Total Complaints
12 filings
CADILLAC ELDORADO · model year
2002 CADILLAC ELDORADO
12 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002CADILLACELDORADO carries 12 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 ELDORADO is air bags:frontal with 2 filings, followed by structure:body (2) and tires:sidewall (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 10 investigation files overlapping the 2002 ELDORADO, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
12
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 2 |
| TIRES:SIDEWALL | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20120521STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ELDORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THE OVERHEAD EYEGLASS COMPARTMENT DETACHED AND BLOCKED THE VIEW OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER WHO STATED THE LATCH FOR THE OVERHEAD EYE GLASS COMPARTMENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,757. UPDATED 07/19/12 *BF UPDATED 07/23/12
Mileage: 87,757
20080407STRUCTURE:BODY
I WAS AT DON MACKEY CADILLAC SHOWING THE SERVICE ADVISER A PROBLEM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE FIREWALL HAD A HOLE IN IT. IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ADVISED I POINTED OUT THE OPENING AND WHEN I TOUCHED THE FIREWALL A PIECE OF THE PL ASTIC BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. I ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISER IF THIS WAS TYPICAL AND HE STATED THAT IT WAS NOT. HE ALSO STATED THAT TO REPLACE THE PART WOULD BE PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE FIREWALL IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE OR ACCIDENT. *TR
Mileage: 38,752
20071210ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A CLINKING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VALVE SOLENOID AND TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY AND LOWER VALVES CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT UPSHIFT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SPACER PLATE AND GASKET ASSEMBLY CAUSED THE FAILURE AND MADE THE REPLACEMENT. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SOLENOID CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY REPLACED THE SOLENOID, VARIABLE PRESSURE SOLENOID, AND FILTERS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,215 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,500. UPDATED 12/27/07 *TR
Mileage: 26,215
20071210POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A CLINKING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VALVE SOLENOID AND TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY AND LOWER VALVES CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT UPSHIFT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SPACER PLATE AND GASKET ASSEMBLY CAUSED THE FAILURE AND MADE THE REPLACEMENT. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SOLENOID CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY REPLACED THE SOLENOID, VARIABLE PRESSURE SOLENOID, AND FILTERS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,215 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,500. UPDATED 12/27/07 *TR
Mileage: 26,215
20050516SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT CONSUMER STATES WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED, IT DOESN'T STOP THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING SLOWLY. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY CAN'T FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. *TT
20041202ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO TURN OFF. *PH THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH CRANK SENSORS. *NM (NAR)
Mileage: 30,361
20040818STEERING
WARRANTY AND SAFETY ISSUE * CADILLAC MARKET IMAGE.*MR (NAR) THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS CAUSED BY FAULTY VOGUE TIRES. *CB
Mileage: 12,108
20040818TIRES
WARRANTY AND SAFETY ISSUE * CADILLAC MARKET IMAGE.*MR (NAR) THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS CAUSED BY FAULTY VOGUE TIRES. *CB
Mileage: 12,108
20040724VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR INTO CAR DEALERSHIP FOR THE FIFTH TIME DUE TO SAME SAFETY PROBLEM--CAR, WITHOUT WARNING GOES INTO PASSING GEAR CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, WITH RPM'S GOING TO 6000 & SPEEDOMETER GOING TO 0-- HIGH PROBABILITY OF A CRASH. *AK
Mileage: 51,000
20031016TIRES:SIDEWALL
FRONT TIRES WORE OUT PREMATURELY, CAUSING THE SIDEWALL TO CRACK. DEALER RECOMMENDED TIRE REPLACEMENT. *AK
20031007CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
VEHICLE HIT SEVERAL OBJECTS BEFORE HITTING A TREE HEAD ON AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*MR THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE HIT THE BACK OF A CONCRETE TRUCK, A DITCH AND A TREE. THE DEALER STATED THE CONSUMER DIDN'T HIT THE OBJECTS AT THE RIGHT ANGLE, WHICH CAUSED THE AIR BAGS NOT TO DEPLOY. *PH *JB
20030408CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *AK *NLM
Compare 2002CADILLACELDORADO to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
PE24011Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Electronic Brake Module Component Failure
PE22006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Rear-View Camera Failure
PE19001Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Roof Skin Separation While Driving
EQ11001EQClosed
IEE Passenger Sensing System Mats
EA07017Engineering AnalysisClosed
REAR DRIVETRAIN COMPONENT FAILURE
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 CADILLAC ELDORADO have?▼
The 2002 CADILLAC ELDORADO has 12 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 CADILLAC ELDORADO?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 CADILLAC ELDORADO is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:BODY and TIRES:SIDEWALL.
Is the 2002 CADILLAC ELDORADO safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.