1996 Cadillac Seville Consumer Reviews Page 2

1996 Cadillac Seville

Written by: Americanluxo-sport on 12/17/2004

Vehicle

1996 Cadillac Seville 4 Dr STS Sedan

Review

My gold 1996 Seville STS has been regularly serviced at the dealership from day one in 1996. This Cadillac's transmission was replaced at 99,000 miles and the repair cost was almost $4,000. Make sure you get a transmission check before buying this car because repairs of any major mechanical flaw will cost you some serious money.

Favorite Features

The Northstar engine, Cadillac rainsensor wipers, terrific Bose stereo, nice luxury appointments, and interior build quality.

Suggested Improvements

For a car this long, the rear passengers should have more legroom. Cadillac should consider shortening the huge trunk by a few inches to increase the rear legroom. It has poor fuel economy, especially if you drive the V8 engine hard.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Beautiful Car, But.........

Written by: Jim on 12/17/2004

Vehicle

1996 Cadillac Seville 4 Dr SLS Sedan

Review

I bought my 1996 Cadillac SeVille from its original owner with 76,000 miles. I've driven it during the winter in Arizona. I started getting a "service transmission" on the message center, so I serviced the transmission by having the fluid and filter changed. The message continued, so I brought the car into a service facility, the code told the tech that it was a turbine speed input sensor, the part is under $100 but it's the last part to come out of the transmission so we're looking at 15 hours of labor. I was told by three national transmission repair chains that it is a common problem and a "design flaw". I got the word today that it's a $3,050 job. Cadillac basically told me that I'm on my own. BE CAREFULL!

Favorite Features

Beautiful paint detail, great interior comfort, very nice ride and handling.

Suggested Improvements

Cadillac doesn't want to help on problems with their transmission design.

6 out 6 people found this review helpful

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Civilized HotRod

Written by: Ash on 12/05/2004

Vehicle

1996 Cadillac Seville 4 Dr STS Sedan

Review

What more can I say? You have to drive this car in order to appreciate its comfort, performance, and the service at your caddy dealership. The motor runs strongand feels new. I have hit close to 120 mph and there was no vibration of any kind. Watch out for repairs! A new tranny can run close to $4 K at the dealership. Mine was replaced at 99K by the dealership so I dodged that bullet. If looking to buy, make sure the tranny has been serviced regularly, or its big bucks out of your pocket. Other than that I prefer my cadillac over the Euro Luxo group.

Favorite Features

Northstar under the hood,Cadillac Rain Sensor Wiper system and the Bose Sound system is terrific.

Suggested Improvements

Car gives only 16 mpg in the city. Improved fuel efficiency would help draw in more customers.

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Nice but move on...

Written by: stsnotagain on 10/26/2004

Vehicle

1996 Cadillac Seville 4 Dr STS Sedan

Review

I always liked Cadillacs since I use to work for the dealership. I finally got a used STS in so to be great shape. Gorgous car with all the luxury and rides great. But beware of all the little things that WILL go wrong and will be expensive to repair. I bought mine one day and the next day the water pump gave out. $250 later from the Caddy dealer I had it back. After owning for about 3 weeks now and only 250 miles...half block seal needs replacing at $1900! Rack and pinion,struts,power window switch,still leaks antifreez and check engine light is now on for emissions. I would just look and avoid this car. These are known problems and thats coming from a ASE Master Tech from a Cad dealer!!!

Favorite Features

comfort and power...to bad the Northstar is a oil eater and only at 75k miles

Suggested Improvements

Better Cadillac!!! Im sure glad I didnt pay $50,000 new for this car!!! I drove a Ford Festiva that was more reliable than this car. For Sale sign here I come!!

3 out 3 people found this review helpful

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Not so great

Written by: nomoreCad on 10/26/2004

Vehicle

1996 Cadillac Seville 4 Dr STS Sedan

Review

Bought the car for trip purposes and it rides well. Great power from the Northstar. Less than a year later Im ready to get rid of it. Alot of problems with this car which will cost you dearly at the dealership!! You pretty much have to carry around several courts of oil since it does eat it often. Numerous problems with sensors and electrical gremlins and suspension. Its fools gold....avoid it!!

Favorite Features

Great ride...good power....poor build!

Suggested Improvements

I thought GM has gotten behind their poor quility....still going strong!! Looking at a Import now.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Love the Northstar, hate the gremlins

Written by: Robert King on 02/13/2004

Vehicle

1996 Cadillac Seville 4 Dr SLS Sedan

Review

Bought this car used in 1999. Have taken trips to California, Colorado and New York. I have enjoyed the car's engine performance and comfortable ride. I have always been impressed that a car that weighs this much can average over 29 mpg at high speed. I have however made many costly trips to the dealer for repair; water pump rear suspension air compressor, heater/AC blower motor, O2 sensor, the last and most irritating was in my garage when the security system failed. No cure other than towing to dealer for $400.00 worth of Ignition switch, keys and harness wiring. I love this car but will not be owning another Cadillac.

Favorite Features

Engine smoothness, power and fuel economy.

Suggested Improvements

Higher quality parts in initial build. All other GM cars I have owned have never had this many aggavating problems.

2 out 2 people found this review helpful

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Oil Thursty Caddy

Written by: Tonyl on 11/29/2003

Vehicle

1996 Cadillac Seville 4 Dr STS Sedan

Review

Just before the warranty ran out, I noticed the car "using" oil. I was told that it was normal for a Northstar engine with over 50,000 miles on it to "use" oil at a rate of 1qt. per 1,000 miles. When I asked them to define "using", they of course could not. I understand that the car may actually be burning that oil and that it is not immediately noticable because the tell-tale blue smoke that is usually associated with burning oil is captured in the catalytic converter. For those of you who are being sold a decarbonization process for $500, don't agree to it unless GM is paying for it. The process does not do a thing for the oil "usage"!!

Favorite Features

Heated seats & 8-cylinder engine (when it is not "using" oil)

Suggested Improvements

Design a new Northstar engine, call it The Northstar II, and do away with the "using oil" option.

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Never again

Written by: teleman on 09/20/2003

Vehicle

1996 Cadillac Seville 4 Dr SLS Sedan

Review

I have never owned a vehicle that gave me as much irrating trouble as this one. What kind of trouble you ask? How about the oil consumption, 3-4 quarts between oil changeS. You would think they would recal the things for the fix. Instead, they want us to pay for it. Then there is the notorius oil leak. Then there are the ever present sensor problems and the Cadillac electric window problems. My brother just bought a CTS. After only 10K miles, had to have a new rack put on it. Then the elec problems started. What a joke! I would NEVER OWN ANOTHER CADILLAC! Cadillac sucks as far as a quality automobile...IMHO

Favorite Features

engine power, gas mileage...only things I like!

Suggested Improvements

Better overall build quality. Fire the engineers and statr with a clean slate. These cars (like many others) are WAY overpriced.

1 out 1 people found this review helpful

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Nice STS

Written by: Mike White Cadillac on 08/14/2003

Vehicle

1996 Cadillac Seville 4 Dr STS Sedan

Review

I have enjoyed this car. I have had the usual mechanical things happen. Fuel pump, water pump, belts, spark plug wires ect. This started around 125,000 miles. I am now at 178,000. She runs great. Very fast, good handling. Still looks great. Bad cup holders.

Favorite Features

Fast, good looking, stylish car.

Suggested Improvements

Upgrade spark plug wires to 8.5 mm. Noticable difference in overall rpm pull.

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Garbage

Written by: Joannie on 08/10/2003

Vehicle

1996 Cadillac Seville 4 Dr STS Sedan

Review

My service engine light has been on continuously for 3 years. The air conditioning does not work and I have spent thousands of dollars attempting to rectify whatever may be wrong with the electronic system of the car. I was told by one mechanic, "There were problems with the computer systems of the 1996 Cadillacs but your car is not under warranty."

Favorite Features

The ride is very smooth but I will never buy another Cadillac.

Suggested Improvements

Make the electronic system easier to distinguish actual mechanical problems from sensor malfunctions.

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