RoadVitals

1986 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.
11
Latest Oct 23, 2001
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.
3
Latest May 19, 2006
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.
1
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 Cadillac Seville, most frequently naming the engine, steering and brakes categories. 3 safety recalls have 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

  • Engine430.8%
  • Steering215.4%
  • Brakes215.4%
  • Exterior lighting17.7%
  • Suspension17.7%
  • Visibility17.7%
  • Electrical17.7%
  • Fuel system17.7%

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

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.gov
06E043000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

May 19, 2006
88,303 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
The risk: THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL, INC.View on NHTSA.gov
87V082000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Jun 4, 1987
37,481 units potentially affected
The defect: FLOOR MAT COULD BECOME MISPOSITIONED AND INTERFERE WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL.
The risk: THROTTLE MAY NOT RETURN TO THE CLOSED IDLE POSITIONCAUSING LOSS OF ACCELERATOR CONTROL WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASHWITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: REPLACE FLOOR MATS WITH NEWLY DESIGNED MATS THAT ARE LONGER AND HAVE IMPROVED RETENTION.
GENERAL MOTORS CORP.View on NHTSA.gov
87V047000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

Apr 6, 1987
56,783 units potentially affected
The defect: THE TWILIGHT SENTINEL POTENTIOMETER (THUMBWHEEL CONTROL) MIGHT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT.
The risk: WITH THE TWILIGHT SENTINEL SYSTEM ON, THE INTERMITTENTCIRCUIT COULD CAUSE HEADLIGHT AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS TO GO OUT. SUDDENLOSS OF HEADLIGHTS COULD REDUCE DRIVER VISIBILITY AND MIGHT RESULT IN A VEHICLECRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The remedy: INSTALL A NEW PART IN ONE OF THE VEHICLES CONTROL COMPUTERS TO PREVENT THIS CONDITION FROM OCCURING.
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

View all 11
Engine
Filed Oct 23, 2001
1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER HAS GONE UNCONSCIOUS DUE TO FUMES FROM THE EMISSION SYSTEM, WHICH CAUSES LOSS OF CONTROL AND CRASHES, CONSUMER STATES THE EMISSION SYSTEM IS WORN AND HAS 7 HOLES, CAN NOT GET IT REPLACED, CONSUMER HAS BEEN INJURED AND HAS BEEN IN FOUR ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS. *YH

NHTSA ID
563773
EngineSuspension
Filed May 1, 2001

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HAS A FAULTY EMISSION SYSTEM, THE FUMES AND SMOKE ARE BAD, CONSUMER STATES THIS CAUSES UNCONCIOUSNESS AND ACCIDENTS. *SLC

NHTSA ID
560908
Engine
Filed Feb 15, 2001
1 injury reported

THE MANIFOLD WAS NOT CONNECTED AND HOLES WERE IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM CAUSING FUMES INSIDE VEHICLE AND RESULTED IN CONSUMER FEELING ILL. NLM

NHTSA ID
559717
Incident
Oct 1, 2000
EngineVisibility
Filed Apr 20, 2000
Crash reported

ENGINE MANIFOLD WAS NOT CONNECTED AND FUMES THAT WERE RELEASED PUT CONSUMER TO SLEEP AT RED LIGHTS. ONCE CONSUMER HEARD CAR HITTING CONCRETE RAILS, AND COULD NOT WAKE UP. CONSUMER FELT THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE BECAUSE OF THE VENTILATION SYSTEM. CONSUMER FEARED CATCHING A LIVER DISEASE. *AK DUE TO INHALING FUMES, THE CUNSUMER ALSO BECAME UNCONSCIOUS WHILE DRIVING AND HIT TRUCK STOPPED AT LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *YH

NHTSA ID
860665
Incident
Apr 20, 2000
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 11, 1999

I PRESENTED A COPY OF THE FOLLOWING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 87V047000 COMPONENT: LIGHTING:SWITCH:BUTTON:RING:HEAD LIGHTS RECALL AND THE SERVICE MANAGER INFORMED ME THAT THERE ARE NO RE CALLS ON THIS CAR. SHOULD THE DEALER FIX THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITHOUT CHARGE? THANK YOU CONRAD SIMONEAU

NHTSA ID
702132
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Brakes
Filed Apr 4, 1997

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES VEHICLE ACCELERATED, ACCELERATOR PEDAL PULSATED, FELT LIKE VEHICLE WAS TRYING TO ENGAGE CRUISE. *AK

NHTSA ID
810725
Brakes
Filed Dec 11, 1996

DEFECTIVE BRAKE HOSES CAUSE BRAKES TO SQUEAL/SMOKE.

NHTSA ID
512561
Incident
Oct 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Sep 9, 1995

CONSUMER HAD A NEW ENGINE PUT IN MY CAR CAR IS NOT WORKING RIGHT WHEN AT LIGHT START TO MOVE CAR STALLS. TT

NHTSA ID
971908

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
1986Viewing113162.1
1985611—
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.