Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Cadillac Deville submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 43 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 43, in the owner's own words
I AS DRIVING ON A FARMED MARKET ROAD (F.M.) APPROX. 55 MPH. AND THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT LENS FLEW OFF THE CAR. LUCKILY THERE WASN'T ANY OTHER CARS BEHIND ME, AND THERE WASN'T ANY DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND/OR ANYONE ELSES VEHICLE. AFTER I RETURNED HOME, I CHECKED THE DRIVER'S SIDE LENS TO DISCOVER IT WAS LOOSE AS WELL.
NOTICED THAT ONE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT, BUT I STILL HAD THE HIGH BEAM. A FEW DAYS LATER BOTH WERE OUT. WENT TO AUTO PARTS STORE TO HAVE THEM PUT IN NEW BULBS AND THEY NOTICED THE THAT PLASTIC COVER WAS MISSING AND THEY SAID THAT CAUSED THE BULBS TO SHORT OUT. FROM READING OTHER COMPLAINTS I'M AFRAID I WILL HAVE TO PAY HUNDREDS FOR A NEW ASSEMBLY WHEN ALL I NEED IS A PLASTIC COVER. *TR
HEADLAMP LENSES CLOUD REDUCING NIGHTTIME VISIBILITY FOR DRIVER AND FOR OTHER VEHICLES. POLYCARBONATE LENSES DISCOLOR AND TURN YELLOW. PROBLEM IS PERVASIVE ACROSS MOST MAKES AND MODELS. REPLACEMENT LENSES ARE VERY COSTLY. THE PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST WHEN GLASS HEADLAMPS WERE USED, AND REPLACEMENT WAS INEXPENSIVE. *TR
1.BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHT LENS/COVERS FELL OFF. ONE RECOVERED. ADHESIVE ATTACHING COVER TO HEADLIGHT WAS STILL ON COVER, HARDENED; NO ADHESIVE IS ON HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. NO SIGNS OF STRESS TO HEADLIGHT OR SURROUNDING BODYWORK. 2. DRIVING IN RAIN CAUSES ALL FOUR BULBS IN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO FAIL WITH RESULTING INSTANTANEOUS LOSS ON HEADLIGHT (HIGH AND LOW BEAMS) AND TURN AND POSITION LIGHTS. 3. BULBS REPLACED, RECOVERED COVER EPOXIED TO HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH MISSING COVER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PARTS, EXCEPT FAILED BULBS,CURRENTLY INSTALLED IN OUT OF SERVICE CAR. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE PLASTIC LENS OF THE EXTERIOR HEADLAMPS DEVELOPED A YELLOWISH TINT OVER TIME, WHICH REDUCES VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD ATTEMPT TO CLEAN THE LENS. IF THAT REMEDY FAILS, THE CONTACT WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE EXTERIOR HEADLAMPS AT THE COST OF $300 EACH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.
TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 133000 MILES AND BOTH HEADLIGHT UNITS ARE CLOUDY. THE CONTACT SAID THAT THE VISIBILITY IS VERY POOR AN THERE IS NO WAY TO CLEAN THEM TO IMPROVE VISIBILITY. WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO SEE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER (CARAMGO CADILLAC) AND HE WAS TOLD THAT BOTH HEAD LIGHT UNITS NEED TO BE REPLACED.
HEADLIGHT LENS FALLS OFF. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE'S OIL AND ANTIFREEZE LEAKED CAUSING THE INTAKE AND OUTTAKE OF THE ENGINE TO RUST, IN TURN CAUSING THE PIPE TO BUST AND THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW ENGINE TO FIX THIS ISSUE. UPDATED 12.8/2006 - 4.6 LITER NORTHSTAR ENGINE. THE L/F WINDOW WAS INOPERATIVE. THE BRAKES PULSATED. THE SES LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE HEADLIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE HEADLIGHT COVER FELL OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE HEADLIGHT LENS BECAME FADED AND CLOUDY DUE TO SUN AND WEATHER CONDITIONS. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS LESS VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION; HOWEVER NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. UPDATED 3/28/2006 - *NM
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE PLASTIC HEADLAMP COVER AND SEAL FLEW OFF OF MY CAR ONTO MOVING TRAFFIC. I CALLED THE CADILLAC DEARSHIP IN WHICH THEY SAY I HAVE TO REPLACE THE WHOLE ENTIRE HEADLAMP WHICH WILL COST $300. THE HEADLAMP HAD DRY CRACKED GLUE AROUND IT WHERE IT SEEMED LIKE THE GLUE GOT OLD AND STARTED TO CRACK.
THE ABS TRACTION CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING AND THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THIS DEALER REPAIR SHOP FOR THIS PROBLEM SINCE AUG. 2002 AND THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH BRAKE FAILURES AND EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE KEEP RECURRING. *JB ANNTENA STUCK UP. POWER ANTENNA ASSEMBLY REPLACED. OIL LEVEL LOW AND OIL LIGHT IS ON. THERE WAS NO READING ON THE DIPSTICK. HAD TO ADD TWO QUARTS OF OIL AFTER DRIVING 1500 MILES. OIL LIFE INDICATOR WAS RESET. PISTON, ROD AND OIL RINGS REPLACED. DRIVERS SIDE HEADLIGHT COVER FELL OFF WITH BULB BURNT OUT. HEADLAMP HOUSING ASSEMBLY REPLACED. CONSUMER WENT TO START VEHICLE AND IT WOULDN'T START. BATTERY REPLACED. CATALYTIC CONVERTER RATTLING. DRIVERS SIDE HEATED SEAT/SWITCH INOPERATIVE. WHILE GIVING GAS HESITATES; STRUGGLES UP A HILL. SPARK PLUG WIRE REPLACED. NOTIFICATION BY POSTCARD. ORDERED PARTS. DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WON'T GO UP. REPLACED LEFT DOOR WINDOW SWITCH. SES LIGHT ON. EXHAUST RECIRCULATION VALVE (EGR) REPLACED. TRANSMISSION MAKES A GRINDING NOISE ON FAST ACCELERATION. DEALER FOUND THE EXHAUST PIPE AT THE REAR OF THE CONVERTER SHIFTING A CROSS BRACE WHEN ACCELERATING. REARVIEW MIRROR BROKE OFF BASE. *TT
NO NOTED EVENT. THE HEADLIGHT LENS FOR 98 CADILLACS, (NOT SURE IF THIS APPLIES TO OTHER YEARS AS WELL) COMES LOSE AND LEAVES THE INNER ELEMENTS EXPOSED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM WITH MANY CADILLACS DURING THIS PERIOD. I HAD TO PURCHASE 2 HEADLIGHTS. WHAT GUARANTEE DO I HAVE THAT THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. WHY ARE THEY USING SUBSTANDARD MATERIAL. *NM
BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHT LENSES CAME OFF ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING 70-75 MPH IN THE RAIN. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK
CONSUMER REPORTED HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO OPERATE WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER NOTICED THE HEADLIGHT LENS WAS MISSING 0R FELL OFF. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK
IN 2001, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT LENS ON MY 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE FELL OFF. THE DEALER, HERITAGE CADILLAC, REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY AT NO COST, SINCE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. ON 11/6/04, THE LEFT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FELL OFF. I HAVE NOT YET DISCUSSED THE PROBLEM WITH THE DEALER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT LENS FELL OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
HEADLIGHT COVER SHEARED OFF WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CONTACT THE DEALER FOR AN APPOINTMENT TO INSPECT AND REPAIR THE VEHICLE. *AK
THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT LENS FELL OFF UNNOTICED WHILE DRIVING, AND THE LEFT HEADLIGHT LENS WAS LOST. INSURANCE INSPECTOR INDICATED THAT THE LENSES HAD A FACTORY DEFECT. *AK *NM
DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT COVER FELL OFF BECAUSE IT WAS LOOSE. CONSUMER DIDN'T KNOW WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS FELL OFF. THE DRIVER'S SIDE COVER WAS DRY AND BRITTLE. *AK *MR
HEADLIGHT LENS CAME OFF WHILE DRIVING. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT PASSENGER'S SIDE LENS WAS REPLACE DUE TO A RECALL A YEAR AGO. BUT, DRIVER'S SIDE WAS NOT ON RECALL. *AK THERE ARE TWO OCCURRENCES OF THE HEADLIGHT LENS COMING OFF THE VEHICLE. FIRST HAPPENED ON THE DRIVER SIDE THEN THE SECOND ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. INSURANCE COMPANY PAID FOR THE REPAIR OF THE FIRST FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT LENS, BUT NOT ON THE SECOND INCIDENT BECAUSE IT WAS SAID THAT IT WAS A FACTORY FAILURE. *LA
WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH LENS ON DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLAMP CAME OFF AND HIT THE WINDSHIELD. *AK
TWO DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS OF 2003 I NOTICED THE CLEAR PLASTIC OUTSIDE SHIELD TO MY DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WAS MISSING, IT JUST FELL OFF. NOW THIS COVER IS PART OF A SEALED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO PROTECT THE LIGHT BULBS FROM THE WEATHER ELEMENTS SO THAT THEY WILL NOT BURN OUT. THIS PART IS SUPPOSE TO BE PERMANENTLY GLUE TOGETHER BUT APPARENTLY IT WASN'T, SO I CHECKED THE OTHER SIDE AND IT WAS LOOSE AND IT FELL OFF IN MY HAND. I DROVE TO MY LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER TO ASK THEM ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND TO SEE IF THEY HAD NEW SHIELDS. THE PARTS MANAGER PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY IS ONE PIECE AND HE TOLD ME THAT THEY KEEP THEM IN STOCK BECAUSE THEY HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THEM ALL THE TIME. THE COST OF THESE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES ARE $250.00 A PIECE FOR A PART THAT SHOULD LAST A LIFE TIME UNLESS DAMAGED IN AN ACCIDENT. I ASKED HIM IF THERE WAS SOME KIND OF RECALL AND HE SAID NO. MY CONCERN ABOUT THIS WHOLE THING IS WHEN THE WEATHER ELEMENTS HIT MY HEADLIGHT BULB IT BLEW IT OUT. IF I WOULDN'T HAVE NOTICE MY OTHER COVER WAS LOOSE I WOULD HAVE LOST ALL LIGHTING AND MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. I WENT TO AN AUTO WRECKER AND BOUGHT A USED HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY FOR $160.00 AND I HAVE THE OTHER COVER BUNGEE STRAPPED ON. I CONTACTED GM BY E-MAIL SEVERAL WEEKS AGO ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND THEY NEVER RESPONDED TO MY E-MAIL AND I KNOW THEY GOT IT. I THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO BLOW ME OFF SO THAT NOTHING COMES OF THIS, SO I HOPE SOMEONE WILL REVIEW THIS PROBLEM AND HELP ME AND OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BUT NEVER SAID ANYTHING ABOUT IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP CLIFF DILLING [email protected] *JB
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE HEADLIGHTS LENS WILL FALL OFF, CAUSING A DISTRACTING TO CONSUMER VIEW. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK *TS
WHILE DRIVING, THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT LENS FELL OFF. ABOUT A WEEK LATER, THE LEFT HEADLIGHT LENS OFF. THE DEALER STATED THE GLUE HAD DETERIORATED DUE TO AGE. *AK *CB *JB
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