IllustrationTHE POWER STEERING IS HARD TO TURN IN COLD WEATHER. *YC
1988 Cadillac Deville
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1988 Cadillac Deville do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 44.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Deville years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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 28 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.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Steering. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports
Steering complaints
7 reportsWHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED TO THE LEFT THE STEERING LOCKS, ASSUMES THAT IT IS THE STEERING SECTOR OR THE CENTRAL FRONT END, THE SPEED IS AT ANY LIMIT. ANY TIME THE STEERING GRABS AND PULLS WHEN DRIVING AT A LOWER SPEED, THE VEHICLE WON'T TURN AT ALL, AND IT MAY TURN IF SITTING FOR A WHILE. WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. DEALER CANNOT DUP…
Read full complaint
WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED TO THE LEFT THE STEERING LOCKS, ASSUMES THAT IT IS THE STEERING SECTOR OR THE CENTRAL FRONT END, THE SPEED IS AT ANY LIMIT. ANY TIME THE STEERING GRABS AND PULLS WHEN DRIVING AT A LOWER SPEED, THE VEHICLE WON'T TURN AT ALL, AND IT MAY TURN IF SITTING FOR A WHILE. WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED CONSTANT STEERING FAILURE. *AK
DURING VEHICLE OPERATION THE STEERING LOCKS UP PERIODICALLY, AS A RESULT THE RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.*AK
VEHICLE HARD TO TURN RIGHT IN COLD WEATHER. *DSH
COLD POWER STEERING. *SD
COLD POWER STEERING. *AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
2PE89098 · Anti Lock Brakes
Opened Mar 10, 1989 · Closed May 17, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
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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.===