Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 22 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
22 reports
Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2008
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1986 CADILLAC DEVILLE/FLEETWOOD ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. CONSUMER REQUESTS THAT ENFORCEMENT OF SAME INSPECTION, TESTING AND REPLACEMENT OF THE FAILED BRAKING PARTS FOR HIS VEHICLE. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS DID NOT PERFORM IN A SATISFACTORY MANNER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS WAS FLAWED. THE CONSUMER STATED WATER CAME IN CO…
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1986 CADILLAC DEVILLE/FLEETWOOD ABS BRAKE SYSTEM. CONSUMER REQUESTS THAT ENFORCEMENT OF SAME INSPECTION, TESTING AND REPLACEMENT OF THE FAILED BRAKING PARTS FOR HIS VEHICLE. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS DID NOT PERFORM IN A SATISFACTORY MANNER. THE CONSUMER STATED THE ABS WAS FLAWED. THE CONSUMER STATED WATER CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS THAT AFFECTED THE ABS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THE ELECTRICAL BRAKE PUMP HARNESS AT NO COST TO HIM. RECALL 87V093000 *JB
NHTSA ODI #10244848
Mileage unknown · Apr 13, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
CAR DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE OIL PAN GASKET. TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP WHO CHANGED THE OILPAN GASKET. IT STILL LEAKED OIL, SO I REMOVED THE ENGINE. I DISCOVERED THAT THE BLOCK HAD A CRACK FROM THE CRANK SHAFT TO THE CAM SHAFT ON THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. I TRIED TO ALUMINUM WELD IT ONCE, BUT IT STILL LEAKED. …
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CAR DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK, I THOUGHT IT WAS THE OIL PAN GASKET. TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP WHO CHANGED THE OILPAN GASKET. IT STILL LEAKED OIL, SO I REMOVED THE ENGINE. I DISCOVERED THAT THE BLOCK HAD A CRACK FROM THE CRANK SHAFT TO THE CAM SHAFT ON THE REAR OF THE ENGINE. I TRIED TO ALUMINUM WELD IT ONCE, BUT IT STILL LEAKED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #721437
Mileage unknown · Mar 13, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING INTO THE DRIVEWAY UPON RETURNING FROM WORK, PARKED THE VEHICLE, NOTICED A PUDDLE OF WATER UNDERNEATH. LIFTED UP THE HOOD, COULD SEE WATER COMING OUT OF THE ENGINE CYLINDER GASKET. *AK
NHTSA ODI #858424
Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 1999
Latches/locks/linkages
LATCH LOCK ASSEMBLY ON BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDES BECAME DEFECTIVE, NOT ALLOWING BOTH DOORS TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #854502
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1999
Power Train
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #714045
Mileage unknown · Sep 18, 1999
Power Train
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #711535
Mileage unknown · Jun 10, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering
DIFICULT STEERING WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD. ALSO, ENGINE LEAKS OIL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #707434
Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
DEVELOPED A LOUD TICKING/KNOCKING NOISE IN ENGINE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #705389
Mileage unknown · Sep 23, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
MASTER CYLINDER FAILED. (ATTORNEY)
NHTSA ODI #522374
Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE FAILED AND VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. OWNER BELIEVES A DEFECTIVE CRANKSHAFT CAUSED THE PROBLEM.
THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) PRESSURE/WARNING SWITCH MAY EXHIBIT BRAKE FLUID SEEPAGE WHICH EVENTUALLY CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR. ADDITIONALLY, THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR AND ABS ELECTRICAL RELAYS MAY HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO WATER CONTAMINATION DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR AND/OR LOSS OF THE ABS FUNCTION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: LOSS OF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR WOULD RESULT IN A TOTALLOSS OF REAR BRAKES AS WELL AS POWER ASSIST TO THE FRONT BRAKES. THE RED BRAKEWARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND STAY ON. IF THIS WARNING IS NOT HEEDED, ALOSS OF REAR BRAKES AT A TIME WHEN MINIMUM STOPPING DISTANCE IS REQUIRED COULDRESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. AN INOPERATIVE ABS ELECTRICAL RELAY COULD CAUSELOSS OF THE ABS FUNCTION, BUT NORMAL POWER ASSISTED BRAKING WOULD BE RETAINED.THE AMBER ANTI LOCK WARNING LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE AND STAY ON.
Remedy: THE ABS AND HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR ELECTRICAL RELAYS AND 30 AMP FUSES WILL BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, THE HYDRAULIC PUMP MOTOR ASSEMBLY AND PRESSURE/WARNING SWITCH WILL BE INSPECTED AND, IF REQUIRED, REPLACED.
THE PUSH-PULL HEADLIGHT SWITCH MAY HAVE ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH ALLOW AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT CAUSING HEADLIGHT TO FLICKER OR SUDDENLY GO OUT. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: SUDDEN LOSS OF THE HEADLIGHTS UNDER SEVERE WEATHER OR NIGHTTIME DRIVING CONDITIONS COULD REDUCE DRIVER VISIBILITY WHICH MIGHT RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. NOTE: ALSO, SEE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 86V131000.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS NECESSARY.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
5
EA89028 · Rear Brake Pin
Opened Jul 28, 1989 · Closed Jul 27, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SUMMARY:THESE VEHICLES HAVE REAR DRUM BRAKES.THE PARKING LEVER PIVOTPIN IS HELD BY AN E RING.WHEN THE RING FAILS, PARTS OF THE RING ANDPIN FALL LOOSE INTO THE DRUM AND MAY JAM THE BRAKE, LOCKING THE WHEEL.A STRONGER E RING IS USED IN 1988 AND NEWER CARS.THIS INVESTIGATIONHAS BEEN EXPANDED TO INCLUDE GMS C BODY CARS LISTED ABOVE (E RING COMMONTO ALL CARS SHOWN).===
PE89098 · Anti Lock Brakes
Opened Mar 10, 1989 · Closed May 17, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
===
EA88031 · Sudden Acceleration
Opened Apr 22, 1988 · Closed Oct 23, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
STATUS:ANALYSIS OF INFORMATION FROM THE MANUFACTURER IS IN PROGRESS.HOWEVER, NEITHER NHTSA OF GM HAS IDENTIFIED A FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION THATCOULD RESULT IN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION.SOME VEHICLES IN THIS GROUP WEREFOUND POTENTIALLY SUBJECT TO THROTTLE CABLE RESTRICTIONS, AND WERERECALLED ALONG WITH H CARS WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS.INVESTIGATION ISCONTINUING.===
EA88019 · Hydro Boost
Opened Jan 28, 1988 · Closed Oct 31, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
There is no summary currently available
PE87038 · Hydroboost Failure
Opened Jul 9, 1987 · Closed Jan 28, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
SUBJECT VEHICLES:CAPRICE, CAPRICE CLASSIC, CUSTOM CRUISER, DEVILLE,ELECTRA, ESTATE WAGON, FLEETWOOD, LESABRE, NINETY-EIGHT, PARISIENNE,PARK AVENUE.(ALL 1984-86 GM VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HYDROBOOST II SYSTEMS)ANALYSIS:CONSUMER COMPLAINTS ALLEGE SEVERAL PROBLEMS INVOLVING THE POWERSTEERING AND POWER BRAKE SYSTEMS OF THESE VEHICLES.THESE PROBLEMSINCLUDE: POWER STEERING FLUID LOSS, POWER BRAKE FLUID LOSS, LEAKAGE FROMTHE HYDRO-BOOST II POWER BRAKE BOOSTER, BROKEN BOOSTER SEALS, AND MASTERCYLINDER FAILURE.ALL PROBLEMS SEEM TO BE RELATED TO THE HYDRO-BOOST IIPOWER ASSIST SYSTEM, IN WHICH THE WORKING FLUID PROVIDES POWER ASSIST TO BOKE BOOSTER.THE EFFECT OF THESE PROBLEMS COULD BE A LOSS OF STEERINGCONTROL AND/OR BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS.STATUS:THE VOLUMINOUS AMOUNT OF DATA SUPPLIED BY GM IS PRESENTLY BEING CODED BY A CONTRACTOR AND SHOULD BE COMPLETED BY 12/30/87. GM DATA INDICATED A 50% WEIBULL DISTRIBUTION FAILURE AT 50K MILES FOR THE PISTON PUSH-ROD SEAL. THIS PE LOOKS TO HAVE AN EXTRODINARILY HIGH FREQUENCY, ALTHOUGH THE SEVERITY APEARS TO BE LOW.SHOULD BE INTERESTING DISCUSSING THIS FOR UPGRADE/CLOSURE.===
1986 Cadillac Deville Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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