (about 18 mpg US), CO₂ 299 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| DeVille · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 15.5 | 9.8 | 13.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1997 Cadillac Deville.
| 2000174 28 Aug 2000 | Airbag On certain vehicles, the side impact airbags may deploy unexpectedly, without a crash, as the vehicle is started or during normal driving. A driver or right fr… |
| 1997091 28 Apr 1997 | Brakes Certain vehicles may exhibit a condition in which the electronic brake control module or the electronic brake and traction control module may cause the antilock… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L V8 ENGINES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE NYLON TUBING USED IN THE FUEL RAIL CONSTRUCTION MAY DEGRADE AND CRACK. ADDITIONALLY, THE 1995 MODEL YEAR USES A UNIQUE UNDERHOOD FUEL RETURN LINE THAT MAY CRACK. CRACKING OF THE FUEL RAIL OR RETURN LINE TUBING CAN RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE OR THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE CAN CAUSE THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) TO CYCLE DURING A NON-ABS BRAKE APPLICATION.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Cadillac told its dealers about the 1997 Cadillac Deville: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634913 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A STEERING VIBRATION, SHUDDER OR MOAN NOISE DURING PARKING MANEUVERS. *TT |
| 632324 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED FASTENER TIGHTENING SPECIFICATIN FOR CYLINDER HEAD REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 631313 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON HIGHER THAN EXPECTED OIL CONSUMPTION. *SLC |
| 629767 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ABOUT A STEERING VIBRATION, SHUTTER OR MOAN NOISE DURING LOW SPEED TURNING PARKING MANEUVERS. *TT |
| 629465 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A STEERING VIBRATION, SHUDDER OR MOAN NOISE DURING LOW SPEED TURNING/PARKING MANEUVERS. *TT |
| 628874 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL UPPER TRIM PANEL AND THE WINDSHIELD DEFROSTER GRILLE APPEAR TO BE LIFTING/LOOSE/WARPING. *TT |
| 623908 | THIS BULLETIN ADDRESSES CONCERNS WITH THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (IP) UPPER TRIM PANEL AND DEFORSTER GRILLE WHICH APPEARS TO BE LIFTING / LOOSE / WARPING. *TT |
| 623480 | INFORMATION REGARDING PRODUCT SAFETY CAMPAIGN, NON-CRASH DEPLOYMENT OF SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS. *SLC |
| 619410 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A LOW SPEED POWER STEERING SHUTTER PRIMARILY DURING RIGHT TURNS THAT CAN BE FELT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AND SEAT. *TT |
| 619241 | THIS PRODUCT TECHNICAL INFORMATION CONCERNS AN INTERMITTENT STUMBLE OR STALL CONDITION. SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT INTERMITTENTLY THEY EXPERIENCE A STUMBLE OR STALL CONDITION WHEN COMING DOWN TO A STOP. IN MOST INSTANCES THE ENGINE WILL RESTART, SOMETIMES WITH AN EXTENDED CRANK, AND A POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1599 MAY OR MAY NOT BE PRESENT. *TT |
| 619037 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A LOW SPEED POWER STEERING SHUTTER PRIMARILY DURING RIGHT TURNS. *TT |
| 609639 | TRUNK MOUNTED 12 CD CHANGER EJECTS INTERMITTENTLY. YD |
| 609633 | HEATED SEATS DO NOT BECOME WARM ENOUGH. YD |
| 6092576 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON AN UNDERHOOD NOISE; TRACTION ENGAGED MASSAGE; ABS WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE C1225 SET. *TT |
| 606086 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN ABOUT A ENGINE COLD / KNOCK / TICK NOISE. *TT |
| 602983 | CONCERNS OF DOOR HANDLES ON WHITE PAINTED VEHICLES TRUNING YELLOW. *YC |
| 600208 | EXPERIENCING NOISE COMING FROM FRONT BRAKES. *YC |
| 54350 | FRONT SEAT BACK IS UNCOMFORTABLE, SITS TOO HIGH, OR BOTTOM CUSHION IS TOO SHORT. *YC |
| 54338 | EXCESSIVE FORCE REQUIRED TO OPERATE THE HORN WHEN COLD. *YC |
| 54203 | VEHICLES EXHIBITING CHIRPING, TICKING, KNOCKING, OR "TRASHY" NOISES FROM THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE. *YC |
| 54195 | COMMENTS OF A RATTLE/LOOSE NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS. *YC |
| 54179 | CONDITION ON A EVAP EMISSION ODOR AND THE MALFUNCTION INDICATIOR LAMP DISPLAYS. *YC |
| 54065 | COMMENTS ON INOPERATIVE POWER DOOR LOCKS (FRONT AND/OR REAR DOORS). |
| 53017 | DELAYES CONTAINING VEHICLES REMOTE FUNCTION ACTUATOR (RFA). *YC |
| 53015 | WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED FORCE OR ENGINE LOAD MAY AFFECT AND CAUSE VARIOUS NOISES. *YC |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FUEL RAIL LEAKS
FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE
POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE
INADVERTENT OF SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG
ERRATIC TURN SIGNAL OPERATION
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation