1997 Cadillac Deville Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe fuel smells and leaks traced to the underhood fuel rail, and ABS or traction control lights coming on with unwanted braking or increased stopping distance, both of which correspond to recalls. Engine oil consumption and leaks, steering assist loss, and exterior lamp problems also come up repeatedly in the sampled complaints, mostly at middle-to-high mileage.

1. 1
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and fuel rail leaks

   • 32 complaints (12%)
   • median 80,425 mi at 7.8 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2022

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell inside and around the car, sometimes with fuel visible on the engine or underbody. Complaints commonly say a dealer or shop found the plastic fuel rail or its tubing leaking or cracked and replaced it, in some cases with a metal part. Several owners mention the fuel rail recall and say they were not notified or that their VIN was not covered, and a few describe long waits for parts. Mostly reported between roughly 35,000 and 120,000 miles, more often in warm weather when the car is driven and then shut off.

   Recall 04V110000

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel rail recall work was completed and with which part, and check for a fuel smell at the engine and under the car after a drive. Look for residue or staining on the rail and lines.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My car smelled like gas when I got ot work, 7 miles from home, and when I got it to the shop they found that it had a fuel rail leak. There was another sts in the shop with the same problem and the vince whibbs dealership in pensacola said that they had two of them in the last 6 months. I think that this is a very serious problem and it should be looked into. I was very lucky that my car did not catch on fire. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10045463, filed 2003-11, 80,425 miles

   “The passenger compartment, began to smell gasoline, so I did stop in a gas station, open the engine compartment(the hood) and noticed a big gas leak on the gasoline rail close to the carburetor or fuel burner, so I decided to stop there and have towed the vehicle to san antonio, texas...the mechanic charged me 560.00 to change the complete rail for a metal one with the guarantee that this one will not happen the same thing, because is a metal one not a plastic one that the car have originally installed... …”

   NHTSA complaint #10350165, filed 2010-08, 97,500 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   ABS and traction control light with unwanted braking

   • 60 complaints (22%)
   • median 75,500 mi at 10.8 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 5 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1997–2016

   Complaints describe the ABS and traction control lights staying on, the pedal pulsing or the system engaging during ordinary braking on dry pavement, and longer stopping distances. Owners often say a dealer traced it to the electronic brake control module or wiring and that their vehicle was not included in the related recall. Some report the car later had to stop with the emergency brake. Reported broadly from about 40,000 to 160,000 miles, with no clear weather pattern.

   Recall 97V0640001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Have the ABS and traction control lights checked with the engine running and confirm whether the brake control module recall applies to the VIN. Ask whether the module has been replaced and test-brake on a quiet road.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was traveling on the highway at approx. 65-70 MPH when I went to brake due to traffic and there was severe brake fade. The car was able to slow down but could not come to a complete stop, the brake pedal went to the floor even after several pumps. I had to use the emergency brake to stop the vehicle. Luckily there was no accident. I still had to travel another 30 miles before reaching my destination and the brakes continued to fail. The brakes would only slow the vehicle down. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10456873, filed 2012-04, 65,000 miles

   “I noticed that my ABS traction control light was on the dashboard console and when I push on the brakes the and the car was not stopping. The ABS was engaging on dry pavement. I checked the onboard diagnostic tool on the Cadillac and I am getting an error code of tcs c1255 which is a faulty electronic brake control module/ electronic brake and traction control module. I noticed that there is a recall on this exact part that I am experiencing problems with reference NHTSA campaign number: 97v064000. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10608992, filed 2014-07, 138,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine cooling

   Oil consumption, oil leaks and engine stalling

   • 54 complaints (20%)
   • median 97,500 mi at 9.1 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 1998–2015

   Owners report burning several quarts of oil between changes and oil leaks that leave the engine or underbody wet. Some describe the car stalling or losing power while driving, and others mention a head gasket failure or a leaking oil pan seal dripping onto hot engine parts. According to complaints, dealers often did not diagnose intermittent stalling unless a code was stored. Reported from as low as about 30,000 miles up to roughly 160,000 miles; several owners mention high consumption starting around 40,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and look for leaks or oil-soaked areas around the pan and manifold, and ask for service records showing oil use between changes. A scan for stored codes can help explain any stalling history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I january 2004 I took my 97 Cadillac Deville to be serviced due to an indicator light on to check the coolant system. I was told that I would need a new engine due to the engineering design of the cadillacs since 1992 of mounting steel bolts in alluminum motor mount which was designed to last only up to 100,000 miles. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10068182, filed 2004-05, 122,000 miles

   “I bought a used 1997 Cadillac from a Cadillac dealership, before I bought the car I took it for a test drive, it drove like a dream, then on the way back to the dealership the oil light came on. I told the salesman about it, and he said he would have it checked out, he asked what I thought about the car other than the oil light coming on , I told him other than that I couldn,t find nothing else wrong with it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10257390, filed 2009-02, 108,900 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Power steering assist loss

   • 21 complaints (8%)
   • median 78,500 mi at 8.6 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 1997–2013

   Owners describe the steering suddenly becoming very hard to turn, sometimes mid-turn, or the wheel not returning to center when backing out of a space. According to complaints, dealers replaced the power steering pump, and in some cases the rack and pinion, before the problem went away. Reported between roughly 60,000 and 125,000 miles, often without warning.

   What to check: Test the steering at low speed in a parking lot for stiffness or noise, and check for fluid leaks around the pump and rack. Ask whether either part has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10202281, filed 2007-09, 54,500 miles

   “Consumer complained about problems with traction control, ABS and console message center, indicating a problem with steering. Consumer took vehicle to the dealer, who informed consumer that these problems were not covered under a recall, and any repairs would be charged to the consumer.”

   NHTSA complaint #10087269, filed 2004-08, 44,000 miles

Buying note. This model year has two recalls tied to the most common complaints, so confirming that recall work was done on the specific VIN matters more than the mileage alone. Check for fuel smells, oil leaks and stored ABS codes during a test drive and inspection before deciding.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.