9.3
really awful- Typical Repair Cost:
- $4,650
- Average Mileage:
- 101,700 miles
- Total Complaints:
- 3 complaints
Most common solutions:
- requires new engine (2 reports)
- not sure (1 reports)
Exhaust in the coolant and coolant in exhaust.
Had to add coolant each morning. Obviously overheats.
$3,500 fix for 2-3k car!
Gave up.
- graybw, San Francisco, CA, US
Am currently awaiting the 3rd engine for this supposed luxury car; Engine #1 failed head gasket in 1/08, very common and no repair possible with Northstar engine, rebuilt or new engine only. Rebuilt engine #2 installed on 2/12/08. On December 22, 2008 engine #2 failed within roughly 10k miles, poor compression on cylinder #2 broken ring? failed exhaust valve? no matter -- repair not possible with Northstar engine. Warranty is covering 3rd engine to be installed. Would have traded this loser car, but it's never been running well long enough to get a decent trade in value for it. Also need to mention the torque converter and transmission replacement (fortunately under warranty), the always on "check gas cap" warning that nobody can ever fix and the complete and total shutdown of the engine and electrical system without warning any warning that nobody has ever been able to diagnose or repair. Fortunately, it always starts back up again, but you can be driving in traffic and the car just dies. Dealer will sell you the whole car all over again in parts and it will still not be fixed. This is the 2nd and last Cadillac (or any other GM brand) I'll ever own. They do not make solid or dependable vehicles anymore!
- James A., Stroudsburg, PA, US
Cadillac in all their wisdom, claimed on the Northstar Engines the car has a "Limp Home" ability. Claiming the car can still drive up to 50 miles without coolant, as it exchanges firing only certain cylinders, then firing others to keep the engine cool enough to get you 50 miles. I can almost hear the giggling as they make this claim..
BUT, they put too fine of threaded Heli-Coil inserts into the aluminum engine block for all the Head Bolts, and the over pressure from super heating the engine will allow the head bolts to start pulling the threaded Heli-Coils out of the block, separating and blowing the head gasket. As well as in my case the engine block can crack, and it's done for..DO NOT LET THEM OVER HEAT past the 2nd white mark to the right of the vertical Mark on the temperature gauge or your engine will be done for......
I had a 1 foot crack along the blocks side (transverse) in the front and it required a new engine, 5 months after we bought this car for my wife. I had the Cad Specialist that did the job for me, put the new heavier threaded Time-Cert they're called, Heli-Coils in the new block..
The engine has been good since, this guy educated me on all this crap as he was a certified Cadillac Guy doing the jobs at his home shop for much less than at the Stealership, but still to the tune of $3000.
This is only 1 complaint, there are many more but CarComplaints wants us to put them in separate so I will.
The car has been a complete money pit, and I will never buy another Cadillac again!!!
- Russ W., Mesa, AZ, US