IllustrationCAR SWINGS SIDE WAYS IN CERTAIN ROAD CONDITIONS. FEELS AS THOUGH YOU WILL LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. *NM
1998 Cadillac Deville
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Deville years
Owner complaints for the 1998 Cadillac Deville are substantially higher than 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
50–25K
1325–50K
1750–75K
1375–100K
18100–150K
3150K+
69 reports with mileage · 168 unknown
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.
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 33 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
14 crash reports1 fire reports14 injury reports
What owners actually said
237 reportsDT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE HEADLIGHT COVER FELL OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT DUE TO TEMPORARILY LOSING CONSCIOUSNESS. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER WERE BOTH WEARING SEATBELTS. THE SEATBELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANTS DURING THE ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER BOTH EN…
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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT DUE TO TEMPORARILY LOSING CONSCIOUSNESS. THE CONTACT AND A PASSENGER WERE BOTH WEARING SEATBELTS. THE SEATBELTS DID NOT RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANTS DURING THE ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND THE PASSENGER BOTH ENDURED MODERATE INJURIES; THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, AND NECK PROBLEMS WHILE THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION, CRACKED BREAST BONE AND KNEE INJURY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED TO A SERVICE LOT. PICTURES WERE TAKEN AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED WHO SENT OUT AN INDEPENDENT INSPECTOR. A REPORT WAS FILED CONCLUDING THAT THE SEATBELT AND AIRBAGS WERE WORKING PROPERLY BUT WERE IN LOCK MODE. THE CONTACT EXPRESS THAT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE AIRBAGS WERE ON RECALL #00V217000 .
I HAVE A 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE THAT KNOCKS ON COLD START AND UNDER LOAD. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHT LENS BECAME FADED AND CLOUDY DUE TO SUN AND WEATHER CONDITIONS. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS LESS VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION; HOWEVER NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. UPDATED 3/28/2006 - *NM
DEALER HAS REPLACED AND TURNED BRAKE ROTORS NUMEROUS TIMES I HAVE REPLACED ROTORS AND CALIPERS AND PADS WITH ALL NEW PARTS ALSO AND BRAKES ON FRONT DO NOT RELEASE COMPLETELY ALL THE TIME AND KEEP WARPING ROTORS AND WEARING OUT BRAKE PADS THIS HAS BEEN DONE MANY TIMES SINCE BEING BOUGHT IN 2000. TIRE RIMS ALSO LEAK AIR AND TIRE…
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DEALER HAS REPLACED AND TURNED BRAKE ROTORS NUMEROUS TIMES I HAVE REPLACED ROTORS AND CALIPERS AND PADS WITH ALL NEW PARTS ALSO AND BRAKES ON FRONT DO NOT RELEASE COMPLETELY ALL THE TIME AND KEEP WARPING ROTORS AND WEARING OUT BRAKE PADS THIS HAS BEEN DONE MANY TIMES SINCE BEING BOUGHT IN 2000. TIRE RIMS ALSO LEAK AIR AND TIRES KEEP GOING LOW THIS WAS SERVICED BY DEALER AND MYSELF NOT CURE HAS BEEN FOUND YET. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WAS SHUT, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN AWAY FROM THE SCENE AND HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC. THE CONSUMER WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF OVER 10000 DOLLARS. UPDATED 03/09/06.
DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE HAVING THE FUEL INJECTOR REPAIRED, THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP PERSONNEL SAID THE FUEL RAIL WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE FUEL INJECTOR. DUE TO THE FUEL RAIL BEING MADE OF PLASTIC, THERE WAS A CHANCE THE FUEL RAIL WOULD BREAK AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE SE…
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DT*: THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE HAVING THE FUEL INJECTOR REPAIRED, THE INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP PERSONNEL SAID THE FUEL RAIL WOULD NEED TO BE REMOVED IN ORDER TO REPAIR THE FUEL INJECTOR. DUE TO THE FUEL RAIL BEING MADE OF PLASTIC, THERE WAS A CHANCE THE FUEL RAIL WOULD BREAK AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE SERVICEMAN THE FUEL RAIL WAS NOW BEING MADE OF METAL BECAUSE THE PLASTIC WAS TOO WEAK. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT STATED ON 10-17-05 WAS DRIVING WHEN SHE HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A SOMETHING SCRAPED THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THE CAR. NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE DEALER SAID THERE HAD BEEN A PROBLEM I…
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DT: THE CONTACT STATED ON 10-17-05 WAS DRIVING WHEN SHE HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A SOMETHING SCRAPED THE BOTTOM OF THE CAR. IMMEDIATELY THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE IN THE FRONT SEAT OF THE CAR. NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE DEALER SAID THERE HAD BEEN A PROBLEM IN THE PAST, BUT NOT THE FRONT. HE ALSO, SAID THE SENSORS WERE PROBABLY BAD. SHE DID NOT RECALL AN AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATING IN THE CAR PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT.
DT: THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WHEN THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER SAID SHE DID NOT RUN OVER ANYTHING IN THE ROAD OR IMPACTED ANOTHER VEHICLE OR OBJECT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN, BUT THEY CONFIRMED THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ROAD SHE RAN OVER TO CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE DEALER WAS …
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DT: THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WHEN THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER SAID SHE DID NOT RUN OVER ANYTHING IN THE ROAD OR IMPACTED ANOTHER VEHICLE OR OBJECT. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT TAKEN, BUT THEY CONFIRMED THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE ROAD SHE RAN OVER TO CAUSE THE AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY. THE DEALER WAS INSPECTING THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE REASON WHY THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK
Official recalls
300V217000 · Air Bags:side/window
Aug 11, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THE SIDE IMPACT SENSOR MODULES HAVE QUALITY PROBLEMS THAT CAN CAUSE AN INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS. THESE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOY WITH LESS FORCE THAN A FRONTAL AIR BAG AND ARE DESIGNED TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: HOWEVER, AN OCCUPANT CAN RECEIVE SOME INJURY FROM A DEPLOYMENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE IMPACT SENSING MODULES. IF THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THE SIDE AIR BAGS TEMPORARILY DISCONECTED, THE TEMPORARY DISCONNECT WILL BE REMOVED BEFORE REPLACING THE SIDE IMPACT SENSING MODULES.
97V232000 · Structure:body:hood:hinge And Attachments
Dec 18, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH HOOD HINGE PIVOT BOLTS WHICH CAN BREAK DUE TO AN IMPROPER HEAT TREAT CONDITION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 219, "WINDSHIELD ZONE INTRUSION." A BROKEN BOLT CAN CAUSE EITHER THE CORNER OF THE HOOD NEAR THE WINDSHIELD TO RAISE, OR ONE SIDE OF THE HOOD TO BE UNSTABLE WHEN OPENED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE HOOD COULD BE PUSHED BACK THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD GLASS POSSIBLY INJURING THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOOD HINGE PIVOT BOLTS.
97V183000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Oct 27, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, HEARSES AND LIMOUSINES. THE CANISTER PURGE EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS HARNESS ON THESE VEHICLES WAS MISROUTED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE HARNESS COULD INTERFERE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE LINKAGE PREVENTING RETURN TO A CLOSED THROTTLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR PROPER ROUTING OF THE HARNESS, CORRECT AS NECESSARY, AND INSTALL A PLASTIC TIE STRAP TO THE HARNESS.
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
3RQ03001 · Power Rack And Pinion Steering Failure
Opened Jan 2, 2003 · Closed Sep 15, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering; Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Steering
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
Steering:rack And Pinion
GM CONDUCTED A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA # 02V286) TO ADDRESS A STEERING DEFECT PERTAINING TO A LOWER PINION BEARING (LPB) WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION STEERING GEAR (R&P). THE RECALL COVERED 1,159,156 MODEL YEAR 1997-1998 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX VEHICLES BUILT BETWEEN MARCH 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997, 1996-1998 PONTIAC TRANS SPORT, CHEVROLET LUMINA APV, CHEVROLET VENTURE, OLDSMOBILE SILHOUETTE MINIVANS, AND CHEVROLET CAVALIER AND PONTIAC SUNFIRE SEDANS BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1996 AND OCTOBER 31, 1997.ODI OPENED THIS RQ AFTER RECEIVING REPORTS THAT OTHER VEHICLES WERE EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES.BASED ON ODI'S REVIEW OF TECHNICAL AND COMPLAINT DATA COLLECTED DURING THE RQ, THE W-CARS ARE ASSOCIATED WITH EITHER A HIGHER STEERING COMPLAINT RATE OR A HIGHER LPB FAILURE RATE THAN THE OTHER VEHICLES INVESTIGATED UNDER THE RQ AND ARE ABOVE OR NEAR THE RATES FOR THE RECALLED VEHICLES.THUS, ODI WILL FURTHER EXAMINE THE W-CARS (1996-1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS SUPREME, 1996-1998 BUICK REGAL, CHEVROLET LUMINA, CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO, 1997-1998 BUICK CENTURY, AND 1998 OLDSMOBILE INTRIGUE) UNDER A NEW INVESTIGATION, ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA)03-019.
EA00004 · Inadvertent Of Side Impact Air Bag
Opened Feb 15, 2000 · Closed Sep 28, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
There is no summary currently available
PE99061 · Inadvertent Deployment Of Side Air Bag
Opened Sep 27, 1999 · Closed Feb 15, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:side/window
THIS SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG CAN INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY DUE TO A NUMBER OF ROOT CAUSED INCLUDING: ERRONEOUS ACCELERATION INPUTS OR FALSE ACTIVATION OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT ALGORITHM DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION IN THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM); FALSE ACTIVATION RESULTING FROM AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE SDM WIRING HARNESS; AND FALSE ACCELERATION INPUTS RESULTING FROM IMPROPER SDM INSTALLATION.IN EACH CASE, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT TO OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.THE SCOPE OF THE ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MY 1997 DEVILLE VEHICLES.ODI HAS IDENTIFIED 253 REPORTS ALLEGING INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF A SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG ON 1997-1999 CADILLAC DEVILLE VEHICLES.GM HAS MADE 8 MODIFICATIONS IN THE MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN OF THE SIDE IMPACT SYSTEM IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES SOME OF WHICH ARE FOCUSED ON REDUCING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF A SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG CAN RESULT IN UNWARRANTED INJURIES TO OCCUPANTS AND PRESENTS THE POTENTIAL FOR LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTOL. AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS WARRANTED TO DETERMINE IF A POTENTIAL SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS.