1989 Cadillac Deville Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 Cadillac Deville, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Driver assistance1931.1%
- Engine813.1%
- Brakes711.5%
- Electrical58.2%
- Other / unspecified46.6%
- Body & structure34.9%
- Fuel system34.9%
- Transmission34.9%
- Seat belts23.3%
- Steering23.3%
- Visibility23.3%
- Powertrain (other)11.6%
- Tires & wheels11.6%
- Interior & seats11.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
1989 CADILLAC DEVILLE CP SPEED ACTUATOR - HIGH IDLE / RUNAWAY VEHICLE - HAVE REPLACED 3 TIMES PROBLEMS STILL HAPPENING. NOW I WILL NOT DRIVE THIS CAR FOR FEAR OF A ACCIDENT! I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF ANY OTHER CONSUMERS HAD SAME PROBLEMS AND IT IS CONFIRMED! "INCIDENTS NUMEROUS TIMES". *TR
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ACCELERATED, AND WENT OUT OF CONTROL. CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS SOMETHING CALLED AN ACCELERATOR MOTOR THAT MALFUNCTIONED. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACE THE IDLE SPEED SENSOR.*AK FRONT CALIPERS AND ROTORS BURNED UP. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE CALIPERS, ROTORS AND FLUSHED THE BRAKE FLUID. *BF *NM
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WOULD NOT PASS EMISSIONS DUE TO MISFIRE AND NOX CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTION (MOST LIKELY DUE TO PROBLEMS IN ONLY A FEW CYLINDERS). POSSIBLE CAUSES INCLUDE LEAN AIR/FUEL RATIO, PORT VACUUM LEAKS, EGR SYSTEM, ERRATIC IGNITION TIMING, AND/OR OTHER MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. *TR
FAN BELT FAILED.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ACCELERATED, AND WENT OUT OF CONTROL. CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS SOMETHING CALLED AN ACCELERATOR MOTOR THAT MALFUNCTIONED. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACE THE IDLE SPEED SENSOR.*AK FRONT CALIPERS AND ROTORS BURNED UP. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE CALIPERS, ROTORS AND FLUSHED THE BRAKE FLUID. *BF *NM
AFTER ACCELERATING THROTTLE KEEPS PUMPING, DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND CAN NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK ALTERNATOR FAILED, FRONT BRAKES MAKE NOISES, ALSO THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED.*YH *YH
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
AFTER ACCELERATING THROTTLE KEEPS PUMPING, DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND CAN NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK ALTERNATOR FAILED, FRONT BRAKES MAKE NOISES, ALSO THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED.*YH *YH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND IN A MINOR COLLISION. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
1989 CADILLAC DEVILLE CP SPEED ACTUATOR - HIGH IDLE / RUNAWAY VEHICLE - HAVE REPLACED 3 TIMES PROBLEMS STILL HAPPENING. NOW I WILL NOT DRIVE THIS CAR FOR FEAR OF A ACCIDENT! I WENT ONLINE TO SEE IF ANY OTHER CONSUMERS HAD SAME PROBLEMS AND IT IS CONFIRMED! "INCIDENTS NUMEROUS TIMES". *TR
THE TIRE AND RIM ASSEMBLY ON THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER CAME OFF DAMAGING THE FRONT FENDER (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
HOOD ON FRONT CAR FELL CLOSED BY ITSELF AND LATCHED CLOSED. MY FINGERS WERE ON FENDER AT THE TIME IT FELL. MY FINGERS WERE SMASHED BETWEEN THE HOOD AND THE FENDER. I COULD NOT GET THEM OUT. I HAD TO SCREAM FOR SOMEONE TO OPEN THE HOOD FROM INSIDE THE CAR SINCE I WAS TRAPPED. MY FINGERS CAME VERY CLOSE TO BEING CUT OFF. THERE WAS NO WIND OR ANY OUTSIDE CAUSES FOR THE HOOD TO FALL. THE HOOD WAS ALL THE WAY OPEN AND I DID NOT DO ANYTHING IMPROPER TO CAUSE THIS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THE HOOD SUPPORTS ARE A DESIGNED IN FLAW THAT CAUSED THIS TO HAPPEN. THEY DO NOT ADEQUATELY SUPPORT THE HOOD. HOOD HAS NEVER FALLEN BEFORE. *NM
TRANSAXLE MOUNT (BOTTOM MOUNT): 2 BOTTOM BOLTS SHEAR OFF FROM TRANSAXLE SIDE AT THE SAME TIME. STEM PART OF BOLT STILL LEFT INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION ORIFICE. POSSIBLE WRONG BOLT STRENGTH. BOTH BOLTS ARE ORIGINAL PARTS.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
AFTER ACCELERATING THROTTLE KEEPS PUMPING, DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, AND CAN NOT CORRECT PROBLEM. *AK ALTERNATOR FAILED, FRONT BRAKES MAKE NOISES, ALSO THE FUEL FILTER WAS REPLACED.*YH *YH
HAD NEW TIRES PUT ON VEHICLE, AND DEALER NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A GAS LEAK. TOOK THE CAR TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO REMOVED THE GAS TANK BECAUSE IT SAT ON TOP OF THE THE FUEL SENDING UNIT. FUEL SENDING UNIT RUSTED BECAUSE MOISTURE BACKED UP IN THE LINES. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
TRANSMISSION THROTTLE VALVE FAILED, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION.
VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN DUE TO FAILED IDLE SPEED CONTROL.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DOES NOT STAY LOCK. TT
SHOULDER/LAP BELT BUCKLE DOESN'T LOCK IT POPS OPEN. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
STEERING WHEEL BOLT LOOSENED CAUSING WHEEL TO MOVE UP AND DOWN WITH NO CONTROL.
TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS WILL NOT SHUT OFF WHEN COMPLETING A TURN, STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT LOCK WHEN VEHICLE'S IGNITION IS OFF. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED.
ARM REST ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WITH ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FAILED. MJS
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY FELL APART AND DROPPED FRONT END ONTO THE PAVEMNENT.*AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE TIRE AND RIM ASSEMBLY ON THE RIGHT FRONT CORNER CAME OFF DAMAGING THE FRONT FENDER (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
POWER SEAT TRACK BROKE, CAUSING SEAT TO DISCONNECT. *SKD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .