CadillacDeVille1997Overview/cadillac/deville/1997/base/

1997 Cadillac DeVille

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 DeVille.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1997 Cadillac DeVille arrives as a passenger car equipped with an automatic four-speed transmission and an engine that takes eight quarts of 5W-30 API oil, returning EPA estimates of 15 city, 24 highway, and 18 combined miles per gallon. This model year stands as the peak of owner-reported issues across the 1990–2005 span, logging 306 complaints — more than triple the 94 recorded for the 1990 low point — with service brakes and hydraulic systems drawing the most attention and two recalls issued. The concentration of complaints positions the 1997 DeVille as the most trouble-prone iteration in the nameplate's recent history, signaling that researchers should weigh brake-related service records heavily when evaluating examples from this year.

Model year200520042003200220012000199919981997

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity8 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque140 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/24/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 78 · 770 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731179. Note the factory front wiper blades is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 78 · 770 CCAOEM · verified
Tail / brake / turnLAMPOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731179
Engine air filter19259030
Fuel filter25163684
Spark plug19208535
Front wiper blades25689175 discontinued
Serpentine belt12588412 alt 12559042
Thermostat12559807 alt 03522676

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 24 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume117 cu ft
Cargo volume20 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the DeVille of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

6.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.60 sec — 1997 Concours Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1997Concours Sedan 4.6L V86.60 sec14.90 sec300 hpFWD
1996Concours Sedan 4.6L V87.20 sec15.40 sec300 hpFWD
1998Concours Sedan 4.6L V86.90 sec15.10 sec300 hpFWD
1995Concours Sedan 4.6L V86.90 sec15.20 sec300 hpFWD
1994Concours Sedan 4.6L V87.80 sec15.80 sec270 hpFWD
1994Sedan 4.9L V88.30 sec16.50 sec200 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 8 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 140 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-7-3-4-5-6-8. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantDEX-COOL OR EQUIVALENT
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity8 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE GM PART NO. 1052884 OR EQUIVALENT

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)90 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)15 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)30 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)14 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts7.4 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts140 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub118 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-2-7-3-4-5-6-8
Ignition Coil Secondary Resistance5,000-8,000 ohms
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug TypeAC 41-929
Spark Plug Gap0.050 in
Spark Plug Torque11.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.00 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity8.00 oz
RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.00-3.00 lbs
Oil GroupPAG

Service checks

Pressure Test15; Do not exceed 20 psi.
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)48-55
Injector Primary Resistance8-25 na ohms
Engine Compression140

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH DISC
Torque Caliper to Bracket20 ft-lbs / 137 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle94 ft-lbs / 100 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.030; Rear: 0.030 specification
Brake ApplicationWITH DISC
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0005 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.002 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.433 in / 1.267 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
137 ft. lbs., step 2: 12037 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 5 stages
1M11 bolts30 ft. lbs
2M11 bolts70 degrees
3M11 bolts60 degrees
4M11 bolts45 degrees
58.9
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
17 ft. lbs., Step 2: 357 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 150,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 150,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 5,000 miBrake System (inspect)
Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 10,000 miBrake System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Fuel Tank (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap (inspect) · Throttle Cable (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1997 Cadillac DeVille represents the peak of consumer complaints for this generation, recording 306 complaints, which is higher than both the 1996 (253) and 1998 (266) model years. Within the broader federal record from 1990 to 2005, complaints rose steadily through the 1990s before trending downward after 1997, while Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) increased consistently from 5 in 1990 to 81 in 1997. Specific to the 1997 model, the most frequent issues involved hydraulic service brakes (49), engine and engine cooling (46), gasoline fuel systems (32), and exterior lighting (31). The year also saw 2 recalls, 5 investigations, 4 crash complaints, and 9 fire complaints, though the data does not specify the root causes for these events. Because this year marks the high-water mark for complaints across the generation's arc, it is not a recommended year to buy.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
81
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
5
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
306
Owner complaints
4 involved a crash · 9 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 306 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic49
Engine & Engine Cooling46
Fuel System, Gasoline32
Exterior Lighting31
Electrical System23
Steering20
Suspension12
Equipment11

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

04V110000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And FittingsReported 04/03/2004

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… 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. THE RECALL…

97V064000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited SlipReported 28/04/1997

THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE OR THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE CAN CAUSE THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) TO CYCLE DURING A NON-ABS BRAKE APPLICATION. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE OR THE ELECTRONIC BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL MODULE.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 81 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIP4723F2022-01-14Service Brakes, HydraulicThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIP4723D2020-01-31Electrical SystemThis Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or…
PIC4696E2019-11-22EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…
17NA0732019-09-18EquipmentThis warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action…
PIC4696D2019-09-05EquipmentThis Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific DeVille. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1997 DeVille take?

8 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1997 DeVille have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the DeVille get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 24 highway / 18 combined mpg.