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1986 Cadillac SevilleProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 11 owner complaints about the 1986 Cadillac Seville, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It is covered by 2 safety recalls.

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CarFlaw IndexNot enough dataHigher is better (0–100)
Safety recalls2Free fix at dealersOwner complaints113 with a crash, fire or injuryTop problem4Engine and engine cooling

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through October 23, 2001. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1986 Cadillac Seville has problems

11 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
Engine and engine cooling43
Service brakes, hydraulic20
Steering20
Visibility11
Fuel system, gasoline10
Exterior lighting10
Electrical system10

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

2 recalls

1986 Cadillac Seville 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

Vehicle speed control: linkages

Recall 87V-082 · Jun 4, 1987 · 37,481 vehicles

Risk. THROTTLE MAY NOT RETURN TO THE CLOSED IDLE POSITIONCAUSING LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASHWITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Headlights: switch

Recall 87V-047 · Apr 6, 1987 · 56,783 vehicles

Risk. WITH THE TWILIGHT SENTINEL SYSTEM ON, THE INTERMITTENTCIRCUIT COULD CAUSE HEADLIGHT AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS TO GO OUT.

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.

Best & worst years

1986 vs. every other Seville 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 Seville median. How we score

'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
1 investigation

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1986 Cadillac Seville, and the recalls they led to.

  1. THROTTLE NON-RETURNC89001 · closed Jan 16, 1990
    No recall
In owners' words

What Seville owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

ENGINE MANIFOLD WAS NOT CONNECTED AND FUMES THAT WERE RELEASED PUT CONSUMER TO SLEEP AT RED LIGHTS. ONCE CONSUMER HEARD CAR HITTING CONCRETE RAILS, AND COULD NOT WAKE UP. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE OF THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. CONSUMER FEARED CATCHING A LIVER DISEASE. *AK DUE TO…
Complaint 860665 · Apr 20, 2000
WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HAS GONE UNCONSCIOUS DUE TO FUMES FROM THE EMISSION SYSTEM, WHICH CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL AND CRASHES, CONSUMER STATES THE EMISSION SYSTEM IS WORN AND HAS 7 HOLES, CAN NOT GET IT REPLACED, CONSUMER HAS BEEN INJURED AND HAS BEEN IN FOUR ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS. *YH
Complaint 563773 · Oct 23, 2001
CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS A FAULTY EMISSION SYSTEM, THE FUMES AND SMOKE ARE BAD, CONSUMER STATES THIS CAUSES UNCONCIOUSNESS AND ACCIDENTS. *SLC
Complaint 560908 · May 1, 2001

Own a 1986 Seville?

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