BRAKES SQUEAL UPON APPLICATION - SERVICE DID NOT DETECT; BRAKES SQUEAL UPON APPLICATION - INSTALLED UPDATED PADS ON FRT PER BULLETIN 83-50-25; BRAKES SQUEAL A 3RD TIME - LONGER TIME TO STOP; LEAKING OIL - SERVICE - TAKE OUT ENGINE MANIFOLD; LEAKING OIL AGAIN - SERVICE - HOLE FORCONVERTOR SNOUT DRILLED TOO CLOSE TO REAR MAIN JOURNAL; LEAKING OIL - SERVICE REPLACE RACK AND PINION; LEAKING OIL - SERVICE - CAR WAS KEPT FOR SEVERAL DAYS DID NOT DETECT LEAK. LEAKING OIL; REAR WINDOW SWITCH ON LEFT FRONT DOOR INOPT - SERVICE - REPLACE DOOR WINDOE LEFT FRONT. REPLACE MASTER CONTROL SWITCH; EXPRESS WINDOW DOWN DOES WORK PROPERLY - SERVICE - DID NOT DETECT; WINDSHIELD WASHER INOPT. - SERVICE -RECONNECT LOOSE HOSE; WINDSHIELD WASHER INOPT REINSTALL NOZZLES; WINDSHIELD WASHER INOPT. - SERVICE -GLUED FITTINGS TOGETHER. CUSTOMER SPOKE WITH SERVICE MANAGER SEVERAL TIMES. CUSTOMER SPOKE WITH DEALERSHIP OWNER. CUSTOMER MET WITH GM D.S.M.
1998 Cadillac Deville complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1998 record →
WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED, BOTH WHEN COLD AND HOT, IN ALL GEAR SELECTOR POSITIONS, AND AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE PEDAL WILL NOR DEPRESS NORMALLY. TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL, A MODERATE FORCE IS REQUIRED. WHEN THIS IS DONE, THE PEDAL LINKAGE THEN MAKES A "SNAPPING SOUND" AND THE PEDAL THEN ADVANCES SUDDENLY, CAUSING THE ENGINE RPM TO RACE. IF THE CAR IS IN ANY GEAR WHEN THIS IS DONE (DRIVE OR REVERSE), THE VEHICLE WILL THEN EITHER LURCH FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. THE DEALER SERVICED THIS PROBLEM FOR THE FIRST TIME ON FEB 6, 1999, AT WHICH TIME THEY DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE AS FOREIGN MATERIAL AND REPLACED THE J5490 BODY UNIT, THROTTLE. THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH. IN MARCH 1999, THE CONDITION REAPPEARED, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE J5330 CABLE, ACCELERATOR CONTROL. THIS REPAIR SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR SIX WEEKS. DURING THE WEEK OF 19 APRIL 1999, THE CONDITION REAPPEARED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I TALKED TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO SCHEDULE FOLLOW-ON MAINTENANCE ON APRIL 29. I ASKED THEMIF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT APPEARED TO BE, BASED ON THE NUMBERS OF 1996-1998 CARS THEY WERE SEEING WITH SIMILAR CONDITIONS.
FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
LEAK OIL AFTER SERVICED TWICE
GAS GUAGE SENSOR FAILED.
I WAS THE DRIVER AND ONLY PERSON IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT ON FEBRUARY 16, 1999 BETWEEN MY 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE CONCOURS AND A 1977 DODGE CAMPER TOP VAN. THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY TO PREVENT MY HEAD AND LEFT SHOULDER FROM IMPACTING THE LEFT WINDOW AND DOOR FRAME. THE DODGE VAN IMPACTED MY LEFT TIRE QUARTER PANEL, DRIVER DOOR PANEL, AND LEFT PASSENGER DOOR PANEL TO THE EXTENT THAT THE SIDE MIRROR WAS KNOCKED OFF THE DOOR, THE DRIVER WINDOW DAMAGED, AND THE DRIVER DOOR INDENTED ENOUGH TO PREVENT THE WINDOW FROM GOING DOWN. I AM SUFFERING FROM SEVERE CERVICAL STRAIN/SPRAIN, MULTIPLE CERVICAL SUBLUNATIONS, LEFT SHOULDER, RIFGT SIDE, NECK, AND BACK PAIN.
WHILE DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD, RUNNING INTO A BUILDING AND CAUSED INJURY AND A FATALITY. ALSO, TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
FUEL TANK SENDER FAILED CAUSING FAULTY GAS READINGS.
PROBLEM WITH SIDE VIEW MIRRORS.
BATTERY FAILURE. *YC
BRAKE ROTORS WORN OUT. YH
TIRE ( VOGUE ) FAILED. *YC
SHORT IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSING BLOWN FUSES. YH
FUEL LIGHT INOPERABLE, COMPUTER PART REPLACED TO RECTIFY. YH
COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONING ACTIVATES BRAKE AND FUEL LEVEL ALERTS. YH
AUTO LEVELING FAILED. YH
FUEL GAUGE MALFUNCTIONS. YH
ENGINE OIL COOLER LEAKED. YH
NO SUMMARY PROVIDED BY CONSUMER
WHEN TRAVELING ABOUT 20MPH THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD ACTIVATE BY ITSELF. OWNER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT CEMENT FLOWER URN. MANUFACTURER SENT INSPECTOR TO LOOK AT VEHICLE. NOTHING WAS FOUND. *AK
ELECTRICAL WIRES KEEP KILLING THE BATTERY. WOULD CAUSE THE BATTERY TO DIE OUT EACH & EVERY TIME. MAKES NOISES WHEN BATTERY IS DYING. TOOK TO DEALER & PROBLEM NOT FOUND. PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT TIMES. *AK
WHEN TURNING OFF THE IGNITION WITH VEHICLE IN PARK THE ONLY DOOR THAT WILL OPEN FROM THE INSIDE IS THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THE REST OF THE DOORS REMAIN LOCKED. THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ARE NOT ON AT THE TIME. THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE DEALER, BUT THE DEALER HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM. *AK
FRONT BRAKES SQUEAL ON APPLICATION, FOUR REPAIR ATTEMPTS WITHOUT REMEDY.
UNABLE TO HEAR RADIO NEWS FROM CBS STATION, TOTAL NOISE.REPLACED RADIO.
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THERE IS A SQUEALING NOISE. ALSO, EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE OCCURS WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, DEALER HAS THE VEHICLE FOR THE FOURTH TIME. *AK
INTERIOR LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED. INCIDENT OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, SWITCH ON DRIVER'S DOOR FOR REAR WINDOW DOESN'T WORK. LOCK WAS OFF. DEALER CONTACTED, AND IS AWARE OF ALL PROBLEMS. CURRENTLY HAS THE VEHICLE, INVESTIGATING THE PROBLEM. *AK
UPPER TRANS OIL COOLER LINE FITTING FAILED RESULTING IN LEAK.
WHEN FILLING THE GAS TANK UP AND STARTING THE VEHICLE, IT WILL REGISTER FULL. THEN ONCE PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN MOTION THE GAS GAUGE WILL READ EMPTY AND BEGIN MAKING A NOISE, AND THEN THE GAUGE WILL GO BACK TO FULL. THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM. CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND FILED A COMPLAINT 7/15/98 #980040133. *AK
TURN SIGNAL OPERATES ERRATICALLY. SOMETIMES IT WORKS AND SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT. CONSUMER WILL BE TAKING CAR TO DEALERSHIP TOMORROW TO BE CORRECTED. *AK
WHEN DEPRESSING THE HORN PAD NO SOUND COMES FROM THE HORN. ON 4 DIFFERENT OCASSIONS THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO 2 DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE HORN WILL BLOW SOMETIMES AND SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT. *AK
SUDDEN ACCELERATION. QCAW
THE LENS OVER THE SPEEDOMETER CATCHES REFLECTS TOO MUCH OF THE REAR SURFACE OF THE STEERING WHEEL, BLOCKING VIEW AND MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO READ SPEEDOMETER, AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS.
WHEN VEHICLE GOES OVER A DIP THE FRONT END HITS THE GROUND. THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE BRAKES AND THE STEERING GET VERY HARD, THERE IS NO SET TIME WHEN THIS HAPPENS, CONSUMER IS AFRAID TO DRIVE VEHICLE. *SLC
CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS TAKING OFF FROM A STOP SIGN, REACHED 5 MPH AND THE AIR BAG RED LIGHT CAME ON, THE AIR BAG THEN DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BECAUSE OF SPEED CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING. *AK
VEHICLE HAS A PASSENGER OUTSIDE MIRROR TILT FEATURE WHEN CAR IS PLACED IN REVERSE, HOWEVER CONSUMER HAS ALMOST HAD ACCIDENTS DUE TO POOR VISIBILITY. (DESIGN FLAW).
WHEN GOING IN REVERSE THE REARVIEW MIRROR AUTOMATICALLY TILTS DOWN, AND DOES NOT GIVE A CLEAR VIEW OF WHAT IS BEHIND THE VEHICLE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK
TRACTION SYSTEM ENGAGES INADVERTENTLLY, EFFECTING THE ABILITY TO CONTROL BRAKES.
Reading these
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1998 Cadillac Deville → · Every Deville year → · How the figures are calculated →