Cadillac Eldorado Problems by Year
NHTSA has 170 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls on file for the Cadillac Eldorado, across 8 model years (1995–2002). The 1997 model year has the most complaints (31). The most reported problem area overall is fuel system, gasoline.
Cadillac Eldorado years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No Eldorado model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1997 Eldorado: 31 complaints, 2 recalls
- 1996 Eldorado: 31 complaints, 2 recalls
- 1995 Eldorado: 29 complaints, 2 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2002 Eldorado: 10 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1999 Eldorado: 12 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1998 Eldorado: 16 complaints, 1 recall
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Cadillac Eldorado problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 41 | 5 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 32 | 8 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 26 | 8 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 22 | 6 | 0 |
| Engine | 10 | 6 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 7 | 5 | 5 |
| Steering | 6 | 4 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Structure | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Tires | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 5 | 4 | 0 |
| Equipment | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Power Train | 4 | 4 | 1 |
| Wheels | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Seats | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Suspension | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Cadillac Eldorado model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Eldorado | 10 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2001 Eldorado | 18 | 0 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2000 Eldorado | 23 | 1 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 1999 Eldorado | 12 | 0 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1998 Eldorado | 16 | 1 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 1997 Eldorado | 31 | 2 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | More complaints than other years |
| 1996 Eldorado | 31 | 2 | — | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 1995 Eldorado | 29 | 2 | — | Fuel System, Gasoline | More complaints than other years |
More from Cadillac: all Cadillac models · Cadillac VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Cadillac Eldorado years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 1997 (31), 1996 (31), 1995 (29). Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Cadillac Eldorado?
Fuel System, Gasoline, with 41 complaints across 5 model years.
How many recalls does the Cadillac Eldorado have?
6 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.