HEADLINER WAS REPLACED. *SLC
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.
What owners actually said
28 reportsTHROTTLE SENSOR SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE VEHICLE WILL IDLE/ REV UP, AND TRY TO MOVE WITHOUT CONSUMER STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
INSIDE OF LUGS: NUTS HAVE A LIP RING THAT TIGHTENS BOLTS, CAUSING BOLTS TO BE STRIPPED. LUGS: NUTS CAME LIKE THAT, AND CONSUMER WILL NOT CONSIDER PAYING FOR PROBLEM. WHEELS COULD COME OFF UNDER HEAVY STRESS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING TIRE SUDDENLY LOSS AIR PRESSURE, TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH SPARE, TIRE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION BUT NO BREAKS OR HOLES WERE FOUND, IT WOULD NOT HOLD AIR WHEN MECHANIC TRIED TO INFLATE IT, ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, THERE WAS A BULGE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL ON THE OUTSIDE OF TIRE, NEAR THE WHEEL RIM, AND A SMALL B…
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WHILE DRIVING TIRE SUDDENLY LOSS AIR PRESSURE, TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH SPARE, TIRE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION BUT NO BREAKS OR HOLES WERE FOUND, IT WOULD NOT HOLD AIR WHEN MECHANIC TRIED TO INFLATE IT, ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, THERE WAS A BULGE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL ON THE OUTSIDE OF TIRE, NEAR THE WHEEL RIM, AND A SMALL BULGE ABOUT 3 INCHES LONG AND ABOUT 1/2 INCH HIGH ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE, ALL 4 OHTSU (205/70 R14) V4NPL021700(3) AND V4NPJ09100(1) HAVE BEEN REPLACED.
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH FIRESTONE TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF CRACKS ALL AROUND THE EDGES. *AK
I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL SIDE STREET DOING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. WITHOUT ANY WARNING I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND MY CAR VEERED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT ALMOST CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF IT. DUE TO A LACK OF TRAFFIC AT THE MOMENT I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE CURB. THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD IT BROUGHT PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOUSES TO SEE W…
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I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL SIDE STREET DOING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. WITHOUT ANY WARNING I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND MY CAR VEERED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT ALMOST CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF IT. DUE TO A LACK OF TRAFFIC AT THE MOMENT I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE CURB. THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD IT BROUGHT PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOUSES TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. IT WAS NOT OBVIOUS THAT I HAD TREAD SEPARATION BY WALKING AROUND LOOKING AT IT. I DISCOVERED THAT MY LEFT REAR TIRE HAD THE TREAD SEPARATED ALL THE WAY DOWN. IT HAS COPPER COLOR WIRES TWISTED IN LONG COILS WITH THE RUBBER STICKING UP OUT OF IT AND WAS SHARP TO THE TOUCH. A LARGE SLAB OF TREAD WAS ON THE TIRE BUT YOU COULD JUST LAY IT BACK. IT DIDN'T APPEAR TO HAVE LOST TREAD ON THE ROAD, JUST LOOKED LIKE SOMEONE HAD CUT IT NEATLY BACK, EXCEPT FOR THE TWISTED WIRE AND RUBBER IN SMALL STRANDS THAT WERE STICKING UP. HAD THERE BEEN ANOTHER CAR ONCOMING OR AT THE RIGHT OF ME IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO HIT THEM. I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME RETAINING CONTROL OF THE CAR. I HAD 4 OF THESE TIRES ALL PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME AT THE LOCAL FIRSTONE DEALER AND STILL HAVE 3 OF THEM ON MY CAR. I CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THESE CHANGED AND AM AFRAID TO DRIVE ON THEM. I WENT TO THE SAME DEALER I PURCHASED THEM FROM AND HE SAID HE COULD CHECK THEM BUT COULD NOT REPLACE THEM. BECAUSE I HAD A GOODYEAR TIRE REPLACED FOR THE BAD ONE, THEY WOULD NOT OFFER TO PAY OR IN ANY WAY COMPENSATE ME FOR IT. I AM FEARFUL FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS SAFETY WHO ARE DRIVING ON THESE TIRES. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR NEED CLARIFICATION PLEASE DO NOT HESTITATE TO CONTACT ME BY E-MAIL OR TELEPHONE. I HAVE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE, SO I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I ANSWERED WHAT YOU NEEDED TO KNOW OR NOT. THANK YOU.*AK( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P205/75R14 )
APPROXIMATELY 1,OOO MILES AFTER REPLACING BRAKE PADS AND SHOES FOR FRONT BRAKES, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 2 REAREND ACCIDENTS. IN BOTH INSTANCES, VEHICLE WAS IN STOP AN GO TRAFFIC. CONSUMER APPLIED FULL FORCE ON BRAKES, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AFTER 2ND ACCIDENT. *AK
THE POWER STEERING IS HARD TO TURN IN COLD WEATHER. *YC
WHILE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE REFUSED TO STOP WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED DUE TO IDLE SPEED CONTROL MOTOR FAILURE. VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. ALSO, BRAKES WERE SMOKING AND ON FIRE. VEHICLE HAD NO CUT OFF SWITCH TO STOP IT.
CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE'S OIL CHANGED, AND THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE OIL PAN WAS RUSTING AT THE BOTTOM, AND THERE WAS A PIN HOLE IN IT. NO DENTS OR DAMAGES DONE TO IT,. THE PIN HOLE IN IT WOULD GET BIGGER AND WORSE, AND OIL WILL CONSTANTLY COME OUT. *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.===
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