Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
0179201/01/2004100063324.0l l47, 4.6l ld8 l37 engine water pump cover p/n 12571913- thermostat loose. also including model 2003 cadillac eldorado. *mr04/28/2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
395110/19/200610020584Knockig noises or excessive oil consumption. vehicles with ld8 or l37 4.6l v8 engines. *kb11/20/2006
0177101/01/2004100063074.0l l47, 4.6l ld8, l37, lh2 engine coolant or oil leak.*mr04/28/2004
990601010C11/01/2003990601010B10005597Engine cold/knock/tick noise. *tt03/04/2004
03060102710/01/200310004769This bulletin is being issued to inform dealers of enhancements to crankcase, oil distribution plate and oil pan sealing by using rtv sealant. *tt01/06/2004
020601009C10/01/2003020601009B10004748Higher than expected oil consumption. *tt01/05/2004
020601009A11/01/200202060100910000455Higher than expected oil consumption. *tt02/27/2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
990601010B06/01/2003990601010A10002890Engine cold/knock/tick noise. *tt09/30/2003
02060101103/01/2002632324Subject regarding revised fastener tightening specificatin for cylinder head replacement. *tt07/12/2002
02060100903/01/2002631313Some customers may comment on higher than expected oil consumption. *slc05/22/2002
15020102/15/2001619241This 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 engine05/21/2001
99060101006/01/1999606086Some customers may complain about a engine cold / knock / tick noise. *tt08/06/1999
97110177611911/01/199754203Vehicles exhibiting chirping, ticking, knocking, or trashy noises from the front of the engine. *yc03/30/1998
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM
97120173653512/01/199754179Condition on a evap emission odor and the malfunction indicatior lamp displays. *yc03/30/1998

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
02/18/20101730001
 On february 18, 2010 i had to call the fire department because my car had caught on fire. it had been sitting in the garage for 5 hrs after being driven. *tr
07/29/20081201001
 I was on the highway driving at 60 to 65 miles an hour, the distance before the malfunction began was approximately 5 miles before my brakes automatically were applied during a non braking application. the cadillac sts slowed down into a car that hit my rear bumper. i tried to recover from the bump. as an result, the momentum sent me into a rocky but grassy ditched area on the side of the highway. as a result of the ebtcm failing while driving on the highway, my bumper was damaged, front bumper was damaged, along with my steering and struts. i contacted gm about the issue with this defective ebtcm and the remedy has been that a inspector will evaluate the car then next(....) i will be notified whether or not it will repaired. the car has been parked majority of the time since my incident. i'm waiting for the inspector to call and schedule an date to view vehicle. after the date of accident, i went to get a diagnosis of the damage from an authorized cadillac dealer and they told me i would have to start with the ebtcm and struts. in addition, they would need more time to diagnosis other issues. *tr
01/10/2008578134005/01/1997
 Tl*the contact owns a 1997 cadillac seville. while driving 40 mph, the contact noticed a burning smell. the dealer stated that there were multiple coolant leaks inside the engine and they replaced four gaskets, a water pump, and hose; however, the failure continued. as of february 15, 2008, the dealer had not repaired the vehicle. the powertrain was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 57,813.
05/15/200372101
 I bought a used car with an extended warranty. a week later the fuel switch went out. i had to spend $80 to get that fixed at the same dealership. after a few weeks the turing switch started smoking so i took it to different dealership to get check out and they fixed it for $100 (co pay) while my car was being fixed they found a major oil leak and asked me if i would like to see if my warranty would fix it. the warrenty people came out and said no we are not going to pay the $1,500 -$2,500 to fix it. the car needs to go back to where you bought it so they can fix the car because the leak was preexisting . at that time i went and talked to one of the owners. he said he would look into it and advised me to go and let the service manager take a look at the car. come to find out the used car lot knew about the leak and did not tell me at the time of sale otherwise i would not have bought the car . i was told by the service manager that the sales department may pay to get it fixed and they declined. i am now stuck with a $320.00 a month payment on a car that i can't drive very much until the leak is fixed . i would like to get my old car back that i traded in. i was told that i would be able to under the used car lemon law act. one more note i also need to get the steering colum repaired that would be another $210.00 and i work for the company i bought the car from.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - COOLING SYSTEM
05/05/2009110000
 Tl*the contact owns a 1997 cadillac seville. the contact stated that the vehicle was losing coolant (manufacturer recommended) at a vast rate. he had to replace the coolant in the vehicle almost every other day. in addition, the heating gauge would sporadically move. he took the vehicle to the dealer, but they could not determine the cause of the failures. the dealer is currently performing diagnostic testing. the manufacturer was not notified. the current and failure mileages were approximately 110,000.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE
01/01/19011
 1997 cadillac seville sls stalls in traffic. *ts the dealer was unable to correct the problem with the stalling. *jb
01/01/19011
 Freedom of information request regarding a man that was killed during an engine fire.*mr the attorney request all information concerning any complaints/recalls of fuel line problem or fires in the 1995, 1996, and 1996 oldsmobile aurora the 1995, 1996 and 1997 cadillac el dorado, cadillac seville or cadillac deville. *nm
01/01/19011
 Foia request for any/all information re:complaints or recall of vehicle fuel line problems/fires associated with the model year 1995/1996/1997 cadillac el dorado, cadillac seville or deville. *mr *nm
05/08/200386447102/07/1999
 I bought a used 1997 cadillac sls in 1999 which was still under warranty. the car has had electrical and mechanical problems off and on. i have religiously had my car serviced at the recommended schedule. i was told and led to believe that the engine was virtually maintenance free up to 100,000 miles. my car has 82,000 miles and now they tell me that i need a new head gasket at nice cost of $2800.00. i'm tired of being charged for some little problem every time i bring it in! *jb
01/10/2003
 I purchased a 1997 cadillac sts with all options. the car had just about everything go wrong with it, including it requiring a new engine. many of the problems early on were under warranty, but later ones weren't. however, the most disturbing problem was the rear tail light assemblies. they do not seal properly and allow water to seep in. this causes corrosion of the bulb sockets and eventually causes a short that blows a fuse, extinguishing the tail lights. obviously, this is a major safety concern and the driver has no way of knowing there is an impending failure. cadillac customer service acknowledged to me on several occasions that there is no known cure other than replacement and that the problem exists on several years of that model. the replacement cost is $500 per set of tail lights and there is no guarantee it will last or how long it will last. on e of the methods people have used in an attempt to cure the alleviate the problem is to drill holes in the bottom of the lens to allow water to escape. when i last talked to the cadillac customer service, they would not allow me to talk to the avm (zone manager for this district), nor would they offer to work with me on replacing the tail light assemblies. i believe this is a critical safety issue that must be addressed by general motors, especially since the customer service readily admits it is a problem and there is no known cure other than replacement at the customers expense. incidentally, the tail light assemblies were replaced once under warranty when i took the car in for a completely unrelated problem. so, that is evidence the problem was well known by both gm and the dealership network. *nlm
11/01/2000
 Engine backfires at start---engine stops on decelleration both intermittently . dealers have replaced air intake sensor, fuel sensor, fuel filter and crankshaft position sensors.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - GASOLINE
05/27/200596960106/22/2004
 Heads on 1997 cadillac seville (sls) pulled loose from engine letting antifreeze enter into the combustion chamber of all eight cylinders. heads were warped and had to be taken off engine and milled to refit to engine block. this work done at local cadillac dealer (sam swope cadillac, service manager dave holland 502 499 5015) cost to repair engine $4,999.47........i have spoken to quite a few cadillac owners and service personnel and this is a constant problem with the cadillac northstar engine and all cadillac dealerships are well versed in repairing this engine defect........i have been told that if general motors had put steel inserts into the aluminum block for the headbolts to tighten into at the factory that this problem would not repeatedly occur! from what i have been told gm was trying to save weight and improve fuel consumption and that is why they went to an aluminum block and heads.
09/12/200375300408/23/2000
 Engine exhibited extended cranks after sitting for several hours. dealer replaced fuel pressure regulator($$$). engine continued to exhibit extended cranks only more severe. dealer replaced fuel pump ($$$$). engine continued to exhibit extended cranks. dealer replaced fuel filter ($$) and fuel pump again. crank problem now replaced by stalling after decelerating to near stop then doing a gentle tip in on accelerator as in making a turn or entering a traffic circle.*ak
1
 Vehicle has developed a major leak that is pumping oil onto the exhaust system. nlm oil leak caused by a faulty rear main seal. engine was running rough due to faulty 02 sensor, fuel gauge reading erratically due to bad spot on sender. while driving and hitting a bump, there was a rattle under the vehicle, dealer replaced the right strut and mount. *slc
05/01/200105/01/1997
 The engine cracked at 68000 miles. i called cadillac to replace the engine, but they refused. i had a ost of other problems with this car from the beginning. they should all be recorded by the cadillac dealer in conroe, texas and here in lexington ky. i believe that this car was a lemon when i bought it. *ak
 I have had extreme oil compsumption since i purchased the car from superior . it was used and still is under warrenty. i have had it back to them three times for this and they ran two different oil comsumpion tests.. one for 4000 miles which took 5 1/2 quarts oil and one 500 mile test that took 1 qrt.. since then they have declined to tell me what the statis of the complaint to gm is..thanks.*ak
11/01/2000
 Engine backfires at start---engine stops on decelleration both intermittently . dealers have replaced air intake sensor, fuel sensor, fuel filter and crankshaft position sensors.
312/01/1998
 Engine oil consumption very high, unable to repair/rectify on several repair attempts. mjs
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM
93879202/11/1997
 Upon starting the vehicle it made a growling noise. consumer felt unsafe. consumer took the vehicle to the dealer, and dealer replaced the alternator. however, there was a mildew smell in the vehicle. *ak
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL
10/21/20041
 While driving, the check engine light appeared on the dashboard and remained on and then the vehicle stalled. the consumer tried to restart the vehicle, but was unsuccessful. the consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealer for inspection. the mechanic informed the consumer that the sensor needed to be replaced. please fill in additional information. *jb
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - EXHAUST SYSTEM - EMISSION CONTROL - GAS RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR VALVE)
112/01/1998
 Egr valve and gasket failed. mjs