IllustrationUNABLE TO PASS ILLINOIS VEHICLE INSPECTION BECAUSE THE SPEED CONTROL HAS NOT WORK ED IN YEARS I'M UNABLE TO PASS THE POLLUTION TEST. *TR
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
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
11 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS THEN ENGAGED, BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND WOULD NOT STOP. AFTER APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES, THE CRUISE CONTROL EVENTUALLY DISENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS THEN ENGAGED, BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND WOULD NOT STOP. AFTER APPROXIMATELY TWO MILES, THE CRUISE CONTROL EVENTUALLY DISENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V183000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE, BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
THE CRUISE WAS ENGAGED AND THE CAR ACCELERATED. TAPPING BRAKE AND MANUALLY SHUTTING OFF CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH DID NOT SLOW IT DOWN. *BF NAR *JLS THE IDLE AIR CONTROL WAS OCCASIONALLY INOPERABLE. *SC
WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE ENGAGED THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TWICE. TAPPING BRAKE AND MANUALLY SHUTTING OFF CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT SLOW THE CAR DOWN. *BF THE CONSUMER HAD TO BRAKE HARD, PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE IT RAN [PROPERLY. THE VEHICL…
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WHILE DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE ENGAGED THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TWICE. TAPPING BRAKE AND MANUALLY SHUTTING OFF CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT SLOW THE CAR DOWN. *BF THE CONSUMER HAD TO BRAKE HARD, PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND SHUT OFF THE ENGINE TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP. UPON RESTARTING THE VEHICLE IT RAN [PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THAT THE IAC MOTOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. *NM
PROBLEMS WITH 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. *MR WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL, IT DIDN'T DISENGAGE. CONSUMER SWITCHED CRUISE CONTROL OFF, BUT IT STILL FAILED TO DISENGAGE. THUS TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. CONSUMER THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND WITHOUT WARNING ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN.…
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PROBLEMS WITH 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM. *MR WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN CRUISE CONTROL, IT DIDN'T DISENGAGE. CONSUMER SWITCHED CRUISE CONTROL OFF, BUT IT STILL FAILED TO DISENGAGE. THUS TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. CONSUMER THEN RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND WITHOUT WARNING ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. *LA
CONSUMER STATES THAT GAS PEDAL HANGS UP, HAVE TO ADD EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO BREAK FREE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LAUCH FORWARD AT A HIGH SPEED.*JB DEALER FOUND INTERNAL BINDING IN THE THROTTLE BODY AND REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY AND GASKET. *SLC
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKING WHICH CAUSES SUDDEN ACCELERATION. CONSUMER HAD TO PUT VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND STEP ON PEDAL A FEW TIMES TO RELEASE IT. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED, BOTH WHEN COLD AND HOT, IN ALL GEAR SELECTOR POSITIONS, AND AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE PEDAL WILL NOR DEPRESS NORMALLY. TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL, A MODERATE FORCE IS REQUIRED. WHEN THIS IS DONE, THE PEDAL LINKAGE THEN MAKES A "SNAPPING SOUND" AND THE PEDAL THEN ADVANCES SUDDEN…
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WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED, BOTH WHEN COLD AND HOT, IN ALL GEAR SELECTOR POSITIONS, AND AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE PEDAL WILL NOR DEPRESS NORMALLY. TO DEPRESS THE PEDAL, A MODERATE FORCE IS REQUIRED. WHEN THIS IS DONE, THE PEDAL LINKAGE THEN MAKES A "SNAPPING SOUND" AND THE PEDAL THEN ADVANCES SUDDENLY, CAUSING THE ENGINE RPM TO RACE. IF THE CAR IS IN ANY GEAR WHEN THIS IS DONE (DRIVE OR REVERSE), THE VEHICLE WILL THEN EITHER LURCH FORWARD OR IN REVERSE. THE DEALER SERVICED THIS PROBLEM FOR THE FIRST TIME ON FEB 6, 1999, AT WHICH TIME THEY DIAGNOSED THE CAUSE AS FOREIGN MATERIAL AND REPLACED THE J5490 BODY UNIT, THROTTLE. THIS SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH. IN MARCH 1999, THE CONDITION REAPPEARED, AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE J5330 CABLE, ACCELERATOR CONTROL. THIS REPAIR SOLVED THE PROBLEM FOR SIX WEEKS. DURING THE WEEK OF 19 APRIL 1999, THE CONDITION REAPPEARED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. I TALKED TO THE DEALER'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT TO SCHEDULE FOLLOW-ON MAINTENANCE ON APRIL 29. I ASKED THEMIF THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT APPEARED TO BE, BASED ON THE NUMBERS OF 1996-1998 CARS THEY WERE SEEING WITH SIMILAR CONDITIONS.
WHILE DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPACE THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD, RUNNING INTO A BUILDING AND CAUSED INJURY AND A FATALITY. ALSO, TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
WHEN TRAVELING ABOUT 20MPH THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD ACTIVATE BY ITSELF. OWNER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT CEMENT FLOWER URN. MANUFACTURER SENT INSPECTOR TO LOOK AT VEHICLE. NOTHING WAS FOUND. *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.