NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 Cadillac Eldorado Recalls & Complaints

The 1998 Cadillac Eldorado has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 38 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Cadillac dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1998 Cadillac Eldorado. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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1998 Cadillac Eldorado owner complaints

Owners have filed 38 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Cadillac Eldorado, describing incidents dated February 16, 1998 to August 8, 2018.

Most-cited components

Engine 8 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System 8 complaints
Service Brakes 4 complaints
Suspension 4 complaints
Electrical System 3 complaints
Equipment 3 complaints

Of the 38 complaints on file, 2 report a crash; across all 38 complaints, owners report 3 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #11118688 · Filed August 9, 2018
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…
ODI #10783219 · Filed October 19, 2015
STRONG GASOLINE FUMES NOTED WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT
ODI #10420102 · Filed August 19, 2011
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…

Read all 38 complaints

GM/EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS HARNESS

NHTSA #97V183000 · Vehicle Speed Control · NHTSA notice

Reported October 27, 1997 · GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

Potentially affected: 8,611 vehicles

Owners notified November 1, 1997 · Vehicles built March 1, 1997 – August 30, 1997 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, HEARSES AND LIMOUSINES. THE CANISTER PURGE EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS HARNESS ON THESE VEHICLES WAS MISROUTED.

Safety consequence

THE HARNESS COULD INTERFERE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE LINKAGE PREVENTING RETURN TO A CLOSED THROTTLE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR PROPER ROUTING OF THE HARNESS, CORRECT AS NECESSARY, AND INSTALL A PLASTIC TIE STRAP TO THE HARNESS.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN LATE OCTOBER OR EARLY NOVEMBER 1997.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1998 Cadillac Eldorado. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

38 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Cadillac Eldorado.

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #11118688

Incident: August 8, 2018 · Filed: August 9, 2018

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.

Engine; Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10783219

Incident: October 16, 2015 · Filed: October 19, 2015

STRONG GASOLINE FUMES NOTED WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED IN GARAGE OVERNIGHT

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10420102

Incident: August 1, 2011 · Filed: August 19, 2011

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.

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10276811

Incident: July 9, 2009 · Filed: July 14, 2009

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

Wheels

ODI #10249603

Incident: October 15, 2008 · Filed: November 23, 2008

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

Fuel System, Gasoline

ODI #10178786

Incident: November 9, 2006 · Filed: January 16, 2007

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

Engine and Engine Cooling

ODI #10075059

Incident: April 15, 2003 · Filed: June 9, 2004

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

Steering

ODI #10055883

Filed: February 24, 2004

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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ODI #10049429

Incident: December 2, 2003 · Filed: December 8, 2003

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

Electrical System

ODI #10049120

Incident: July 7, 2003 · Filed: December 3, 2003

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

Other Cadillac Eldorado model years

Check your 1998 Cadillac Eldorado VIN

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