vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

Cadillac DEVILLE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2,148 owner complaints analyzed

30 distinct recall campaigns

73,913 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1964 to 2005 model years. Data snapshot: . 990 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 267 of 2,148 complaints (12.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior34816.2%
Steering behavior27312.7%
Electrical and battery issues22410.4%
Engine operation2099.7%
Fuel system concerns884.1%
Transmission and shifting713.3%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
267
Air Bags
141
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
132
Steering
130
Engine
95
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
95
Vehicle Speed Control
94
Engine And Engine Cooling
82
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System267
Air Bags141
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine132
Steering130
Engine95
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline95
Vehicle Speed Control94
Engine And Engine Cooling82

Electrical System: 267; Air Bags: 141; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 132; Steering: 130; Engine: 95; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 95; Vehicle Speed Control: 94; Engine And Engine Cooling: 82

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
112
25,000 to 49,999
170
50,000 to 74,999
222
75,000 to 99,999
199
100,000 to 149,999
212
150,000 and above
75
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000112
25,000 to 49,999170
50,000 to 74,999222
75,000 to 99,999199
100,000 to 149,999212
150,000 and above75

Under 25,000: 112; 25,000 to 49,999: 170; 50,000 to 74,999: 222; 75,000 to 99,999: 199; 100,000 to 149,999: 212; 150,000 and above: 75

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (222). 1,158 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
156
1996
78
2000
214
2001
187
2002
191
2003
166
2004
165
2005
98
2006
89
2007
56
2008
71
2009
48
2010
64
2011
48
2012
30
2013
31
2014
277
2015
88
2016
26
2017
14
2018
14
2019
13
2020
9
2021
6
2022
3
2023
1
2024
1
2025
2
2026
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
1995156
199678
2000214
2001187
2002191
2003166
2004165
200598
200689
200756
200871
200948
201064
201148
201230
201331
2014277
201588
201626
201714
201814
201913
20209
20216
20223
20231
20241
20252
20262

1995: 156; 1996: 78; 2000: 214; 2001: 187; 2002: 191; 2003: 166; 2004: 165; 2005: 98; 2006: 89; 2007: 56; 2008: 71; 2009: 48; 2010: 64; 2011: 48; 2012: 30; 2013: 31; 2014: 277; 2015: 88; 2016: 26; 2017: 14; 2018: 14; 2019: 13; 2020: 9; 2021: 6; 2022: 3; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 2; 2026: 2

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 348 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 273 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 224 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 959516 · 1995-02-03 (February 3, 1995)

WHEN USING ON EMERGENCY FLASHER AND APPLYING BRAKES, BRAKES OVER RIDE FLASHERS. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959516 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 970767 · 1995-08-21 (August 21, 1995)

THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC CONTROL VALVE FAILED ON A MODULE THERE ARE NO BRAKE . TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 970767 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 979980 · 1996-03-01 (March 1, 1996)

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE MAKING A TURN, CAUSING TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 979980 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 558242 · 2000-12-01 (December 1, 2000)

WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN RIGHT AT ANY DEGREE GREATER THAN A LANE CHANGE, THE STEERING GIVES THE CONSUMER HIGH RESISTANCE, ESPECIALLY DURING A COLD START. *SLC

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 558242 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10244848 · 2008-10-08 (October 8, 2008)

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10244848 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 959142 · 1995-01-25 (January 25, 1995)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959142 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10101854 · 2004-11-30 (November 30, 2004)

RECALL 93E019000 REGARDING FUEL SYSTEM OTHER PARTS: WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER NOTICED FUEL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. A MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS UNDER A RECALL. CONSUMER CONTACTED A LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WOULD BE DONE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 90,995 miles reported. Look up ODI 10101854 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 501063 · 1996-01-28 (January 28, 1996)

WATER MIXED IN ENGINE OIL CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL. *SD

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501063 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 966291 · 1995-06-05 (June 5, 1995)

GAS TANK IS RUSTED; CAUSED FUEL LEAKAGE; CORRECTED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 966291 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 801604 · 1996-08-29 (August 29, 1996)

THE PLASTIC LINER INSIDE THE FUEL TANK, HAS COME LOOSE, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO STALL DURING OPERATION.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 801604 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 480316 · 1995-02-07 (February 7, 1995)

TRANSMISSION SUPPORTS/TRANSAXLE FAILED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480316 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10119094 · 2005-04-25 (April 25, 2005)

1987 CADILLAC DEVILLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED.*MR THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FIRE WAS DUE TO WIRING REPAIRS THAT WERE PERFORMED BY THE DEALER. PRIOR TO THE FIRE THE CONSUMER HAD OTHER REPAIRS DONE ON THE CAR SUCH AS A NEW RACK AND PINION, STRUTS, TRANSMISSION, RADIATOR, AND REPAIRS TO THE AIR CONDITION. *JB *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 108,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10119094 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1989
0
1990
0
1991
1
1992
1
1993
1
1994
0
1995
2
1996
2
1997
2
1998
3
1999
1
2000
5
2001
4
2002
5
2003
4
2004
1
2005
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19890
19900
19911
19921
19931
19940
19952
19962
19972
19983
19991
20005
20014
20025
20034
20041
20051

1989: 0; 1990: 0; 1991: 1; 1992: 1; 1993: 1; 1994: 0; 1995: 2; 1996: 2; 1997: 2; 1998: 3; 1999: 1; 2000: 5; 2001: 4; 2002: 5; 2003: 4; 2004: 1; 2005: 1

Year-by-year records

Cadillac DEVILLE model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
196410Not available
197101Not available
197202+1
197411Not available
197620Not available
197702+2
197834+2
197911-3
198110Not available
198221+1
198320-1
1984300
1985131+1
1986142+1
1987271-1
1988160-1
19892600
19905100
1991421+1
19927810
19935910
1994750-1
1995812+2
199613320
199718520
19981733+1
19991761-2
20002255+4
20011754-1
20021765+1
20031454-1
20041671-3
20059510