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1998 Cadillac Seville

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

25 reports with mileage · 40 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports3 fire reports5 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

6 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2006
Exterior Lighting

THE UPPER MOUNT TAIL LIGHT IS NOT LIGHTING. I HAVE SINCE FOUND AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET THAT THERE IS A 100% FAILURE RATE OF THE LED DISPLAY IN THESE UPPER TAIL LIGHT OF THE CADILLAC. I OWN A 1998 CADILLAC SEVILLE SLS WHICH HAS THE LEFT HALF OF THE UPPER MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT OUT. THERE ARE REFERENCE THAT THE BRAKE STRIP FAIL…

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THE UPPER MOUNT TAIL LIGHT IS NOT LIGHTING. I HAVE SINCE FOUND AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET THAT THERE IS A 100% FAILURE RATE OF THE LED DISPLAY IN THESE UPPER TAIL LIGHT OF THE CADILLAC. I OWN A 1998 CADILLAC SEVILLE SLS WHICH HAS THE LEFT HALF OF THE UPPER MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT OUT. THERE ARE REFERENCE THAT THE BRAKE STRIP FAILURE IS DUE TO MOISTURE THAT GETS IN THE STRIP. PLEASE INVESTIGATE BECAUSE IF THIS HAPPENS TO MANY PEOPLE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL FOR THESE BRAKE LIGHTS. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU FIND OUT. THE LED DISPLAY WAS MANUFACTURED BY STANLEY ELECTRONICS (I FOUND THAT OUT ON THE INTERNET). *JB

NHTSA ODI #10147810

Mileage unknown · Mar 25, 2004
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A DARK ROAD, THE LEFT HEADLIGHT CAME APART AND FELL OFF THE VEHICLE, WHICH CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10064935

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 2003
Exterior Lighting

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS FELL OFF. CONSUMER GLUED THE LENS BACK ON. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10052070

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2002
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT TIME HEADLIGHTS ASSEMBLY FELL OFF COMPLETELY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8019123

Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2001
Exterior Lighting

WHEN HIGH MOUNTED BRAKE LIGHT FAILS THE DRIVER IS NOT NOTIFIED. "WWW.EDMUNDS.COM" LONG TERM CAR REVIEW HAD THE SAME FAILURE. I HAVE SEEN AT LEAST FIVE OTHER SAME MODLE SAME YEAR CARS WITH THIS DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #742876

Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 1998
Exterior Lighting

DRIVING AT NIGHT HEAD LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER BACK & FORTH (DARK, LIGHT, DARK, LIGHT). PASSENGER'S SIDE HAS 10 FEET BLACKOUT. TOOK TO DEALER. TOLD HADLIGHTS ARE DESIGNED WITH A CORRIGATED REFLECTOR BEHIND THEM, AND IT THROWS A VENETIAN BLIND EFFECT ONTO HIGHWAY, LIKE SHINING A LIGHT TROUGH A BLIND/ARK AND LIGHT SHADOWS. THERE IS N…

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DRIVING AT NIGHT HEAD LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER BACK & FORTH (DARK, LIGHT, DARK, LIGHT). PASSENGER'S SIDE HAS 10 FEET BLACKOUT. TOOK TO DEALER. TOLD HADLIGHTS ARE DESIGNED WITH A CORRIGATED REFLECTOR BEHIND THEM, AND IT THROWS A VENETIAN BLIND EFFECT ONTO HIGHWAY, LIKE SHINING A LIGHT TROUGH A BLIND/ARK AND LIGHT SHADOWS. THERE IS NO PERIPHERAL VISION TO THE RIGHT. ON CURVES CANNOT EVEN SEE A GAURD RAIL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #823960

Official recalls

2

99V070000 · Electrical System:alternator/generator/regulator

Apr 12, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN DEVELOP IN THE GENERATOR, EVEN WHEN THE ENGINE IS OFF.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD CAUSE AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE THAT COULD SPREAD TO THE REST OF THE VEHICLE AND ANYTHING NEAR IT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE GENERATOR.

98V144000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

Jun 26, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR 'LOW' SPEED FUNCTION CAN BECOME INOPERATIVE WHEN THE MOTOR IS SWITCHED FROM 'HIGH' TO 'LOW' SPEED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY COULD BE AFFECTED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR COVER WHICH CONTAINS THE MICROPROCESSOR.

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

2

RQ03001 · 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.

RQ99013 · Cadillac Coolant Cooled Alternator Fires

Opened Jun 10, 1999 · Closed Feb 22, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

No summary supplied.