Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Cadillac Eldorado, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Fuel system, gasoline10
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Steering2
- Air bags2
- Electrical system2
- Engine1
- Power train1
- Unknown or other1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 3 1997 Eldorado vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 3 people died inside them, and 2 of the vehicles rolled over. 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 Eldorado failed the safety check 1.35% of the time — 16% less often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 102,641 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eldorado · Mid-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
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1997 Cadillac Eldorado.
| 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 Eldorado: 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 |
| 628813 | SUBJECT REGARDING REPAIR KIT FOR SAGGING/SEPARATION/WARPING OF THE REAR QUARTER TRIM PANEL. *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 |
| 617678 | INFORMATION ON ELIMINATING SECONDARY IGNITION ACTIVITY INDUCED INTO THE RIGHT SIDE HARNESS. *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 |
| 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 |
| 52600 | CLN INDICATOR APPEARS ON RADIO DISPLAY AND DOES NOT TURN OFF (RESET CLN INDICATOR WITH THE EJECT BUTTON ON TAPE). *TW |
| 52575 | BRAKE NOISE (GRUNT/GROAN/GRIND/CRUNCH) COMING FROM FRONT BRAKES (REPLACE FRONT BRAKE PADS). *TW |
| 52564 | EXCESSIVE VIBRATION OF ELECTROCHROMIC INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR. *TW |
| 52562 | FUEL TANK WILL NOT FILL TO CAPACITY/FUEL GUAGE STAYS ON FULL FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OR FLUCTUATES (REPLACE FUEL LEVEL SENSOR AND/OR FUEL TANK). *TW |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FUEL RAIL LEAKS
FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation