RoadVitals

1978 Cadillac Deville

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
4
Latest Aug 12, 2011
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
4
Latest May 4, 1979
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 4 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1978 Cadillac Deville, most frequently naming the tires & wheels, brakes and fuel system categories. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Tires & wheels250.0%
  • Brakes125.0%
  • Fuel system125.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
79V111000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

May 4, 1979
372,466 units potentially affected
The defect: THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH AN ACCELERATOR PEDAL HAVING AN EXTENSION, OR RUBBER FLAP, AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PEDAL. THIS PEDAL FLAP COULD BE INADVERTENTLY DISPLACED BY A FLOOR COVERING AND WEDGED UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL IN A MANNER THAT CAN INFLUENCE THE THROTTLE SETTING AND INCREASE THE ENGINE IDLE RPM.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL REMOVE THE RUBBER FLAP FROM THE ACCELERATOR.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
78V189000

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Aug 30, 1978
388,867 units potentially affected
The defect: IF PAPER OR OTHER COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS ARE PLACED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ASHTRAY RECEPTACLE, THEY COULD BECOME IGNITED AND FLAMES FROM THE FIRE MAY REACH THE INTERIOR OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL.
The remedy: OWNER WILL BE SENT A METAL HEAT SHIELD TO BE INSTALLED ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, EITHER BY THE OWNER OR BY THE DEALER.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
77V200000

WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

Nov 16, 1977
4,504 units potentially affected
The defect: THE REAR WHEEL MOUNTING BOLTS ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES, ARE BRITTLE AND THEREFORE MAY FRACTURE. THIS BRITTLENESS IS DUE TO IMPROPER HEAT TREATMENT DURING MANUFACTURE. IF THE BOLTS BREAK, THE TIRE AND WHEEL ASSEMBLY MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
The remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE DEFECTIVE BOLTS ON ALL AXLES AND THE TEN REAR AXLE WHEEL MOUNTING BOLTS, FREE OF CHARGE.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 12, 2011

JETZON INNOVATION TIRE, P225/75R15, DOT U9HH, RCJ, 5110, D121, RADIAL DENSION 0341, 44210-1, R25502. THIS TIRE WAS MOUNTED AND IMMEDIATELY SEPARATED WHEN PARKED IN MY GARAGE AT HOME. THE OBVIOUS PROBLEM IS THE RUSTED STEEL IT WAS MANUFACTURED ON AND THE LACK OF ADHESION TO IT. I INFORMED THE COMPANY AND WAS TOLD IT WAS CAUSED BY MOUNTING AND WOULD NOT BE REPLACED. I AM 100% SURE THIS TIRE DEFECTIVE AND ANYONE MOUNTING THIS TIRE WOULD HAVE EXPOSED THE DEFECT. THIS TIRE WAS NOT EXPOSED TO THE ELEMENTS AND THE RUBBER AROUND THE RUSTED STEEL RIM BELT APPEARS TO HAVE DRY ROT LIKE CRACKS. I HAVE THE TIRE AND PHOTO'S TO SEND AT YOUR REQUEST. *TR UPDATED 12/15/11

NHTSA ID
10419227
Incident
Jul 2, 2011
Fuel system
Filed Jun 24, 1997

FUEL LEAK DUE TO A PUNCTURED FUEL LINE. *AK

NHTSA ID
517893
Incident
May 1, 1997
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 4, 1996

SEARS TIRE BLOWOUT. *SD

NHTSA ID
502033
Incident
Mar 4, 1996
Brakes
Filed Aug 21, 1995

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

NHTSA ID
970767

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Cadillac Deville by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005951042.4
20041671044.6
20031444051.7
20021765053.9
20011754159.9
20002255159.6
19991871254.3
19982373358.5
19972692555.2
19962182557.5
19951292660.7
19941270449.0
1993921048.8
19921351154.0
1991871458.1
1990762362.2
1989481046.9
1988281250.3
1987402358.6
1986223556.5
1985192455.8
1984613—
1983513—
1982321—
1981100—
1979110—
1978Viewing440—
1977120—
1976300—
1974210—
1973100—
1972020—
1971010—
1964100—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.