AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
1998 Cadillac Deville
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Overview
Our database contains 237 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Cadillac Deville, most frequently naming the exterior lighting, brakes and airbags categories. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 78 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 2002 | 2 | 135 |
| Jul 2002 | 4 | 139 |
| Aug 2002 | 1 | 140 |
| Sep 2002 | 4 | 144 |
| Oct 2002 | 2 | 146 |
| Nov 2002 | 1 | 147 |
| Feb 2003 | 2 | 149 |
| Mar 2003 | 1 | 150 |
| Apr 2003 | 3 | 153 |
| Jul 2003 | 3 | 156 |
| Aug 2003 | 3 | 159 |
| Sep 2003 | 4 | 163 |
| Oct 2003 | 1 | 164 |
| Jan 2004 | 3 | 167 |
| Feb 2004 | 2 | 169 |
| Mar 2004 | 2 | 171 |
| Apr 2004 | 4 | 175 |
| Jun 2004 | 2 | 177 |
| Jul 2004 | 1 | 178 |
| Aug 2004 | 2 | 180 |
| Oct 2004 | 1 | 181 |
| Nov 2004 | 3 | 184 |
| Dec 2004 | 2 | 186 |
| Jan 2005 | 1 | 187 |
| Mar 2005 | 3 | 190 |
| Apr 2005 | 4 | 194 |
| May 2005 | 1 | 195 |
| Jul 2005 | 1 | 196 |
| Aug 2005 | 1 | 197 |
| Oct 2005 | 2 | 199 |
| Jan 2006 | 1 | 200 |
| Feb 2006 | 1 | 201 |
| Mar 2006 | 2 | 203 |
| Jul 2006 | 1 | 204 |
| Aug 2006 | 1 | 205 |
| Oct 2006 | 2 | 207 |
| Nov 2006 | 3 | 210 |
| Jan 2007 | 1 | 211 |
| Feb 2007 | 1 | 212 |
| May 2007 | 1 | 213 |
| Oct 2007 | 1 | 214 |
| Jan 2008 | 1 | 215 |
| Aug 2008 | 4 | 219 |
| Dec 2008 | 1 | 220 |
| Mar 2009 | 1 | 221 |
| Jun 2010 | 1 | 222 |
| Nov 2010 | 2 | 224 |
| Jan 2011 | 1 | 225 |
| Jun 2011 | 1 | 226 |
| Jul 2011 | 1 | 227 |
| Feb 2012 | 1 | 228 |
| Jun 2012 | 1 | 229 |
| May 2014 | 1 | 230 |
| Oct 2014 | 1 | 231 |
| Feb 2015 | 1 | 232 |
| Apr 2015 | 1 | 233 |
| Jul 2015 | 1 | 234 |
| Mar 2017 | 1 | 235 |
| Dec 2017 | 1 | 236 |
| Feb 2018 | 1 | 237 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Exterior lighting4315.4%
- Brakes3612.9%
- Airbags3412.2%
- Engine3311.8%
- Electrical196.8%
- Visibility176.1%
- Fuel system165.7%
- Steering155.4%
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
3 campaigns cover this model year
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.govSTRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE
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.
INADVERTENT OF SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG
There is no summary currently available
INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF SIDE AIR BAG
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.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
MY 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE NEEDS A VITAL PART TO IT'S ABS/TRACTION CONTROL FUNCTION. HOWEVER, GM HAS DISCONTINUED MAKING THE PART, (#19244918)WITH NO AVAILABLE SUBSTITUTE. THEREFORE, LEAVING MY CAR WITH NO ABS OR TRACTION CONTROL. ALSO, THE TRANSMISSION NO LONGER ENGAGES 1ST GEAR. (A SUPPOSED SAFTEY MEASURE)WHICH IN MOST CASES, ONLY PUTS MY FAMILY'S SAFETY AT RISK. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW OR IF, GM CAN LEGALLY PUT PROFITS BEFORE SAFETY.
- NHTSA ID
- 11073152
- Incident
- Feb 7, 2018
- Mileage
- 82,000 mi
FUEL RAIL LINE IS MADE OF PLASTIC/NYLON AND HAS CRACKED NEAR ONE OF THE FUEL INJECTORS ON TOP OF THE ENGINE AND LEAKING FUEL ON MY MARCH 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE
- NHTSA ID
- 11052683
- Incident
- Dec 5, 2017
TAKATA RECALL. AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON A FEW DAYS AGO. ALSO, VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND NEEDED NEW WATER PUMP SEVERAL YEARS AGO. KEEP HAVING TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. SMOKE WAS COMING UP FROM FRONT AND TURN SIGNALS DID NOT WORK. HAD TO REPLACE FALL 2016 HORN DID NOT WORK, HAD TO REPLACE PART INSIDE STEERING WHEEL. JAN 2017
- NHTSA ID
- 10967955
- Incident
- Mar 21, 2017
- Mileage
- 4 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FUEL FUMES EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND TWO PIN SIZE HOLE ON THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE. AS A RESULT, THE FUEL LINES WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED WITH METAL LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,211.
- NHTSA ID
- 10731425
- Incident
- Jun 25, 2015
- Mileage
- 74,211 mi
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED FUEL LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL RAIL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. TH VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. ....UPDATED 07/22/15 *BF UPDATED 10/11/2017*CN
- NHTSA ID
- 10713316
- Incident
- Apr 14, 2015
THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AIRBAG SENSOR OF MY VEHICLE IN 2000. I WAS NOT AWARE OF @ THAT TIME BECAUSE I HAD NOT PURCHASED IT FROM THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP YET. ON FEB.16,2015 I CALLED THE 1800.458.8006 & WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE PART DIAGNOSED & FIXED IF NEEDED. THE REP. & I WENT BACK & FORTH AS TO WHO SHOULD PAY FOR THIS ETC.,.I CALLED AGAIN ON 2-19-2015 SPOKE WITH ANOTHER REP. STILL GOT THE SAME ANSWER.BASICALLY I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL WAS CLOSED OUT IN 2001. WHEN I ASKED BOTH REPS.THAT I SPOKE WITH IF THAT MEANT THERE WAS A EXPIRATION DATE, I WAS TOLD NO. THERE WERE OTHER QUESTIONS THAT I ASKED IN REFERENCE TO THE MATTER THAT DOES NOT ADD UP BETWEEN EACH REP. & THE LOCAL CADILLAC TECHNICIAN THAT THE FIRST REP. CONNECTED ME WITH. I NEED HELP IN SOLVING THIS PROBLEM.THE CASE # [XXX]. THERE ARE OTHER FACTORS I DOCUMENTED IF NEEDED. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10689881
- Incident
- Feb 19, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL FROM THE FUEL RAIL INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 04V110000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 10641665
- Incident
- Jan 14, 2014
- Mileage
- 120,000 mi
UNABLE TO PASS ILLINOIS VEHICLE INSPECTION BECAUSE THE SPEED CONTROL HAS NOT WORK ED IN YEARS I'M UNABLE TO PASS THE POLLUTION TEST. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10592858
- Incident
- Mar 4, 2011
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES; EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable. E version update is to add administrative details.
EQUIPMENT
This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
EQUIPMENT
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable.
EQUIPMENT
This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 95 | 1 | 0 | 42.4 |
| 2004 | 167 | 1 | 0 | 44.6 |
| 2003 | 144 | 4 | 0 | 51.7 |
| 2002 | 176 | 5 | 0 | 53.9 |
| 2001 | 175 | 4 | 1 | 59.9 |
| 2000 | 225 | 5 | 1 | 59.6 |
| 1999 | 187 | 1 | 2 | 54.3 |
| 1998Viewing | 237 | 3 | 3 | 58.5 |
| 1997 | 269 | 2 | 5 | 55.2 |
| 1996 | 218 | 2 | 5 | 57.5 |
| 1995 | 129 | 2 | 6 | 60.7 |
| 1994 | 127 | 0 | 4 | 49.0 |
| 1993 | 92 | 1 | 0 | 48.8 |
| 1992 | 135 | 1 | 1 | 54.0 |
| 1991 | 87 | 1 | 4 | 58.1 |
| 1990 | 76 | 2 | 3 | 62.2 |
| 1989 | 48 | 1 | 0 | 46.9 |
| 1988 | 28 | 1 | 2 | 50.3 |
| 1987 | 40 | 2 | 3 | 58.6 |
| 1986 | 22 | 3 | 5 | 56.5 |
| 1985 | 19 | 2 | 4 | 55.8 |
| 1984 | 6 | 1 | 3 | — |
| 1983 | 5 | 1 | 3 | — |
| 1982 | 3 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1981 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 4 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1964 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
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.