Cadillac Sls problems
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Cadillac Sls model years
Common Cadillac Sls problems
The Cadillac SLS, produced from 1991 to 2004, is known for a variety of common problems that can affect its performance and reliability. Here are some of the most frequently reported issues based on complaints from owners:
- Engine and Transmission Issues: The SLS was initially equipped with a 4.9-liter V8 engine, which was later replaced by the more powerful 4.6-liter Northstar aluminum V8 in 1993 for the STS model and in 1994 for the SLS. However, the Northstar engine has been known to suffer from issues such as leaking head gaskets, which can lead to engine failure and require expensive repairs. Additionally, the transmission in these vehicles can also be problematic, with issues such as slipping or failing to shift properly.
- Suspension Problems: The SLS's suspension system is known to have issues, particularly with the front suspension components. The struts and springs can wear out over time, leading to a rough ride and reduced handling performance. Replacing the stock parts with a conventional strut and spring setup can help alleviate these issues, but this can be expensive and may affect the ride quality.
- Electrical Issues: The SLS is known to have issues with its electronics, particularly with the anti-theft system. The system can sometimes prevent the car from starting, leaving the owner stranded. This issue is often caused by worn wires connected to the ignition lock cylinder, and can be difficult and expensive to fix, potentially requiring the replacement of the entire ignition lock cylinder.
- Headlight Problems: The SLS's headlights, particularly the low beams, can sometimes fail to work properly. This issue can be caused by worn wires, a broken headlight relay, or problems with the twilight sentinel system. Troubleshooting this issue can be difficult, and the repair costs can add up quickly.
- Power Window and Door Lock Issues: The SLS's power windows and door locks can also be problematic. The windows may not operate properly, and the door locks may not function as intended. These issues can be caused by a variety of factors, including worn out motors, faulty switches, or damaged wiring.
Overall, the Cadillac SLS is known to have a number of common problems that can affect its performance and reliability. While these issues can be expensive to repair, many owners still appreciate the car's styling and driving experience.
What is the difference between a Cadillac STS and SLS?
Chinese Cadillac SLS
It was assembled by Shanghai GM. Compared to the STS, the SLS has a longer wheelbase, unique interior appointments, and a near-identical exterior appearance. Engine choices included the 2.8-liter LP1 V-6, 3.6 LY7 V-6 and the 4.6-liter Northstar V-8 as in the STS V-8 from 2007 to 2009.
Is the 2004 Cadillac Seville reliable?
The 2004 Cadillac Seville receives an average consumer rating of 4.3 overall and a 4.4 for reliability, which means owners consider its reliability to be above average. According to drivers of the 2004 Seville, here are some of its best features: It is a reliable great driving auto.
Is a Cadillac SLS a Seville?
General Motors used the Cadillac SLS nameplate for the following vehicles: The fourth generation Cadillac Seville, produced from 1992 to 1997. The fifth generation Cadillac Seville, produced from 1998 to 2004.
How long do Cadillac STS last?
How Many Miles Does a Cadillac Last? A new Cadillac typically drives between 150,000 and 200,000 miles with proper maintenance. This translates to about 10 to 13 years for an average driver clocking 15,000 miles per year.
Percentage distribution of complaints by Cadillac Sls years
We have researched Cadillac problems and analysed all the complaints filed against Cadillac Sls cars and compiled the top 4 most problematic Cadillac Sls model years:
Below you can see the percentage distribution of known problems by Cadillac Sls model years.
Distribution of the number of complaints by Cadillac Sls years
We've also compiled a chart for you with the number of complaints about Volkswagen Jetta cars of certain model years:
Cadillac Sls car problems categorized by type of issue
After analysing all complaints related to Cadillac Sls , it was concluded that the most common issues with these cars are:
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Electrical system problems
- Fuel system problems
- Gasoline problems
- Electronic stability control problems
The graph below shows statistics for all Cadillac Sls vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
Distribution of the number of complaints with fire by Sls model years
There were a total of 1 complaints that resulted in a fire. In the graph you can see the distribution of the number of complaints by model year.
The NHTSA has received 16 complaints about various vehicle components related to the Cadillac Sls . Below are the 25 most recent complaints reported for Cadillac Sls vehicles.
List of Cadillac Sls complaints
Cadillac Sls 1999
- Date Of Incident: 2012-04-11
- Date Complaint: 2014-04-10
- VIN: 1G6KS54Y4XU
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT ABOUT 38 MILES AN HOUR THE CAR JUST DIED OR CUT OUT ( THE IGNITION SYSTEM QUIT ), ON HER. THIS HAPPENED ON TWO DIFFERENT TIMES FOR HER AND ONCE FOR MYSELF. *TR
Cadillac Sls 1999
- Date Of Incident: 2011-12-30
- Date Complaint: 2012-01-03
- VIN: 1G6KS54Y3XU
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: IT WAS DETERMINED BY MY LOCAL CADILLAC SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS FAULTY, DRAWING EXCESSIVE CURRENT WHILE THE ENGINE WAS OFF. I MENTIONED THE RECALL ON THIS MODEL AND THEY SAID IT HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED SO IT IS NOT COVERED. I FEEL THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE REPLACED UNDER THIS PROGRAM. *TR
Cadillac Sls 1999
- Date Of Incident: 2003-03-15
- Date Complaint: 2010-02-02
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: BOUGHT AUTO 2003,AFTER 3MO AUTO ENGINE WOULD SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY SPEED,HIGHWAY OR IN DRIVEWAY. TOOK AUTO TO DEALER AND AUTO KEPT FOR 3 DAYS AND DEALER UNABLE TO DUPLICATE PROBLEM. TOOK AUTO BACK 5 OTHER TIMES AND SAME RESULTS EACH TIME. COMPLETE TUNEUP WAS DONE THAT COST OVER $500.00 DOLLARS ,VACUUM HOSES REPLACED,IGNITION INSPECTED ,COMPLETE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC ELECTRICAL COMPONENT CHECKS. AUTO STILL DIES WITHOUT WARNING. SOMETIME WITHIN 2WKS AND SOMETIMES WITHIN 2MOS. *TR
Cadillac Sls 2000
- Date Of Incident: 2009-07-04
- Date Complaint: 2009-07-16
- VIN: 1G6KS54Y8YU
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: GOOD MORNING;I HAD PURCHASED A 2000 CADILLAC SEVILLE(SLS)USED AND THE CAR SHUT OFF AS I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL (DIGITAL)STARTED FLASHING ENGINE IS HOT,VEHICLE ENGINE MUST BE SHUT DOWN. THE CAR STARTED LOOSING POWER AND I WAS ABLE TO STEER OFF TO THE SIDE OF ROAD. I'M NOT SURE IF THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE OVERHEATED AND CAUGHT FIRE OR NOT? I RETURNED THIS VEHICLE TO USED CAR DEALER FOR REFUND. I WAS TOLD TO TAKE IT TO A GARAGE AND I DISCOVERED THE RADIATOR CAP WAS LEAKING. IT WAS REPLACED. TO ME IT LOOKED LIKE IT WAS WARPED? ALSO I WAS TOLD THE FUEL SENDING SENSOR WAS DEFECTED AD GAS TANK WOULD HAVE TO BE REMOVED,SO I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO DEALER. HE ACCEPTED TO TAKE CAR BACK.HE TOOK ME TO SEE A 1999 CADILLAC SEVILLE(SLS) AND WE DISCOVERED THIS CAR HAD THE PROBLEM OF RUNNING HOT. I THINK MAYBE THERE IS A NEED TO RECALL THIS MODEL OF CADILLAC FOR THESE PROBLEMS AND THIS WOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE.ANY QUESTIONS, CONTACT ME. I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE THE CAR THAT I PURCHASED AND RETURNED, BUT THE DEALER WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM(S)BECAUSE IT IS BEING SOLD AS IS. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND ARE THERE ANY RECALLS? THANK YOU! *TR
Cadillac Sls 2000
- Date Of Incident: 2008-03-24
- Date Complaint: 2008-03-25
- VIN: 1G6KS54Y2YU
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CADILLAC SEVILLE SLS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED THEN SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 70,700.
Cadillac Sls 2000
- Date Of Incident: 2007-12-15
- Date Complaint: 2008-02-05
- VIN: 1G6KS54Y0YU
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: NO EXTRAORDINARY EVENTS LEADING UP TO THIS PROBLEM. MASSIVE SUDDEN ELECTRONIC FAILURES OF ACCESSORIES SYSTEMS. PARKING BRAKE RELEASE, LOSS OF POWER TO SEATS, CAB LIGHTS OUT, FRONT AC PASSENGER SIDE BLOWS HOT ONLY, NO POWER TO DOOR LOCKS, NO RESPONSE TO KEYLESS ENTRY, VALET SWITCH STOPPED WORKING, REAR WINDOW DEFOGGER STOPPED WORKING, REAR AC BLOWER STOPPED WORKING AND ELECTRONIC TRUNK AND FUEL RELEASE MECHANISMS NO LONGER WORK. CONSEQUENCES ARE POSSIBILITY OF CAR ELECTRONIC SYSTEM BREAKING DOWN IN TRAFFIC. ALL FUSES, RELAYS AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS ARE GOOD. CADILLAC DEALER WANTS $175.00 + PARTS JUST TO REPAIR THE DOOR LOCKS. *TR
Cadillac Sls 1999
- Date Of Incident: 2007-11-21
- Date Complaint: 2007-11-24
- Fire: 1
- VIN: 1G6KS54Y1XU
- Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
- Summary: UPON STARTING MY CAR THEIR WAS A BACK-FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. I AGAIN STARTED THE CAR AND DROVE ABOUT TWO MILES TO MY HOME AND PARKED THE CAR IN THE GARAGE. I THEN ENTERED THE HOUSE THROUGH THE GARAGE DOOR AND STARTED LOOKING FOR RECEIPTS FOR CHARGES I MADE AT THE GROCERY STORE AND CHARGES I MADE REFUELING THE CAR. I WAS UNABLE TO FIND THE CHARGES MADE AT THE GAS STATION. I THEN RETURNED TO THE GARAGE TO LOOK IN THE VEHICLE FOR THE RECEIPT. AT THIS TIME I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I OPENED THE HOOD TO FIND THE INSULATION SMOLDERING THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE HOOD OF THE AUTOMOBILE. I THEN GRABBED A SPONGE AND SOAKED IT IN A PAIL OF WATER THAT WAS IN THE SET-TUB LOCATED IN THE GARAGE. I PUT OUT THE FIRE THAT WAS NOW STARTING TO BURN UNDER THE HOOD. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IF I DIDN'T LOOK FOR THE RECEIPT AT THAT TIME SEEING AS HOW THE GARAGE IS UNDER THE ROOF OF MY HOME. NOTE: I HAD NOTICED ONCE BEFORE THAT PART OF THE INSULATION HAD BURNED UNDER THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THIS WAS A BURN ABOUT 12 INCHES SQUARE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE NEAR THE MIDDLE OF THE HOOD. I ALWAYS WONDERED HOW THIS MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED. AT PRESENT THE AREA THAT HAS BURNED IS NOW ABOUT 18 INCHES IN DIAMETER. *TR
Cadillac Sls 2000
- Date Of Incident: 2006-10-18
- Date Complaint: 2006-11-17
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: ENGINE SEALS LEAKED EVERYWHERE, DEALER HAD TO REBUILD ENGINE 1 YR AGO, NOW ENGINE BLOCK WAS REPORTEDLY "WEEPING" SO THE ENTIRE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ONLY 60000 MILES, CADILLAC DID COVER MOST OF THE COSTS. *JB
Cadillac Sls 1999
- Date Of Incident: 2006-04-02
- Date Complaint: 2006-08-24
- VIN: 1G6KS54Y7XU
- Components: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR IT HAD A CRACKED HEAD AND MANY OTHER MINOR PROBLEMS. I REPEATEDLY BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I AM STILL EXPERIENCING A "CHECK GAS CAP" WARNING AND I HEAR A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR RIGHT SIDE EVERYTIME I APPLY THE BRAKES. ALSO I HEAR A RATTLING NOISE EVERYTIME I HIT ANY SIZE OF BUMP. *JB
Cadillac Sls 2000
- Date Of Incident: 2002-03-09
- Date Complaint: 2004-11-24
- VIN: 1G6KS54Y2YU
- Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Summary: SINCE I PURCHASED THE CADILLAC 2000 SEVILLE IN MAR. 2002, I HAVE HAD MANY INCIDENCES IN WHICH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, AND THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER AT KENT RYLEE IN ROGERS, AR, ON 1-29-04, AND TO SUPERIOR CADILLAC IN FAYETTEVILLE, AR ON 11-3-04 WITH THE SAME COMPLAINTS EACH TIME. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, AS THEY SAID BECAUSE IT WAS DIFFICULT TO DETECT THE PROBLEM WITH INTERMITTENT FAILURES OF LIGHTS. THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD IN NIGHTTIME AND BAD WEATHER CONDITIONS, AS I CANNOT SEE WHAT I AM DOING IN THE CAR OR OUTSIDE OF IT! IN ADDITION, THE COVERS FOR THE WINDOWS AND MIRRORS ADJUSTMENT BUTTONS ARE LOOSE, AND I WAS TOLD BY SUPERIOR CADILLAC THAT THE WHOLE DOOR PANEL WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED AT MY COST. THIS IS ANOTHER SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU TRY TO GET THE MIRRORS ADJUSTED AT NIGHT! *NM
Cadillac Sls 2000
- Date Of Incident: 2002-03-01
- Date Complaint: 2004-11-10
- Components: INTERIOR LIGHTING
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING INTERIOR LIGHTS WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, AND THE HEADLIGHTS WERE VERY DIM. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. HOWEVER, PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK
Cadillac Sls 2000
- Date Of Incident: 2000-01-01
- Date Complaint: 2002-11-25
- VIN: 1G6KS54Y9XU
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WOULD STALL INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. VEHICLE HAD BEEN CHECKED BY A DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. TS. ALSO DUE TO THE ENGINE STALLING THE POWER STEERING, BRAKES, AND ALL LIGHTS HAD BECOME INOPERATIVE. SCC *JB
Cadillac Sls 2000
- Date Of Incident: 2002-02-10
- Date Complaint: 2002-11-14
- VIN: 1G6K554Y8YU
- Components: STRUCTURE
- Summary: WHILE DRIVING 50-60MPH THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE, THE PROBLEM WAS THOUGHT TO BE RECTIFIED, HOWEVER MONTHS LATER THE VIBRATION REOCCURRED, VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN SEVERAL TIMES FOR INSPECTION AND BALANCING. CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT WAS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT. *JG *JB
Cadillac Sls 2000
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Date Complaint: 2002-04-03
- VIN: 1G6KS54Y1XU
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: AFTER MY 35,000 MILE SERVICE THE ENGINE BEGAN USING OIL. I HAVE THE OIL CHANGED EVERY 3,000 MILES AT THE LOCAL DEALER. THIS LAST TIME I USED 4 QUATS BETWEEN OIL CHANGES. THE DEALER TELLS ME THIS IN NORMAL FOR THE NORTHSTAR ENGINE. I FIND THIS HARD TO BELIEVE. PLEASE ADVISE.*AK
Cadillac Sls 2000
- Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
- Date Complaint: 2001-09-19
- VIN: 1G6KS54X0XV
- Components: TIRES
- Summary: GOODYEAR TIRES P235/60R16
Recalls Cadillac Sls
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the Cadillac Sls.You can explore the year of the Volkswagen Jetta you are interested in by selecting it from the list.
- Model: Cadillac Sls 2000
- Report Received Date: 1999-10-29
- Manufacturer: GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
- Components: STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
- Summary: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE INNER TIE ROD NUTS ARE LOOSE AND CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF A TIE ROD.
- Consequence: SEPARATION OF A TIE ROD CAN CAUSE UNEXPECTED STEERING INPUT INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
- Remedy: DEALERS WILL CHECK AND ADJUST THE VEHICLE TOE-IN AND TIGHTEN THE INNER TIE ROD NUTS TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE.
Are you having problems with your Cadillac Sls?
