IllustrationVEHICLE BEGAN TO LOSE COOLANT, BUT WASN'T SEEING ANY LEAKS. I THEN DECIDED TO OPEN THE COOLANT RESERVOIR AND SMELL FOR GASOLINE, AND THE ODOR OF GASOLINE IS PRESENT IN THE COOLANT. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND FOUND TO HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *TR
1997 Cadillac Eldorado
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Eldorado years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 18 of 31 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
3 crash reports4 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
31 reportsI WAS NOTIFIED OF A SAFETY RECALL ON MY 1997 CADILLAC EL DORADO THAT TUBING USED IN THE FUEL RAIL CONST. MAY DEGRADE AND CRACK. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT DONE I WAS TOLD THAT THEY POSSIBLY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP, AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I FEEL THIS IS…
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I WAS NOTIFIED OF A SAFETY RECALL ON MY 1997 CADILLAC EL DORADO THAT TUBING USED IN THE FUEL RAIL CONST. MAY DEGRADE AND CRACK. I WAS TOLD IT WOULD BE REPAIRED AT NO CHARGE. WHEN I WENT TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT DONE I WAS TOLD THAT THEY POSSIBLY WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP, AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I FEEL THIS IS COMPLETELY UNFAIR, I DIDN'T CREATE THIS PROBLEM AND FEEL GM SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE IT SAFE BY REPLACING IT AT NO CHARGE. ANYWAY! I THOUGHT I WOULD LET YOU KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON. LET ME KNOW IF YOU CAN DO ANYTHING. THANKS GREG *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND HEARD A SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DISENGAGED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AGAIN AND THE SCREECHING NOISE RECURRED. AFTER DRI…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND HEARD A SCREECHING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DISENGAGED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AGAIN AND THE SCREECHING NOISE RECURRED. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW MINUTES, SHE PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. SHE WAITED APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE BEFORE RESTARTING THE VEHICLE AND THE ABS MESSAGE WAS NO LONGER DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE BRAKES. THE DEALER STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V064000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK), HOWEVER, THE CONTACT BELIEVED IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE, PURCHASE DATE, SPEED, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 63,155.
RECALL REQUEST FOR ENGINEERING ANALYSIS CUSTOMER IS ASKING FOR INFO ABOUT RECALL EA04-003**CC THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS INJURED DUE TO HIS FRIENDS 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO STALLING. THE CONSUMER REFERENCED RECALL NUMBER 04V110000. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO. THE LOW COOLANT INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY HAD TO REFILL THE COOLANT RECEPTACLE. THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ONCE. WHILE DRIVING THE CONTACT NOTICED A CLOUD OF SMOKE APPEARING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS BLOWN HEAD BOLTS FR…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO. THE LOW COOLANT INDICATOR WOULD ILLUMINATE AND THE CONTACT CONSTANTLY HAD TO REFILL THE COOLANT RECEPTACLE. THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ONCE. WHILE DRIVING THE CONTACT NOTICED A CLOUD OF SMOKE APPEARING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A REPAIR SHOP DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS BLOWN HEAD BOLTS FROM WITHIN THE BLOCK. THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 53000.*AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 97V064000, REGARDING THE SERVICE BRAKES; HYDRAULIC; ANTILOCK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE MAKES NOISE AND VIBRATES EVERY TIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. A VARIETY OF MANEUVERS ARE USED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO BRAKE EFFECTIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE OR THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE MAKES NOISE AND VIBRATES EVERY TIME THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. A VARIETY OF MANEUVERS ARE USED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO BRAKE EFFECTIVELY. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE OR THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
DT: 1997 CADILLAC EL DORADO. THE CONSUMER STATES HE HAD RECALL, 04V110000REPAIRS PERFORMED ON VEHICLE. THIS WAS DONE APPROXIMATELY ON AUGUST 30, 2005. WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP IT BEGAN LEAKING FUEL. THE REPLACED COMPONENTS WERE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. THIS CAUSED THE FUEL TO LE…
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DT: 1997 CADILLAC EL DORADO. THE CONSUMER STATES HE HAD RECALL, 04V110000REPAIRS PERFORMED ON VEHICLE. THIS WAS DONE APPROXIMATELY ON AUGUST 30, 2005. WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP IT BEGAN LEAKING FUEL. THE REPLACED COMPONENTS WERE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR. THIS CAUSED THE FUEL TO LEAK. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SINCE THIS WAS REPLACED. *AK
CONSUMER LETTER REGARDING THE RECALL FOR THE 1997 CADILLAC ELDORADO.*MR *NM
DURING A 70 MPH ROLL OVER, THE VEHICLE HIT A GUARD RAIL AND THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. *JB
Official recalls
204V110000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Mar 4, 2004
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE, IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE ENGINE FUEL RAIL WITH A NEW STAINLESS STEEL FUEL RAIL. DEALERS WILL ALSO INSTALL A REVISED CHASSIS FUEL RETURN LINE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 2, 2004, FOR 1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE AURORA VEHICLES. OWNERS OF 1995 CADILLACS AND 1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE AURORA WERE SENT LETTERS ON AUGUST 6, 2004. ADDITIONAL LETTERS TO OWNERS WILL BE FORTHCOMING. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
97V064000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip
Apr 28, 1997
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN AN INCREASE IN VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE OR THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA04003 · Fuel Rail Leaks
Opened Feb 3, 2004 · Closed Apr 23, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline; Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery; Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail
ON MARCH 3, 2004, GENERAL MOTORS NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WAS RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 94,000 MY 1995-97 OLDSMOBILE AURORA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L V8 ENGINES (RPO L47 - VIN8 C) TO ADDRESS CONCERNS WITH UNDERHOOD FUEL LEAKAGE FROM CRACKED FUEL RAILS AND, IN SOME OF THE VEHICLES, CRACKED FUEL RETURN LINES. ACCORDING TO GM, THE NYLON TUBING (PA12) USED IN THE FUEL RAIL CONSTRUCTION IN THESE VEHICLES MAY DEGRADE AND CRACK.GM'S SUPPLIER ATTRIBUTED THE CRACKING TO THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF HEAT, TIME, ALCOHOL FUEL, FUEL PRESSURE CYCLING, AND DESIGN STRESSES.IN ADDITION, GM STATED THAT THE MY 1995 AURORA USES A UNIQUE UNDERHOOD FUEL RETURN LINE THAT MAY ALSO CRACK AT UNUSUALLY HIGH RATES.GM DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FUEL RAIL CONSTRUCTED OUT OF STAINLESS STEEL IN ALL OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES AND WILL ALSO INSTALL A REVISED CHASSIS FUEL RETURN LINE IN THE MY 1995 AURORAS. ON APRIL 16, 2004, GENERAL MOTORS NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WAS ADDING APPROXIMATELY 389,000 MY 1995-97 CADILLAC SEVILLE, DEVILLE AND ELDORADO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.6L V8 ENGINES (RPO'S LD8 AND L37 - VIN8 Y AND 9) TO RECALL 04V-110.THE RECALLED CADILLACS WILL RECEIVE THE NEW STAINLESS STEEL FUEL RAILS.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery
ON MARCH 3, 2004, GENERAL MOTORS NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WAS RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 94,000 MY 1995-97 OLDSMOBILE AURORA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L V8 ENGINES (RPO L47 - VIN8 C) TO ADDRESS CONCERNS WITH UNDERHOOD FUEL LEAKAGE FROM CRACKED FUEL RAILS AND, IN SOME OF THE VEHICLES, CRACKED FUEL RETURN LINES. ACCORDING TO GM, THE NYLON TUBING (PA12) USED IN THE FUEL RAIL CONSTRUCTION IN THESE VEHICLES MAY DEGRADE AND CRACK.GM'S SUPPLIER ATTRIBUTED THE CRACKING TO THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF HEAT, TIME, ALCOHOL FUEL, FUEL PRESSURE CYCLING, AND DESIGN STRESSES.IN ADDITION, GM STATED THAT THE MY 1995 AURORA USES A UNIQUE UNDERHOOD FUEL RETURN LINE THAT MAY ALSO CRACK AT UNUSUALLY HIGH RATES.GM DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FUEL RAIL CONSTRUCTED OUT OF STAINLESS STEEL IN ALL OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES AND WILL ALSO INSTALL A REVISED CHASSIS FUEL RETURN LINE IN THE MY 1995 AURORAS. ON APRIL 16, 2004, GENERAL MOTORS NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WAS ADDING APPROXIMATELY 389,000 MY 1995-97 CADILLAC SEVILLE, DEVILLE AND ELDORADO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.6L V8 ENGINES (RPO'S LD8 AND L37 - VIN8 Y AND 9) TO RECALL 04V-110.THE RECALLED CADILLACS WILL RECEIVE THE NEW STAINLESS STEEL FUEL RAILS.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.
Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail
ON MARCH 3, 2004, GENERAL MOTORS NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WAS RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 94,000 MY 1995-97 OLDSMOBILE AURORA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L V8 ENGINES (RPO L47 - VIN8 C) TO ADDRESS CONCERNS WITH UNDERHOOD FUEL LEAKAGE FROM CRACKED FUEL RAILS AND, IN SOME OF THE VEHICLES, CRACKED FUEL RETURN LINES. ACCORDING TO GM, THE NYLON TUBING (PA12) USED IN THE FUEL RAIL CONSTRUCTION IN THESE VEHICLES MAY DEGRADE AND CRACK.GM'S SUPPLIER ATTRIBUTED THE CRACKING TO THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF HEAT, TIME, ALCOHOL FUEL, FUEL PRESSURE CYCLING, AND DESIGN STRESSES.IN ADDITION, GM STATED THAT THE MY 1995 AURORA USES A UNIQUE UNDERHOOD FUEL RETURN LINE THAT MAY ALSO CRACK AT UNUSUALLY HIGH RATES.GM DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FUEL RAIL CONSTRUCTED OUT OF STAINLESS STEEL IN ALL OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES AND WILL ALSO INSTALL A REVISED CHASSIS FUEL RETURN LINE IN THE MY 1995 AURORAS. ON APRIL 16, 2004, GENERAL MOTORS NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WAS ADDING APPROXIMATELY 389,000 MY 1995-97 CADILLAC SEVILLE, DEVILLE AND ELDORADO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.6L V8 ENGINES (RPO'S LD8 AND L37 - VIN8 Y AND 9) TO RECALL 04V-110.THE RECALLED CADILLACS WILL RECEIVE THE NEW STAINLESS STEEL FUEL RAILS.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.
Fuel System, Gasoline
ON MARCH 3, 2004, GENERAL MOTORS NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WAS RECALLING APPROXIMATELY 94,000 MY 1995-97 OLDSMOBILE AURORA VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L V8 ENGINES (RPO L47 - VIN8 C) TO ADDRESS CONCERNS WITH UNDERHOOD FUEL LEAKAGE FROM CRACKED FUEL RAILS AND, IN SOME OF THE VEHICLES, CRACKED FUEL RETURN LINES. ACCORDING TO GM, THE NYLON TUBING (PA12) USED IN THE FUEL RAIL CONSTRUCTION IN THESE VEHICLES MAY DEGRADE AND CRACK.GM'S SUPPLIER ATTRIBUTED THE CRACKING TO THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF HEAT, TIME, ALCOHOL FUEL, FUEL PRESSURE CYCLING, AND DESIGN STRESSES.IN ADDITION, GM STATED THAT THE MY 1995 AURORA USES A UNIQUE UNDERHOOD FUEL RETURN LINE THAT MAY ALSO CRACK AT UNUSUALLY HIGH RATES.GM DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW FUEL RAIL CONSTRUCTED OUT OF STAINLESS STEEL IN ALL OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES AND WILL ALSO INSTALL A REVISED CHASSIS FUEL RETURN LINE IN THE MY 1995 AURORAS. ON APRIL 16, 2004, GENERAL MOTORS NOTIFIED ODI THAT IT WAS ADDING APPROXIMATELY 389,000 MY 1995-97 CADILLAC SEVILLE, DEVILLE AND ELDORADO VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.6L V8 ENGINES (RPO'S LD8 AND L37 - VIN8 Y AND 9) TO RECALL 04V-110.THE RECALLED CADILLACS WILL RECEIVE THE NEW STAINLESS STEEL FUEL RAILS.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.
PE03050 · Fuel Rail Leakage
Opened Oct 30, 2003 · Closed Feb 3, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail
THE FUEL RAIL ASSEMBLIES USED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED BY DANA.THE FUEL RAIL JUMPER TUBES WERE MADE OF MONOLAYER NYLON 12 (PA12).IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 1998, THE JUMPER TUBE MATERIAL WAS CHANGED FROM PA12 TO M-BOND (A MULTI-LAYER PTFE/PA12).IN ADDITION, ALL SERVICE PARTS PRODUCED SINCE THE END OF PRODUCTION 1997 USE THE M-BOND JUMPER TUBES. MATERIAL ANALYSIS PERFORMED BY DANA ON FAILED FUEL RAILS SHOWED THAT THE MONO-LAYER NYLON 12 JUMPER TUBES ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS CRACKING (ESC).GM BELIEVES THE ESC IS A RESULT OF HEAT, TIME, ALCOHOL BLENDED FUEL, FUEL PRESSURE CYCLING, AND DESIGNED IN STRESS. EIGHT OF THE GM COMPLAINTS ARE DUPLICATIVE OF ODI COMPLAINTS.ODI HAS RECEIVED 77 OF IT'S 123 COMPLAINTS IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS.FUEL RAIL PART SALES OVER THE LAST THREE YEARS RANGE FROM 3.0 PERCENT OF PRODUCTION FOR THE MY 1997 CADILLAC VEHICLES TO 13.1 PERCENT FOR THE MY 1995 AURORAS.AT LEAST ONE OF THE FIRE INCIDENTS OCCURED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITHIN A GARAGE ATTACHED TO THE CONSUMERS HOME.THE FIRE RESULTED IN DAMAGE TO THE DWELLING AS WELL AS THE TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.