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1998 Cadillac DevilleProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 237 owner complaints about the 1998 Cadillac Deville, most often about the exterior lighting. It is covered by 3 safety recalls.

40
CarFlaw IndexUse caution1.5× the Deville median · #3 of 21 years by complaints
Safety recalls3Free fix at dealersOwner complaints23729 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage70kExterior lighting, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through February 15, 2018. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1998 Cadillac Deville has problems

237 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Exterior lighting431
Air bags3412
Engine and engine cooling332
Service brakes, hydraulic323
Electrical system212
Visibility170
Steering150
Suspension130
Vehicle speed control112
18 other systems625

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

3 recalls

1998 Cadillac Deville recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Hood: hinge and attachments

Recall 97V-232 · Dec 18, 1997 · 14,423 vehicles

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE HOOD COULD BE PUSHED BACK THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD GLASS POSSIBLY INJURING THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Vehicle speed control

Recall 97V-183 · Oct 27, 1997 · 8,611 vehicles

Risk. THE HARNESS COULD INTERFERE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE LINKAGE PREVENTING RETURN TO A CLOSED THROTTLE.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Cadillac.

Mileage at failure

When do exterior lighting problems start?

70kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 24 exterior lighting complaints. 79% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 29% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
2under 30k miles19under 100k miles5100k miles or more
Best & worst years

1998 vs. every other Deville year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Deville median. How we score

'71'72'73'74'76'77'78'79'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1998 Cadillac Deville safety ratings

1998 Cadillac Deville 4-DR. w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
3 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1998 Cadillac Deville, and the recalls they led to.

  1. INADVERTENT OF SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGEA00004 · closed Sep 28, 2000
    Led to recall 00V-217
  2. INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF SIDE AIR BAGPE99061 · closed Feb 15, 2000
    No recall
  3. POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURERQ03001 · closed Sep 15, 2003
    No recall
In owners' words

What Deville owners report

Recent exterior lighting complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

I AS DRIVING ON A FARMED MARKET ROAD (F.M.) APPROX. 55 MPH. AND THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT LENS FLEW OFF THE CAR. LUCKILY THERE WASN'T ANY OTHER CARS BEHIND ME, AND THERE WASN'T ANY DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND/OR ANYONE ELSES VEHICLE. AFTER I RETURNED HOME, I CHECKED THE DRIVER'S SIDE LENS TO DISCOVER IT WAS…
Complaint 10462802 · Jun 22, 2012 · 93,259 miles
NOTICED THAT ONE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT, BUT I STILL HAD THE HIGH BEAM. A FEW DAYS LATER BOTH WERE OUT. WENT TO AUTO PARTS STORE TO HAVE THEM PUT IN NEW BULBS AND THEY NOTICED THE THAT PLASTIC COVER WAS MISSING AND THEY SAID THAT CAUSED THE BULBS TO SHORT OUT. FROM READING OTHER…
Complaint 10373815 · Jan 2, 2011 · 100,520 miles
HEADLAMP LENSES CLOUD REDUCING NIGHTTIME VISIBILITY FOR DRIVER AND FOR OTHER VEHICLES. POLYCARBONATE LENSES DISCOLOR AND TURN YELLOW. PROBLEM IS PERVASIVE ACROSS MOST MAKES AND MODELS. REPLACEMENT LENSES ARE VERY COSTLY. THE PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST WHEN GLASS HEADLAMPS WERE USED, AND REPLACEMENT WAS…
Complaint 10365635 · Nov 14, 2010 · 20,000 miles

Own a 1998 Deville?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.