1997 Cadillac Deville problems
The 1997 Cadillac Deville has 339 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (22%) concerns brakes. After that come engine (14%) and fuel system (12%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 339 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 22% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 5 and 10
- Injuries and deaths
- 8 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 82,000 miles 94 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 6 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 18 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 18 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 22 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 13 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 7 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 6 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 3 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Among the 94 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 82,000 miles. For brakes specifically, the median reported mileage is about 76,000 miles (16 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 5 complaints mention a crash; 10 complaints mention a fire; 8 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1997 ranks 1st most-complained-about out of 16 model years of the Cadillac Deville with enough data (167 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
That while driving 60 MPH without vehicle collision occurring the passenger's side air bag deployed, causing the occupant to sustain injuries. There were two more accidnets since the first one and the air bags failed to deploy.
Release for the parking brake is designed poorly, location to far under dash, consumer unable to release unless outside of vehicle resulting in injury when vehicle released and started to roll.
After parking vehicle a fire developed in engine compartment and spread into the interior. Cause unknown at this time. Feel free to provide any further information.
While driving, the frontal air bags deployed for no apparent reason which caused damaged to the vehicle. The consumer also suffered injuries from the air bag deployment. The consumer stated the vehicle did not hit anything.
Tl*the contact owns a 1997 cadillac deville. For the past two weeks, the air bag light illuminates on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an authorized general motors dealer and they stated that there were no recalls. The dealer performed a diagnostic, which indicated that there was a defect in the side sensor control module. The dealer stated that nothing could be done at this time; however, they referred him to NHTSA to file a complaint. The failure and current mileages were 92,000. Updated 02-21-08