Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 12 of 16 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
16 reports
110,000 miles · Aug 9, 2018
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE PLASTIC FUEL RAIL WAS LEAKING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHEN THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE PLASTIC FUEL RAIL WAS LEAKING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 8-450-4863293. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.
NHTSA ODI #11118688
Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2015
EngineFuel/propulsion System
STRONG GASOLINE FUMES NOTED WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT
NHTSA ODI #10783219
149,500 miles · Aug 19, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC ELDORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE SMELLED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM ONE OF THE FUEL LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC ELDORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN HE SMELLED A STRONG FUEL ODOR. WHILE EXAMINING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT FUEL WAS LEAKING FROM ONE OF THE FUEL LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR TO BE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 149,500.
NHTSA ODI #10420102
92,000 miles · Jul 14, 2009
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON THE GROUND. SHE ALSO SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO …
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, THE CONTACT NOTICED A PUDDLE OF FUEL ON THE GROUND. SHE ALSO SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE FUEL RAIL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND IS NOT BEING DRIVEN DUE TO THE SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 92,000. UPDATED 08/14/09. *LJ UPDATED 08/17/09. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10276811
70,000 miles · Nov 23, 2008
Wheels
TWO TIRES CONTINUE TO LOSE AIR. I FINALLY WENT TO REPLACE THE TIRES AND THE SERVICE CENTER SAID THAT THE RIM WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE RIM FROM OXIDATION. THE CHROME WAS PEELING OFF OF 2 OF THE RIMS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10249603
94,000 miles · Jan 16, 2007
Fuel System, Gasoline
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS 1998 CADILLAC ELDORADO HE COULD SMELL GAS, SO HE TOOK IT TO PEP BOYS. AT PEP BOYS THEY STATED THAT THE PLASTIC PART OF THE FUEL RAIL HAD SEVERAL PINHOLES IN IT AND WAS SPRAYING A MIST OF FUEL ONTO THE NUMBER EIGHT SPARK PLUG. THE PLASTIC TUBING HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE M…
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TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING HIS 1998 CADILLAC ELDORADO HE COULD SMELL GAS, SO HE TOOK IT TO PEP BOYS. AT PEP BOYS THEY STATED THAT THE PLASTIC PART OF THE FUEL RAIL HAD SEVERAL PINHOLES IN IT AND WAS SPRAYING A MIST OF FUEL ONTO THE NUMBER EIGHT SPARK PLUG. THE PLASTIC TUBING HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 94000. THE CONTACT CAN PROVIDE A COPY OF THE INVOICE REPAIR IF NEEDED. *NM UPDATED 2/16/2007 - THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THE CONSUMER OF A RECALL RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIAN THEN CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10178786
82,480 miles · Jun 9, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
STARTING WITH DIC MESSAGE OF "LOW COOLANT", I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE OVERHEATING PROBLEM. AFTER THE CADILLAC DEALER IN DURANGO COLORADO WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM ( REPLACED HOSES, WATER PUMP), MY MECHANIC (IN ALBUQUERQUE)FOUND A CRACKED HEAD THAT WAS LEAKING COOLANT INTERNALY. FIXED THE HEAD, BUT NOW THE HEAD BOLT HOLES …
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STARTING WITH DIC MESSAGE OF "LOW COOLANT", I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE OVERHEATING PROBLEM. AFTER THE CADILLAC DEALER IN DURANGO COLORADO WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM ( REPLACED HOSES, WATER PUMP), MY MECHANIC (IN ALBUQUERQUE)FOUND A CRACKED HEAD THAT WAS LEAKING COOLANT INTERNALY. FIXED THE HEAD, BUT NOW THE HEAD BOLT HOLES STRIPPED. USED OVERSIZED HELICOILS , BUT BLOCK MATERIAL STILL TO SOFT AND CANNOT TORQUE DOWN THE HEAD BOLTS WITHOUT PULLING HELICOILS. ALUMINUM METAL GOT TO SOFT AND HAVE TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. THIS ENGIN ONLY HAS 82K+ MILES AND SHOULD NOT BE DOING THIS. ALUMINIUM FOR BLOCK/HEAD MATERIA IS STUPIDITY. WEIGHT SAVINGS CANNOT BE THAT MUCH TO HAVE SHORTER LIFE OF AN ENGINE.L *AK
NHTSA ODI #10075059
50,000 miles · Feb 24, 2004
Steering
THE CONSUMER STATED THAT IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE ENTIRE STEERING SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JB *NM
NHTSA ODI #10055883
216,500 miles · Dec 8, 2003
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES SUDDENLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-95 THE BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETLY TO THE FLOOR AND PROVIDED NO BRAKING CAPABILITY. BRAKE FLUID WAS RELEASED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SMOKE WAS RELEASED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED TO GET THE CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. BOTH BRAKE LINES HA…
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WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES SUDDENLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC ON I-95 THE BRAKES FAILED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT COMPLETLY TO THE FLOOR AND PROVIDED NO BRAKING CAPABILITY. BRAKE FLUID WAS RELEASED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND SMOKE WAS RELEASED. THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS USED TO GET THE CAR TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. BOTH BRAKE LINES HAD REPTURED (FRONT AND REAR). PARTS WERE $130 AND LABOR WAS $497. CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE REFUSED TO REIMBURSE ME FOR ANY OF THE COSTS FOR THE REPAIRS BECAUSE OF THE OUT OR WARRANTY PERIOD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10049429
Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2003
Electrical System
THE HEADLAMPS QUIT WORKING. IT HAS BEEN IN SERVICE DEPARTMENT 3 TIMES WITHIN A YEAR. THEY KEEP REPLACING RELAYS BUT IT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE VERY FAR AT NIGHT BECAUSE OF NO HEADLAMPS. *NLM