1996 Cadillac Eldorado Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Eldorado years
- More complaints than other years 1st of 8 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Cadillac Eldorado. That is the most of any Eldorado model year in the database (8 years). The most reported problem area is electrical system (12 complaints, 39%), typically at around 60,600 miles. Complaints mention 1 fire. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations involving it.
- 31owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 3NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1996 Cadillac Eldorado problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 12 | 39% | 60,600 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 29% | 98,598 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 13% | 112,500 | — | — |
| Equipment | 3 | 10% | 94,500 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 6% | 68,337 | — | — |
| Engine | 1 | 3% | 100,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 3% | 31,000 | — | — |
| Tires | 1 | 3% | 192,822 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 1 | 3% | — | — | — |
| Wheels | 1 | 3% | 60,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1996 Cadillac Eldorado recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: 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 result in a fuel leak into the engine compartment.
Risk: Fuel leakage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the engine fuel rail with a new stainless steel fuel rail. Dealers will also install a revised chassis fuel return line. The recall began on june 2, 2004, for 1996-1997 oldsmobile aurora vehicles. Owners of 1995 cadillacs and 1996-1997 oldsmobile aurora were sent letters on august 6, 2004. Additional letters to owners will be forthcoming. Owners should contact oldsmobile at 1-800-630-6537.
Equipment:electrical
Problem: 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 displays;" no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment;" and no. 208, "occupant crash protection."
Risk: Consequence of non-compliance: if the short circuit occurs while driving, the instrument panel cluster will go blank, causing loss of gauge function and all teel-tale indicators except for abs, sir, park brake and service engine soon. The loss of all tell-tales for seat belts, turn signals, high beam, hazard, oil pressure, coolant temperature, and others result in noncompliance with these safety standards.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the instrument panel cluster.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Fuel rail leaks (EA04003) — opened Feb 3, 2004, closed Apr 23, 2004, led to recall 04V110000.
- Fuel rail leakage (PE03050) — opened Oct 30, 2003, closed Feb 3, 2004.
- Inadvertent air bag deployment (EA98004) — opened Feb 24, 1998, closed Jun 16, 1998, led to recall 98V115000.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 cadillac eldorado. While driving approximately 35 mph, the stop engine now warning indicator illuminated continuously. The contact pulled over and observed that the oil was low in the vehicle. The contact had to add oil to the vehicle. The failure recurred numerous…
Fuel delivery system was spraying fuel onto hot engine (incident occurred on 11/17/10, and repaired at local certified repair center.) nhtsa recall #04v110000/gm recall no. 41921. Owner was never notified of recall. The recall began on 06/02/04 for 1996-1997 oldsmobile and 1996-1997 aurora…
On our way to a family funeral bells started going off and lights flashing. My husband had put in a new engine from one stop auto don't know why. When we came back from virginia i took the car to my mechanic he didn't want to do anything to it. He believed the brain and the engine wasn't…
Strong gas smell inside car. *tr
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 cadillac eldorado. The contact stated that while driving 25 mph, he noticed that the instrument panel lights were flashing before completely failing. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was contacted and but provided no assistance. The failure and…
Other Cadillac Eldorado years
← 1995 Eldorado · 1997 Eldorado →
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 Eldorado | 10 | 0 |
| 2001 Eldorado | 18 | 0 |
| 2000 Eldorado | 23 | 1 |
| 1999 Eldorado | 12 | 0 |
| 1998 Eldorado | 16 | 1 |
| 1997 Eldorado | 31 | 2 |
| 1996 | 31 | 2 |
| 1995 Eldorado | 29 | 2 |
See all Cadillac Eldorado problems by year, every Cadillac model, or the Cadillac VIN decoder.
Similar Cadillac models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1996 Cadillac Eldorado?
Owners most often report electrical system, fuel system, gasoline, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, electrical system, accounts for 12 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Cadillac Eldorado?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1996 Cadillac Eldorado a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Eldorado model years, the 1996 has more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.