US vehicle recalls and complaint patterns, explained

Cadillac Eldorado recalls and complaints by year

Comprehensive recall and complaint data for the Cadillac Eldorado, sourced from official National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) records.

Last updated: (NHTSA data snapshot)

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At a Glance

Total Recalls 35
Total Complaints 234
Years Covered 1968–2002

Stats focus on model years from 1960 onwards. Earlier years appear in the detailed table below where data exists.

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Get plain-language explanations of recalls and complaints for the Cadillac Eldorado. Powered by AI, backed by NHTSA data.

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Important: This assistant provides context from aggregated NHTSA data. Always check your specific VIN on NHTSA.gov for vehicle-specific recall information.

Key Takeaways

A quick scan of where recalls and complaints concentrate for the Cadillac Eldorado, based on aggregated NHTSA counts and campaign metadata.

Recall Themes

Instead of listing long campaign narratives, this groups recall campaigns into a few recurring areas. Each theme links back to official notices as evidence.

Other

6 campaigns · Years: 1968, 1982, 1984–1986, 1994, 1998

These campaigns do not fit a single dominant theme, or the component taxonomy is broad.

Official notices (evidence):
+ 3 more notices in this theme

Steering and suspension

4 campaigns · Years: 1973, 1981, 1992, 2000

These campaigns relate to steering or suspension components that can affect vehicle control or stability.

Official notices (evidence):
+ 1 more notice in this theme

Brakes

3 campaigns · Years: 1979, 1989, 1997

These campaigns relate to braking system components that can affect stopping performance or warning behavior.

Official notices (evidence):
  • 97V064000 · Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
  • 89V055000 · Service brakes, air: Antilock
  • 79V069000 · Parking brake: Conventional

Fuel and emissions

3 campaigns · Years: 1982, 1993, 1995–1997

These campaigns relate to fuel delivery or emissions components where leaks or failures can raise safety risk.

Official notices (evidence):
  • 04V110000 · Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
  • 93V088000 · Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
  • 82V012000 · Fuel system, gasoline: Fuel injection system

Powertrain

3 campaigns · Years: 1977, 1980, 1990

These campaigns relate to drivetrain or transmission components that can affect shifting, power delivery, or control.

Official notices (evidence):

Seats and restraints

3 campaigns · Years: 1984, 1990–1991

These campaigns relate to seats, belts, airbags restraint integration, or child restraint anchoring components.

Official notices (evidence):

Visibility and lighting

3 campaigns · Years: 1983–1987

These campaigns relate to lighting, glass, or visibility components (lamps, wipers, and related systems).

Official notices (evidence):

Airbags

1 campaign · Years: 1995

These campaigns relate to airbag system components and deployment/airbag readiness issues.

Official notices (evidence):

Most Reported Issues

Across all model years, the most frequently reported areas for the Cadillac Eldorado in NHTSA complaint data are Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling, Engine and engine cooling:engine.

Jump to Model Year

Year-by-Year Overview

Each row shows how often this model appears in NHTSA recalls and consumer complaints for a given model year. These are counts of campaigns and complaints, not risk predictions.

Model Year Recalls Complaints Details
2002 0 12 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Air bags:frontal, Structure:body, Steering.
2001 0 20 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling:engine, Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor.
2000 1 27 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Engine and engine cooling, Engine and engine cooling:engine.
1999 0 12 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Engine and engine cooling:engine.
1998 1 19 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:fuel rail, Engine and engine cooling:engine, Service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
1997 2 36 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, Engine and engine cooling:engine, Fuel system, gasoline.
1996 2 35 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, Engine and engine cooling:engine.
1995 2 29 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system:fuel rail, Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, Fuel/propulsion system.
1994 2 12 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Vehicle speed control, Power train, Seat belts:front:retractor.
1993 2 7 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Fuel/propulsion system, Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, Suspension.
1992 1 5 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Exterior lighting, Seats:front assembly:recliner, Tires.
1991 1 3 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling:engine, Engine and engine cooling, Seat belts.
1990 3 3 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Electrical system:wiring:front underhood, Engine and engine cooling:engine, Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump.
1989 1 2 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Tires, Engine and engine cooling.
1988 0 3 Complaints recorded; no recall campaigns issued.
Top complaint areas: Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Vehicle speed control.
1987 1 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1986 2 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1985 2 3 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Fuel system, gasoline, Steering: steering wheel/handle bar, Structure.
1984 3 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1983 1 1 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist.
1982 2 2 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Equipment.
1981 1 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1980 1 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1979 1 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1977 1 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.
1973 1 3 Both recalls and complaints recorded.
Top complaint areas: Tires:tread/belt, Tires:sidewall.
1968 1 0 Recall campaign(s) issued; no grouped complaints in summary.

What to Do Next

Check Your VIN on NHTSA.gov

Recall Evidence by Year

A compact evidence view of recall campaigns that include this model. The default text is an original summary line, with official notice text available on demand.

Most common areas involved: Vehicle speed control , Fuel system and Steering

Show recall evidence by year

2000

  • Steering: Tie rod assembly: Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (99V301000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The inner tie rod nuts are loose and can result in separation of a tie rod.

1998

  • Vehicle speed control: Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (97V183000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, hearses and limousines. The canister purge evaporative emissions harness on these vehicles was misrouted.

1997

  • Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings: Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (04V110000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Some passenger vehicles equipped with 4.0L v8 engines have a condition in which the nylon tubing used in the fuel rail construction may degrade and crack. Additionally, the 1995 model year uses a unique underhood fuel return line that may crack. Cracking of the fuel rail or return line tubing can
  • Service brakes, hydraulic: Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (97V064000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The electronic brake control module or the electronic brake and traction control module can cause the antilock brake system (abs) to cycle during a non-abs brake application.

1996

  • Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings: Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (04V110000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Some passenger vehicles equipped with 4.0L v8 engines have a condition in which the nylon tubing used in the fuel rail construction may degrade and crack. Additionally, the 1995 model year uses a unique underhood fuel return line that may crack. Cracking of the fuel rail or return line tubing can
  • Equipment: Electrical: Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (95V224000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The analog instrument panel cluster on these vehicles could have an internal short circuit disrupting the pass key system, causing failure of the instrument panel gauges and tell-tales, and a possible no-start condition. This does not conform to the requirements of fmvss no. 101, "Controls and di

1995

  • Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings: Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (04V110000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Some passenger vehicles equipped with 4.0L v8 engines have a condition in which the nylon tubing used in the fuel rail construction may degrade and crack. Additionally, the 1995 model year uses a unique underhood fuel return line that may crack. Cracking of the fuel rail or return line tubing can
  • Air bags: Safety recall involving the air bags area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (98V115000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags can occur due to water intrusion.

1994

  • Vehicle speed control: Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (93V164000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The throttle cable can become disengaged from the retaining bracket.
  • Equipment: Air conditioner: Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (94V158000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: If the air conditioner compressor clutch assembly contacts the auxiliary engine oil cooler out hose, the hose may wear through allowing engine oil to leak in the engine compartment.

1993

  • Fuel system, gasoline: Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings: Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (93V088000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The fuel feed and return lines to the engine fuel injection system were not fully assembled and locked. The lines can work loose, causing a fuel leak in the engine compartment.
  • Equipment: Air conditioner: Safety recall involving the equipment area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (94V158000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: If the air conditioner compressor clutch assembly contacts the auxiliary engine oil cooler out hose, the hose may wear through allowing engine oil to leak in the engine compartment.

1992

  • Steering: Rack and pinion: Safety recall involving the steering area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (91V157000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The intermediate shaft to steering rack lower coupling pinch bolt may be missing.

1991

  • Seat belts: Webbing: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (95V110000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The front outer shoulder belt web sew stop can become stuck in the retractor. The belt can be difficult to pull out of the retractor and some occupants may not be able to fasten the belt.

1990

  • Seat belts: Retractor: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (90V028000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Misaligned rear seat safety belt shoulder retractor assemblies could cause pendulum interference, causing the belt to remain in locked position or to travel freely without locking.
  • Power train: Floor shift: Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (90V164000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Transaxle shift control cable may disengage from the from the floor shift control with loss of gear indicator reference and shift selector operation.
  • Seat belts: Webbing: Safety recall involving the seat belts area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (95V110000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The front outer shoulder belt web sew stop can become stuck in the retractor. The belt can be difficult to pull out of the retractor and some occupants may not be able to fasten the belt.

1989

  • Service brakes, air: Antilock: Safety recall involving the service brakes area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (89V055000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: One or both abs hydraulic unit mounting bolts may not be properly seated and could loosen.

1987

  • Exterior lighting: Switch: Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (87V047000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The twilight sentinel potentiometer (thumbwheel control) might have been manufactured with electrical contacts which could result in an intermittent headlight circuit.

1986

  • Exterior lighting: Switch: Safety recall involving the exterior lighting area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (87V047000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The twilight sentinel potentiometer (thumbwheel control) might have been manufactured with electrical contacts which could result in an intermittent headlight circuit.
  • Vehicle speed control: Linkages: Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (87V082000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Floor mat could become mispositioned and interfere with accelerator pedal.

1985

  • Visibility: Power window devices and controls: Safety recall involving the visibility area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (87V167000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Water or snow dripping onto drivers side window switch assemblies may cause an electrical short and switches to overheat.
  • Vehicle speed control: Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (89V102000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: A small nylon bushing in the cruise control servo bail may slip out of place, causing intermittent and unexpected increases in engine speed or dieseling (engine run on with ignition off).

1984

  • Seats: Recliner: Safety recall involving the seats area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (84V011000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Some vehicles have bucket seat back locks that do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard 207, anchorage of seats. In event of a crash, the seat back lock may not function.
  • Visibility: Power window devices and controls: Safety recall involving the visibility area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (87V167000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Water or snow dripping onto drivers side window switch assemblies may cause an electrical short and switches to overheat.
  • Vehicle speed control: Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (89V102000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: A small nylon bushing in the cruise control servo bail may slip out of place, causing intermittent and unexpected increases in engine speed or dieseling (engine run on with ignition off).

1983

  • Visibility: Motor: Safety recall involving the visibility area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (82V110000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: During windshield wiper operation, the noise suppresion capacitor in the wiper motor relay may overheat.

1982

  • Fuel system, gasoline: Fuel injection system: Safety recall involving the fuel system area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (82V012000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Under certain vehicle operating conditions, the governor weight retainer in the injection pump may fail. The throttle valve could stick, preventing return to idle and shut down of the engine by the driver.
  • Vehicle speed control: Cables: Safety recall involving the vehicle speed control area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (82V060000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Some of the involved vehicles contain incorrect accelerator cable brackets. This could allow the cruise control servo rod to bind on the accelerator cable bracket.

1981

  • Suspension: Upper arm: Safety recall involving the suspension area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (81V073000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The front left upper control arm nuts may not have been securely tightened. The nuts may loosen and come off and with continued driving the control arm front bolt may work its way out of position or become displaced.

1980

  • Power train: Gear position indication (prndl): Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (80V003000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Two screws which secure the shift linkage bracket may loosen and fall out. Consequently, the gear position indicated on the transmission selector may differ from the actual gear position of the transmission. This constitutes a non-compliance to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 102, "Tran

1979

  • Parking brake: Conventional: Safety recall involving the parking brake area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (79V069000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: Vehicles fail to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 105, "Hydraulic brake systems". An incorrect parking brake adjusting spring was installed on certain vehicles. This may cause interference when attempting to apply the parking brakes.

1977

  • Power train: Column shift: Safety recall involving the power train area. See the official notice for the exact defect, risk, and remedy details.
    View official NHTSA notice (78V252000) →
    Show official notice text
    Summary: The transmissions have been assembled with a higher than normal return spring load on the transmission locking pawl. When the park position is selected with the transmission shift lever, the parking pawl may not engage.

1973

1968

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⚠️ Important Safety Information

Recall Explained provides independent analysis of official NHTSA data. This site does not replace the official NHTSA VIN lookup and should not be treated as legal or safety advice for your specific vehicle.

For any safety concerns: Always check your VIN on the official NHTSA site and contact an authorized dealer.

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