Problems · NHTSA complaints

1997 Cadillac Deville problems

Owners filed 280 complaints about the 1997 Cadillac Deville with NHTSA between Feb 1997 and Jan 2022. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (52).

Complaints
280
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
9
Reported by owners
Injuries
7
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Service brakes, hydraulic52
  2. Engine and engine cooling51
  3. Fuel system, gasoline33
  4. Exterior lighting31
  5. Electrical system25
  6. Steering22
  7. Air bags10
  8. Power train10
  9. Suspension10
  10. Seats9
  11. Equipment8
  12. Service brakes6
  13. Visibility5
  14. Fuel system, other4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
199725
199823
199939
200024
200123
200231
200325
200431
200515
20067
20074
20085
20095
20103
20113
20124
20132
20145
20153
20161
20170
20181
20190
20200
20210
20221

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Service brakes, hydraulic

52 reports3 crashes1 fire1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE AND SECURITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. ALSO, THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE GAUGES AND SIGNALS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL FAILED AND FAILED TO SHOW ANY INFORMATION. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING WHEN ATTEMPTING TO MOVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 12/01/14*LJ UPDATED 10/1/15 *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 30, 2014Service brakes, hydraulic, Electrical system, Service brakesODI 10651429

Engine and engine cooling

51 reports3 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, HE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE OIL PAN SEAL WAS LEAKING OIL. AS A RESULT, THE OIL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE MANIFOLD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED EXTREME CONCERN OVER A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 04/18/12*BF UPDATED 04/23/12.*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 6, 2012Engine and engine coolingODI 10454335

Fuel system, gasoline

33 reports1 fire1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 40 MPH, GASOLINE FUEL FUMES EMITTED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FUEL GAUGE INDICATED THAT THERE A HALF OF TANK OF GAS WAS IN THE TANK, WHEN THE TANK WAS NEARLY EMPTY. THE VEHICLE HAS GONE EMPTY ON FUEL ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 114.000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 28, 2014Fuel system, gasolineODI 10594471

Exterior lighting

31 reports
“DT: WHILE DRIVING THE PLASTIC COVER ON THE HEADLIGHTS CAME OFF. FIRST DRIVER'S SIDE PLASTIC CAME OFF. THEN ON 5/20/05 PASSENGER'S SIDE PLASTIC COVER CAME OFF AT 67 MPH ON INTERSTATE. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING. PLASTIC COVER CAME OFF/FLEW UP, AND BUSTED INTO THE WINDSHIELD.*AK COST TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT COVER WAS $400.00. *TT *SB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 8, 2005Exterior lightingODI 10121852

Electrical system

25 reports3 fires
“[ ] I had purchased my car used. I found that there was a recall on this model. I went online and ran the vin # and confirmed that. I called the dealership and explained they looked it up and confirmed it needed to have the original plastic fuel rail replaced with a new stainless steel fuel rail. They informed me that they had to order the parts from Michigan an it would be 2 weeks for the parts to get here and then we could set up an appointment to bring the car in. over 2 weeks later they called and we set up the appointment I had started the car the morning of the appointment for it to go to the dealership. I needed to grab something from in the house so I turned it off to go back in my house. I was answering a text on my phone and as I looked up to get out of the car there were flames coming out from between the fender and the hood. I rushed to the front of the car to put the flames out.. I just got the car a d couldn't afford to let turn to the ground. I took off my hoodie and used it to UT out the flames while doing so the hood came down and hit me in the back of my head,I burned my left hand pretty badly and burnt off my arm hair. I have had a ringing in…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 15, 2022Electrical system, Unknown or other, Fuel/propulsion systemFire reportedODI 11447570

Steering

22 reports
“FOR OVER A YEAR I HAVE HAD A WARNING LIGHT INDICATING ABS BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEMS, SERVICE STEERING SYSTEM AND SERVICE ENGINE. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIX IT. I FOUND A RECALL FROM 1997# 04V110000 WHERE 156,000 1997 CADILLAC DEVILLES WERE AFFECTED. CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. TODAY THAT RECALL COMPLAINT WAS NO LONGER SHOWING ON THE NHTSA SITE. I'VE HAD SOME BRAKING PROBLEMS AND WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER MY BRAKES ARE FINE. STEVE, THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID I NO LONGER HAD WARRANTY AND ACTED UNCONCERNED. THEY SAID IT WOULD COST $800 TO REPLACE THE EBTCM AND THAT MIGHT NOT FIX IT. THE DEALER JUST ACTS LIKE IT IS NO PROBLEM. APR 26, 2006 MY DIC DISPLAY SHOWED SERVICE STEERING SYSTEM MY MILEAGE WAS 53,874. INVOICE STATED CUST CONCERN NOT DUPLICATED. MAY 04,2006 SERVICE STEERING SYSTEM MESSAGE ON DIC. TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON AGAIN. THE INVOICE SHOWED CAUSE INTERNAL FAULT. CADILLAC ELECTRICAL AND AC DIAGNOSED SHORTED MAGNA STEER SOLENOID IN THE STEERING GEAR AND A BAD EBTCM. C1241 & C1277 REPLACED STEERING GEAR AND SET FRONT TOE. SHOWED REPLACED EBTCM MISSPELLING FOR REPLACED. CLEARED CODES ALSO. I HAD WARRANTY AND PD…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 8, 2007Steering, Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10202281
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.