Problems · NHTSA complaints

1997 Cadillac Seville problems

Owners filed 95 complaints about the 1997 Cadillac Seville with NHTSA between Jul 1997 and Apr 2021. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (19).

Complaints
95
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
4
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling19
  2. Fuel system, gasoline17
  3. Steering15
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic14
  5. Electrical system9
  6. Exterior lighting7
  7. Air bags6
  8. Suspension5
  9. Wheels4
  10. Visibility3
  11. Equipment3
  12. Engine2
  13. Structure2
  14. Seats1

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
19975
19985
199914
20005
20016
20027
200316
200412
20059
20060
20071
20084
20095
20101
20110
20121
20131
20141
20150
20160
20171
20180
20190
20200
20211

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

19 reports3 fires
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LOSING COOLANT (MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED) AT A VAST RATE. HE HAD TO REPLACE THE COOLANT IN THE VEHICLE ALMOST EVERY OTHER DAY. IN ADDITION, THE HEATING GAUGE WOULD SPORADICALLY MOVE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. THE DEALER IS CURRENTLY PERFORMING DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 110,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 5, 2009Engine and engine coolingODI 10272969

Fuel system, gasoline

17 reports1 fire1 related recall
“HIT A SPEED BUMP - LOUD NOISE - COULD BARELY BRAKE - AVOID COLLISION AND AFTER EVENTUALLY BEING ABLE TO STOP; LOOKED UNDER CAR AND FLUID GUSHING OUT LIKE A RAINSTORM. CALL INSURANCE COMPANY WHO STATED IT WAS A COLLISION; HOWEVER, REPAIR SHOP AND ADJUSTER FOR INSURANCE COMPANY STATED IT WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN DUE TO RUSTING AND CRACKING OF BRAKE LINE, ETC. AND WILL NOT PAY FOR REPAIR - AUTO REPAIR DID SEND A PAPER SHOWING A RECALL THAT WAS ISSUED BY NHTSA ID: 04V110000 ON JUNE 2, 2004 DEALING WITH FUEL SYSTEM AND THE FUEL RAIL CONSTRUCTION WHICH MAY DEGRADE AND CRACK. I INFORMED NOT ONLY THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER AND THE REPAIR SHOP, AND I ALSO CALLED CADILLAC AT L-8---458-8006, ABOUT THIS RECALL AND SINCE I NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL FROM CADILLAC, IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THIS IS AN ISSUE WHICH SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY THEM. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 30, 2013Fuel system, gasolineODI 10532740

Steering

15 reports1 crash1 fire
“97 CADILLAC SEVILLE,CLUNCKING IN FRONT END ,RACK AND PINION,CAN FEEL THE NOISE COMING FROM INSIDE THE RACK AND PINION. STEERING SEEMS TO LOCK UP WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT OR IN A TURN. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2009SteeringODI 10289895

Service brakes, hydraulic

14 reports1 crash1 related recall
“BRAKE LINE FAILURE - 1997 CADILLAC SEVILLE STS - 4.6L ENGINE - REAR BRAKE LINE FAILED - DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION AND ABRASION CAUSED BY NORMAL USAGE - BRAKE FLUID LOSS LEADS TO NO PEDDLE PRESSURE AND GREATLY DIMINISHED OR ZERO BRAKING CAPABILITY. SUGGEST RECALL TO INSPECT ABRADED BRAKES LINES. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 27, 2009Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10285361

Electrical system

9 reports2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ROUGHLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS FLICKERING ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,007.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 15, 2021Electrical system, EngineODI 11408255

Exterior lighting

7 reports
“1997 CADILLAC REAR LIGHT HOUSINGS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. THESE HOUSINGS CONTINUALLY LEAK CAUSING EXCESSIVE MOISTURE TO BE TRAPPED. WE HAD DELIVERY ON OUR STS ON 10/09/96. THESE HOUSING WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY ON 2/18/97 DUE TO THIS PROBLEM. AGAIN ON 3/25/98, THESE HOUSINGS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO SAME PROBLEM. THE MOISTURE PROBLEM CONTINUED AND WHEN PRESENTED TO DEALER ON 09/07/01 FOR SERVICE, WE WERE TOLD THAT THIS WAS A NORMAL CONDITION AND CADILLAC HAS WASHED ITS HANDS WITH NO REPLACEMENT. THEY HAVE IMPLIED THAT THIS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND CAN ONLY BE FIXED BY REPLACEMENT, BUT AT OWNER'S COST. NOW, THIS PROBLEM HAS CONTINUALLY GOT WORSE RESULTING IN CORROSION IN LIGHT BULB SOCKETS CAUSING LIGHT FAILURE. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS MOISTURE WILL EVENTUALLY CAUSE A ELECTRICAL SHORT RESULTING IN A FIRE, ETC. OR VISIBILITY CONCERNS FOR ON COMING VEHICLES. IS CADILLAC WAITING FOR AN ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THESE CONDITIONS BEFORE THEY REACT????? ALSO REFERENCE TO ODI ID#10014105,8008955,8008954. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 6, 2003Exterior lightingODI 10018314
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.