Problems · NHTSA complaints

1998 Cadillac Eldorado problems

Owners filed 38 complaints about the 1998 Cadillac Eldorado with NHTSA between May 1998 and Aug 2018. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (7).

Complaints
38
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling7
  2. Fuel system, gasoline6
  3. Service brakes, hydraulic4
  4. Suspension4
  5. Wheels3
  6. Electrical system3
  7. Equipment3
  8. Steering2
  9. Engine1
  10. Fuel/propulsion system1
  11. Power train1
  12. Seat belts1
  13. Tires1
  14. Visibility1

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 Nov 10, 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
19983
199910
20003
20014
20022
20038
20042
20050
20060
20071
20081
20091
20100
20111
20120
20130
20140
20151
20160
20170
20181

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

Engine and engine cooling

7 reports1 crash
“STARTING WITH DIC MESSAGE OF "LOW COOLANT", I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE OVERHEATING PROBLEM. AFTER THE CADILLAC DEALER IN DURANGO COLORADO WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM ( REPLACED HOSES, WATER PUMP), MY MECHANIC (IN ALBUQUERQUE)FOUND A CRACKED HEAD THAT WAS LEAKING COOLANT INTERNALY. FIXED THE HEAD, BUT NOW THE HEAD BOLT HOLES STRIPPED. USED OVERSIZED HELICOILS , BUT BLOCK MATERIAL STILL TO SOFT AND CANNOT TORQUE DOWN THE HEAD BOLTS WITHOUT PULLING HELICOILS. ALUMINUM METAL GOT TO SOFT AND HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THIS ENGIN ONLY HAS 82K+ MILES AND SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS. ALUMINIUM FOR BLOCK/HEAD MATERIA IS STUPIDITY. WEIGHT SAVINGS CANNOT BE THAT MUCH TO HAVE SHORTER LIFE OF AN ENGINE.L *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 9, 2004Engine and engine coolingODI 10075059

Fuel system, gasoline

6 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE PLASTIC FUEL RAIL WAS LEAKING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 8-450-4863293. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 9, 2018Fuel system, gasolineODI 11118688

Service brakes, hydraulic

4 reports
“WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES SUDDENLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-95 THE BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETLY TO THE FLOOR AND PROVIDED NO BRAKING CAPABILITY. BRAKE FLUID WAS RELEASED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SMOKE WAS RELEASED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED TO GET THE CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. BOTH BRAKE LINES HAD REPTURED (FRONT AND REAR). PARTS WERE $130 AND LABOR WAS $497. CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR ANY OF THE COSTS FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE OF THE OUT OR WARRANTY PERIOD. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 8, 2003Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10049429

Suspension

4 reports
“WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES ACTIVATED ALTHOUGH THE DRIVER DID NOT PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RETURNED. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS DENIED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR WAS REWIRED. THERE WAS A RATTLE IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING OVER BUMPS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT STABILIZER LINKS. THE DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE EBTCM. *NLM *SCC *NLM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 3, 2003Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, EquipmentODI 10020059

Wheels

3 reports
“TWO TIRES CONTINUE TO LOSE AIR. I FINALLY WENT TO REPLACE THE TIRES AND THE SERVICE CENTER SAID THAT THE RIM WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE RIM FROM OXIDATION. THE CHROME WAS PEELING OFF OF 2 OF THE RIMS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 23, 2008WheelsODI 10249603

Electrical system

3 reports
“THE HEADLAMPS QUIT WORKING. IT HAS BEEN IN SERVICE DEPARTMENT 3 TIMES WITHIN A YEAR. THEY KEEP REPLACING RELAYS BUT IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE VERY FAR AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF NO HEADLAMPS. *NLM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 3, 2003Electrical systemODI 10049120
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026

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