Problems · by component
1997 Cadillac Deville electrical system problems
25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Cadillac Deville cite electrical system, 9% of all 280 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
25
9% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
3
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“[ ] 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…”
“1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION RECALL REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE THEFT SYSTEM. ACCORDING TO THE INVOICE, THE IGNITION LOCK CYLINDER WAS REPLACED.”
“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”
“I BACKED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY AND PROCEEDED DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG EXPLODED ON MY WIFE'S ARM. I AM AFRAID THAT IT WILL HAPPEN ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WHILE DRIVING. WHAT SHOULD I DO FOR SAFETY SAKE? *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AFTER TURNING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND PLACING THE GEAR SHIFT IN NEUTRAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,704.”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 25 MPH, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FAILED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WAS DIGITAL; THEREFORE, THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW HOW FAST SHE WAS TRAVELING, AND COULD NOT READ THE FUEL GAUGE, WARNING LIGHTS, AND TURN SIGNALS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CLUSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 90,000.”
Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.