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U.S. public vehicle records

1998 Cadillac SEVILLE problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

51 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

80,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 51 complaints (11.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior815.7%
Engine operation611.8%
Braking behavior59.8%
Transmission and shifting35.9%
Electrical and battery issues12.0%

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
6
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
6
Engine And Engine Cooling
5
Steering:Rack And Pinion
4
Air Bags:Frontal
3
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
3
Air Bags:Side/Window
2
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine6
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline6
Engine And Engine Cooling5
Steering:Rack And Pinion4
Air Bags:Frontal3
Exterior Lighting:Headlights3
Air Bags:Side/Window2
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator2

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 5; Steering:Rack And Pinion: 4; Air Bags:Frontal: 3; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 3; Air Bags:Side/Window: 2; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
2
50,000 to 74,999
7
75,000 to 99,999
8
100,000 to 149,999
6
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9992
50,000 to 74,9997
75,000 to 99,9998
100,000 to 149,9996
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 6; 150,000 and above: 2

75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 26 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.

2000
5
2001
1
2002
11
2003
9
2004
9
2005
3
2006
3
2007
3
2008
1
2009
2
2011
1
2012
1
2016
1
2017
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20005
20011
200211
20039
20049
20053
20063
20073
20081
20092
20111
20121
20161
20171

2000: 5; 2001: 1; 2002: 11; 2003: 9; 2004: 9; 2005: 3; 2006: 3; 2007: 3; 2008: 1; 2009: 2; 2011: 1; 2012: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 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 10001602 · 2002-12-27 (December 27, 2002)

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN THE VEHICLE LOST POWER STEERING AND THE MOUNT BROKE. TS THE STEERING IS VERY STIFF WHEN TURNING AT LOWER SPEEDS. *JG

Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001602 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10009435 · 2003-03-10 (March 10, 2003)

THE POWER STEERING WAS VERY STIFF, AND THE POWER STEERING PUMP WAS REPLACED. THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT BROKE AND HAT TO BE REPLACED. FRONT BRAKES WERE WORN TO THE SENSOR AND HAD TO BE RELINED.*TT *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 56,212 miles reported. Look up ODI 10009435 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10022363 · 2003-05-28 (May 28, 2003)

VEHICLE STALLS PERIODICALLY WHILE DECELERATING. PH

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10022363 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10101679 · 2004-11-26 (November 26, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR FOR THE FOURTH TIME. AGAIN CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10101679 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10070621 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

THERE IS SOME BILLS I DID NOT KEEP.BOUGHT THE CAR SEPT 4TH 1998. I HAD TO HAVE THEM MAKE REPAIRS EVERYTIME I TOOK IT IN FOR A OIL CHANGE, I DRIVE AN HOUR TO THE BARBOURSVILLE AUTOMALL, INC. IN WEST VA WHERE I BOUGHT IT. THE COMPUTER CONTROL CHIP FOR THE STRUT SENSOR IS STILL NOT FIXED, IT FLASHES DO NOT DRIVE OVER 90 MILES AN HOUR CONSTANTLY WHEN I DRIVE, WHICH IS DISTRACTING,THAT HAS BEEN DOING IT SINCE 12/02. THEY JUST PUT A NEW ONE IN AND IT ALSO DOES NOT WORK. THE FRONT SEAT HEATER WENT OUT IN NOVEMBER AND DID NOT GET ONE TILL APRIL. I TOLD…

Owner-reported narrative. 48,775 miles reported. Look up ODI 10070621 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10021618 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)

THE CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY SHIFTING THE GEARS WHEN A PASSER BY INFORMED HIM TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TOTALED THE VEHICLE. *NLM. *AK *CB *NLM THE CONSUMER NOTICED FIRE COMING FROM THE GEAR SHIFT AND WAS TOLD THE FIRE HAD COME FROM THE ENGINE. *SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10021618 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10031525 · 2003-07-28 (July 28, 2003)

THE CONSUMER WAS HAVING DIFFICULTY SHIFTING THE GEARS WHEN A PASSER BY INFORMED HIM TO EXIT THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TOTALED THE VEHICLE. *MR *CB *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031525 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10220263 · 2008-03-06 (March 6, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE SPEAKERS. THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE BATTERY WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE AND WAS REPLACED. SHORTLY AFTERWARDS, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WAS CAUSING THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 99V070000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR) AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE A FREE REMEDY…

Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10220263 at NHTSA ↗