Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Cadillac Deville owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
[ ] I had purchased my car used. I found that there was a recall on this model. I went online and ran the vin # and confirmed that. I called the dealership and explained they looked it up and confirmed it needed to have the original plastic fuel rail replaced with a new stainless steel fuel rail. They informed me that they had to order the parts from Michigan an it would be 2 weeks for the parts to get here and then we could set up an appointment to bring the car in. over 2 weeks later they called and we set up the appointment I had started the car the morning of the appointment for it to go to the dealership. I needed to grab something from in the house so I turned it off to go back in my house. I was answering a text on my phone and as I looked up to get out of the car there were flames coming out from between the fender and the hood. …
I have a 1997 Cadillac Deville. During hot weather after the car has been driven long enough to reach operating temp and then shut off, raw gasoline flows out of the charcoal filter vent (mounted above the rear axle) and onto the ground and saturates an area of 8-10 feet in diameter under the car. It has been to the dealer twice and to date 2 oxygen sensors have been replaced, the map sensor, the purge valve solenoid, the purge valve switch, and the charcoal filter have also been replaced. None of which has solved the problem. No one at the dealer(s) I've contacted seem to know anything about what components inside the fuel tank or fuel system could cause excessive pressure or heat in the fuel tank causing it to be pumped or vented out through the charcoal filter and on to the ground. …
My car smelled like gas when I got ot work, 7 miles from home, and when I got it to the shop they found that it had a fuel rail leak. There was another sts in the shop with the same problem and the vince whibbs dealership in pensacola said that they had two of them in the last 6 months. I think that this is a very serious problem and it should be looked into. I was very lucky that my car did not catch on fire. I contacked GM and talked to heather lewis, case number 1-156497228 and was told that they would look into this and call be back on November 3, between three and five p.m. She never call me back.
Dt: consumer received a recall letter on her 1996 Cadillac Deville in 09-2004. She called the dealer, keyser brothers Cadillac to set up an appointment. The dealer told the consumer the parts were not available. She called back in 11-04 and 11-11 and they still didn't have the parts. She called again in 2-05 and on 7-8-05 still no parts. She offered to drop it off and leave it overnight and he refused. He told her he could only fix the car during the week while she had to work. He didn't work on saturdays. The recall 04014 repairs regarding: engine fuel rail was done. .
The passenger compartment, began to smell gasoline, so I did stop in a gas station, open the engine compartment(the hood) and noticed a big gas leak on the gasoline rail close to the carburetor or fuel burner, so I decided to stop there and have towed the vehicle to san antonio, texas...the mechanic charged me 560.00 to change the complete rail for a metal one with the guarantee that this one will not happen the same thing, because is a metal one not a plastic one that the car have originally installed... When I saw this recall , I ask myself who is going to pay now for this ?????!!!!!!!
After smelling fuel and calling the manufacturer consumer was told there was a fuel rail recall, but was not notified of it. Consumer called the dealer, and was told it would take 2 months to get the vehicle repaired. After explaining that there was a smell of fuel the consumer was told to bring the vehicle in. Consumer took the vehicle in , and was told to pick it up the next day. Dealer later called consumer stating that the vehicle could not be serviced, and had to keep vehicle for an additional week,on a two hour repair since the service department was backed up.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Cadillac Deville. The contact stated that while traveling 40 MPH, gasoline fuel fumes emitted from the front driver's side of the vehicle. The fuel gauge indicated that there a half of tank of gas was in the tank, when the tank was nearly empty. The vehicle has gone empty on fuel on three separate occasions. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 113,000 and the current mileage was 114.000. The VIN was not available.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 40 MPH on a dry highway, there was a very strong gasoline smell detected from inside and outside the vehicle. The occupants in the vehicle became sick and light headed. The dealership refused to let the contact continue driving the vehicle due to the fuel leakage. The undercarriage was saturated with gasoline. The dealership determined the fuel rail needed to be replaced. Updated 09/20/06.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Cadillac Deville. The contact stated that fuel fumes were emitted in and around the vehicle. The contact mentioned that once he inspected the vehicle, he noticed that there was a fuel leak under the engine compartment. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 97,000.
Fuel was leaking because the fuel injectors ruptured. Dealer notified. The consumer filled the gas tank and reset the computerized gauge to 0 miles per gallon and 0 gallons used, and had driven approximately one mile. The next day after driving two miles to the store, he noticed liquid pouring out from the front of the engine. The fuel rail assembly line failed.
Related recalls
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
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.
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA investigations
Fuel rail leakage
The fuel rail assemblies used in the subject vehicles were manufactured by dana.the fuel rail jumper tubes were made of monolayer nylon 12 (pa12).in model year (my) 1998, the jumper tube material was changed from pa12 to m-bond (a multi-layer ptfe/pa12).in addition, all service parts produced since the end of production 1997 use the m-bond jumper tubes.
Fuel rail leaks
On March 3, 2004, general motors notified odi that it was recalling approximately 94,000 my 1995-97 Oldsmobile aurora vehicles equipped with 4.0l v8 engines (rpo l47 - vin8 c) to address concerns with underhood fuel leakage from cracked fuel rails and, in some of the vehicles, cracked fuel return lines.
Fuel System complaints in other Deville years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 1997 Cadillac Deville?
NHTSA has 40 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 1997 Cadillac Deville, 15% of the model year's 269 complaints. The component named most often is fuel injection system › fuel rail (16 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Cadillac Deville fuel system problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-110 (hoses, lines/piping, and fittings, Mar 4, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1997 Cadillac Deville fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 81,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 1 injury to fuel & propulsion system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.