1998 Cadillac Deville

CUSTOMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE DOWN ROAD, ALL OF A SUDDEN COMING UP TO A STOPLIGHT CAR SUDDENLY DIED, AT THE SAME TIME WHITE SMOKE CAME BILLOWING OUT THE BACK OF THE CAR, IT CAUSED A TRAFFIC HAZARD IN WHICH NOBODY COULD SEE HER CAR, SHE WAS REARENDED, AS WELL AS THE GUY THAT REARENDED HER. THE OCCUPANT OF THE VEHICLE THAT REARENDED HER ENDED UP GETTING HIS NOSE BROKEN WHEN HE HIT HIS STEERING WHEEL. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND WAS DETERMINED THAT THE REAR HEAD BOLTS HAD PULLED FROM THE BLOCK CAUSING THE HEAD TO SEPARATE FROM THE BLOCK OF THE VEHICLE, QUOTED $4500 TO REPAIR AND WAS TOLD THEY COULD NOT WARRANTY REPAIR BECAUSE IT IS A NORTHSTAR ENGINE. VEHICLE THEN BROUGHT TO ME TO GET IT REPAIRED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL DUE TO THE ENGINE OVERHEATING. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION FOR A FEW MINUTES. DURING THE FAILURES, THE ENGINE OVERHEAT LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FREEZE PLUG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE HEAD GASKETS WERE WARPED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

ONE NIGHT MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING MY 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE HEATER COIL BURST WITHOUT WARNING, THE HEATER WAS NOT ON AND THE CAR WAS NOT RUNNING HOT. THE CAR FILLED WITH STEAM MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE ANYTHING, AND HOT SCALDING WATER AND ANTI-FREEZE POURED OUT FROM UNDER THE DASH BOARD RIGHT OVER THE GAS PEDDLE AND SCALDED MY RIGHT FOOT CAUSING SERIOUS BURNS AND LEAVING HORRIBLE SCARS. LUCKILY WE WERE TRAVELING ON A COUNTRY ROAD WITH LITTLE TO NO TRAFFIC. I AM RELIEVED THAT ME NOR MY FAMILY WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED OTHER THAN MY FOOT BEING BURNED. CAR DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, AND NOTHING WAS DONE. I FEEL LIKE THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS MATTER THAT SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO AND HAVE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT IT. *TR

I HAVE A 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE THAT I AM PUTTING THE 3RD ENGINE INTO THE CAR DUE TO A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. MY PARENTS HAVE THE SAME CAR WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE READ CLASSIFIEDS THAT CITIZENS WHO OWN THE SAME CAR ARE FORCED TO GIVE THE CAR AWAY BECAUSE OF THIS HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. ANYONE WHO CAN SERVICE THIS CAR (INCLUDING A CADILLAC DEALERSHIP) HAS ADMITTED THAT IT IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR, AND THAT THERE IS NO FINANCIALLY REASONABLE REPAIR, AND REPLACING THE ENGINE IS USUALLY THE ONLY RECOMMENDATION. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT CADILLAC RECOGNIZED THIS PROBLEM, AND MADE A CORRECTION TO THESE NORTH STAR ENGINES IN THE YEAR 2000. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A CADILLAC BLUNDER THAT IS PROVEN COSTLY, BUT THE COST IS ONLY BEING ABSORBED BY THE CUSTOMER. I AM ALL FOR BEING ACCOUNTABLE, BUT HAVING THE CHOICES OF PUTTING A 3RD ENGINE IN THE CAR OR JUNKING WOULD BE DEEMED AS EXTREME. WHY IS CADILLAC NOT RECALLING THIS PARTICULAR YEAR CARS ENGINE? I AM SURE THAT ANY RESEARCH THAT YOU CONDUCT WILL SHOW AN ABUNDANCE OF THIS PROBLEM. WHAT PROTECTION DOES THE CONSUMER HAVE IN THIS REGARDS? *TR

COMPONENT: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE DETAILS: THE FAILURE OCCURS IN NORMAL USE. THE CONSEQUENCE IS POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE. THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THIS OBVIOUS AND COMMON MANUFACTURING FLAW IN THE NORTHSTAR ENGINE. THE SITUATION, BECAUSE THIS IS THE SAME ENGINEER IS THE SAME THAT IS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 99086: DATE: 12/01/1999 COMPONENT NAME: 061000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE NHTSA #: 99086 SUMMARY: SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS MAY BECOME LOOSE AND CAUSE COOLANT LEAKS AND POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE. *TR

THE FAILURE OCCURS IN NORMAL USE. THE CONSEQUENCE IS POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE. THE DEALER HAS REFUSED TO REPAIR THIS OBVIOUS AND COMMON MANUFACTURING FLAW IN THE NORTHSTAR ENGINE. THE SITUATION, BECAUSE THIS IS THE SAME ENGINEER IS THE SAME THAT IS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 99086: DATE: 12/01/1999 COMPONENT NAME: 061000 ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE NHTSA #: 99086 SUMMARY: SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE CYLINDER HEAD BOLTS MAY BECOME LOOSE AND CAUSE COOLANT LEAKS AND POSSIBLE ENGINE DAMAGE. *TR

1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE CONCOURS. NORTHSTAR 4.6L V8 I HAVE MADE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE OIL CONSUMPTION OF THIS VEHICLES ENGINE. ONLY TO RECEIVE THE BRUSH OFF FROM THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT GM'S ALLOWABLE NORTHSTAR CONSUMPTION. THIS ENGINE IS CONSUMING 4 QTS PER MONTH ON AVERAGE AND IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN MY BOOK. WHAT DO I DO NOW ? NO MANUFACTURERS WARRANTY OR EXTENDED LEFT TO HELP AND ONLY 80,000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. I DEFINITELY BELIEVE THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS A LEMON FROM THE GET GO AND THAT GM KNOWS THESE ENGINES HAVE PROBLEMS. I'M TRYING TO BUY AMERICAN MADE PRODUCTS BUT WITH PROBLEMS LIKE THIS IT'S GETTING DIFFICULT TO DO THIS. HOPING I CAN GET SOME RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

ATTENTION: MS. DENISE MCNAIR@DOT.GOV AFTER REVIEWING THE INFORMATION SERVICE BULLETIN SENT TO ME I AM UNDER MORE CONVINCED THAT THIS ENGINE IS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE HAD ENGINE COOLING ALSO HIGH OIL CONSUMPTION EVERY SINCE 57.000 MILES,I MENTION IT TO THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND NO ONE EVER TOLD ABOUT THESE BULLETINS NO ONE MENTION THAT THEIR WAS A PROBLEM WITH ENGINE OR TELL ME ABOUT THE , FWD RTV SEALANT PROCEDURE WITH CURRENT OIL DISTRIBUTION PLATE OR THE RUSTED HEATER PIPES THAT GO THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK THAT CARRIES THE COOLANT. ALSO LEAKS IN THE CAR CAUSING FUMES WHICH ARE TOXIC. I MUST HAVE 20- 1 GALLON ANTI- FREEZE BOTTLES IN MY GARAGE. I CARRY AT LEAST 6 QUARTS MOTOR OIL WITH ME, THE OVER 75,000 MILE OIL. I USE MORE OIL AND ANTI- FREEZE THAN GAS.2006 CONSUMER ACTION HANDBOOK STATES AND I QUOTE" SOMETIMES A MANUFACTURER MAKES A DESIGN OR PRODUCTION MISTAKE ON A MOTOR VEHICLE. IF DEALERS REPORT A NUMBER OF COMPLAINT ABOUT A CERTAIN PART OR VEHICLE, THE MANUFACTURER MAY ALLOW DEALERS TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM AT NO COST TO YOU EVEN IF THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. A SERVICE BULLETIN NOTIFIES THE DEALER OF THE PROBLEM AND HOW TO SOLVE IT. BECAUSE THESE FREE REPAIRS ARE NOT PUBLICIZED, THEY ARE CALLED "SECRET WARRANTIES" THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION MAINTAINS A DATABASE OF SERVICE BULLETINS FILED BY MANUFACTURERS. I ALSO HAVE ALL THE MAINTENANCE RECORDS FOR MY 1998 CADILLAC AND WAS NEVER IMFORMED OF THESE PROBLEMS OR I WOULD HAVE HAD THEM REPAIRED WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS I CAN'T KEEP BECAUSE I DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION. THE DEALER TOLD ME I HAVE BLOWN HEAD GASKETS WHICH COMES FROM OVERHEATING DUE TO THE COOLING LEAK AND OIL LEAKS.THE HEATER PIPES HAVE RUSTED POURING OUT ENGINE COOLANT. WHICH DOES NOT PRODUCE HEAT AT THIS TIME. I NEED ALL THE HELP I CAN GET, I"M ON A FIXED INCOME AND MONEY IS SCARCE. WHY DON'T THEY RUN COPPER PIPES THEY DON'T RUST. IT'S FOR THE HEATING SYSTEM. PLEASE HELP. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S OIL AND ANTIFREEZE LEAKED CAUSING THE INTAKE AND OUTTAKE OF THE ENGINE TO RUST, IN TURN CAUSING THE PIPE TO BUST AND THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE TO FIX THIS ISSUE. UPDATED 12.8/2006 - 4.6 LITER NORTHSTAR ENGINE. THE L/F WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE. THE BRAKES PULSATED. THE SES LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE HEADLIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. *NM