1996 Cadillac Eldorado problems
The 1996 Cadillac Eldorado has 35 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (34%) concerns electrical system. Next are fuel system (26%) and engine (11%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 35 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Electrical system 34% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 1
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 78,000 miles 25 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 | 2 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 3 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 1 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 7 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 2 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 1 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 25 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 78,000 miles. For electrical system specifically, the median reported mileage is about 61,000 miles (10 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 1 complaint mentions a fire. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 89% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1996 ranks 2nd most-complained-about out of 4 model years of the Cadillac Eldorado with enough data (5 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.
After sitting in a parking lot while I went into the bank for 15-20 min. I got into my car and started the engine. I heard a "pop", pulled forward about 10 to 15 feet when I started to smell something burning. I looked down at the gauges and everything looked off. When I looked back up I saw black smoke coming out from under the hood. I put the car in park and turned off the engine. I then turned to my daughter and told her to get out of the car and get away from it.
Over powering gas smell. Lifted hood and found there was gas on top of the engine. Took into betten cadillac and they discovered fuel rail leaking. They replaced it for $554.14. I just read in the paper 11\04\03 that they NHTSA was thinking of a recall. I would say "yes" as we were afraid to drive our car in fear of fire. We have a 1996 cadillac eldorado VIN # [xxx].
The vehicle's fuel tank has melted from the inside. As a result fuel leaks from the vehicle. Please provide additional information.
Consumer claimed that vehicle lost the brakes, and the brake lines rusted. Consumer contacted the dealer and manufacturer, and neither was willing to do anything.
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle would leak intermittently while parked or driving various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the fuel rail of the gas tank as a recall but the part was defective and did not correct the problem. The consumer's vehicle developed another leak, however the dealer stated the recall problem and the secons problem were not related. Updated 12/01/06.