Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Cadillac Eldorado problems
Owners filed 24 complaints about the 2001 Cadillac Eldorado with NHTSA between Jun 2001 and Aug 2019. The most-cited component is service brakes, hydraulic (5).
Complaints
24
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Vehicle speed control4
- Engine and engine cooling4
- Electrical system3
- Air bags1
- Power train1
- Electronic stability control (esc)1
- Fuel system, gasoline1
- Structure1
- Tires1
- Seats1
- Steering1
- Interior lighting1
- Other / unknown1
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 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
3
0
2
4
0
2
1
3
1
2
0
1
0
0
1
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2003 | 0 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 |
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.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Service brakes, hydraulic
5 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE PARKED THE TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE SERVICE AND STEERING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THE ABS MODULE NEEDED TO REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED WHO BOTH TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THE PART WAS ON A NATIONAL BACK ORDER AND THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF WHEN THE PART WOULD BE AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT WAS PLACED ON WAITING LIST FOR THE PART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,000. UPDATED 02/18/11 *BF”
Vehicle speed control
4 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CADILLAC ELDORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS MANEUVERED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND SHUT OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.”
Engine and engine cooling
4 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 20-30 MPH THE "CHECK ENGINE COOLANT" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR IDENTICAL FAILURES. THE DEALER REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET AT AN EXPENSE OF $3,000.00. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 113,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Electrical system
3 reports
“IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER WIRES THAT DISABLE STARTER BREAK AND CAR WILL NOT START . THE DEALER SAID THIS HAPPENS ON ALMOST EVERY 2001 CADILAC EQUIPPED WITH THE RESISTANCE CHIP ON THE KEY. THE MESSAGE SAYS WAIT 3 MINUTE AND RESTART THE CAR. THE 2001 CADILLAC ELDORADO ESC ONLY HAS 44,000 MILES ON IT. *TR”
Air bags
1 report
“AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON”
Power train
1 report
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES, THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. UPDATED 04/22/2016*LJ”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.