RoadVitals

1985 Cadillac Seville

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.
6
Latest Nov 30, 2006
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.
1
Latest Jun 16, 1989
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.
1
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 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1985 Cadillac Seville, most frequently naming the driver assistance, engine and fuel system categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 1 NHTSA investigation names it.

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

  • Driver assistance233.3%
  • Engine116.7%
  • Fuel system116.7%
  • Interior & seats116.7%
  • Steering116.7%

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

1 campaign 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.gov
89V102000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Jun 16, 1989
1,755,897 units potentially affected
The defect: A SMALL NYLON BUSHING IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL MAY SLIP OUT OF PLACE, CAUSING INTERMITTENT AND UNEXPECTED INCREASES IN ENGINE SPEED OR DIESELING (ENGINE RUN ON WITH IGNITION OFF).
The risk: SERVO ROD ASSEMBLY COULD CATCH ON ENGINE COMPONENTS ANDRESULT IN A STUCK THROTTLE WITH POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: INSTALL A NEW BUSHING IN CRUISE CONTROL SERVO BAIL.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

C89001ClosedInvestigation

THROTTLE NON-RETURN

Opened Mar 6, 1989
Closed Jan 16, 1990

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Recent owner complaints

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

Fuel system
Filed Nov 30, 2006

I HAVE A 1985 CADILLAC STS WITH ONLY 70,000 MILES ON IT. IT IS HOUSED IN A GARAGE AT ALL TIMES AND IN VERY GOOD CONDITION. I HAVE IT AT MY MECHANIC'S AS I WRITE THIS. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE HORRIFIC GAS SMELL I WAS EXPERIENCING IS A BIG PROBLEM. ACTUALLY, IT SUPPOSEDLY WAS A RECALL ON THE TUBING/FUEL LINES. I CALLED THE GM 1-800-222-1020 PHONE NUMBER ABOUT THE RECALL. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WOULD NOT BE COVERED. I ALSO DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT I SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A LETTER STATING THIS RECALL. I NEVER GOT ONE....I ALSO FOUND IN MY RESEARCH THAT THERE IS A RECALL/PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG GOING OFF WITHOUT PROVOCATION....I NEVER RECEIVED ANYTHING ON THAT EITHER. I AM GOING TO HAVE PAY OVER $300 TO GET THIS REPAIRED, AS WE WERE TOLD THAT THE FUEL LINE RECALL IS "NOT AN OPEN RECALL." WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? IT IS BEING FIXED FOR THE EXACT PROBLEM OF RECALL??!!! I WOULD APPRECIATE YOU CHECKING INTO THIS RECALL PROBLEM AND THE AIRBAG PROBLEM, AS I AM SURE I WILL HAVE TO DEAL WITH THAT AND PAY FOR THAT TOO! I AM QUICKLY LOSING MY LIKE FOR GM VEHICLES AND THAT IS ALL I HAVE EVER BOUGHT. DO I NEED TO GO FOREIGN? DO I HAVE TO CONTACT AN ATTORNEY REGARDING THIS MATTER, AS I OR SOMEONE ELSE COULD HAVE SERIOUSLY BEEN INJURED. YOUR PROMPT RESPONSE TO THIS MATTER WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10174838
Incident
Nov 30, 2006
Engine
Filed Dec 11, 1996

ENGINE BLOCK CORROSION. (1ST VEHICLE ON 602403)

NHTSA ID
512531
Incident
Sep 11, 1996
Driver assistance
Filed May 3, 1996

SUDDEN ACCELERATION.

NHTSA ID
503869
Incident
Apr 22, 1996
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 6, 1995

THE ENGINE ACCELERATES ALL BY ITSELF WHICH COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF ANOTHER AUTOS IN FRONT OF YOU. TT

NHTSA ID
971609
Steering
Filed Jun 6, 1995

POWER STEERING FAILED. *DH

NHTSA ID
486849
Incident
Jan 1, 1995
Interior & seats
Filed May 18, 1995

INTERIOR DESIGN OF DOOR LATCH PROHIBITS OCCUPANTS FROM EXITING THE VEHICLE/ONE CANNOT OPEN DOOR FROM INSIDE. TT

NHTSA ID
965521
Incident
May 18, 1993

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Cadillac Seville by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004900—
2003161030.0
2002452048.1
2001531043.3
2000382043.6
1999731145.2
1998652256.2
1997952359.2
19961222460.8
1995742461.8
1994502260.8
1993422152.4
1992271049.0
1991210046.7
1990193054.7
1989520—
1988111150.1
1987112144.0
1986113162.1
1985Viewing611—
1984111—
1983230—
1982040—
1981120—
1980010—
1979100—
1978220—
1977100—
1976010—

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.