RoadVitals

1988 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 Mar 28, 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.
1
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.
2
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 11 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Cadillac Seville, most frequently naming the brakes, driver assistance and engine 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

  • Brakes325.0%
  • Driver assistance216.7%
  • Engine216.7%
  • Other / unspecified18.3%
  • Body & structure18.3%
  • Steering18.3%
  • Electrical18.3%
  • Exterior lighting18.3%

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
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

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
Body & structure
Filed Mar 28, 2001

ROOF BLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMERTHAT THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. *AK THE CLOTH TOP FLEW OFF STRIKING THE VEHICLE BEHIND. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER DO NOT WANT TO ADDRESS THIS DEFECT. *YH

NHTSA ID
884493
Incident
Mar 26, 2001
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 20, 1999

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO BRAKE COMPONENTS DUE TO EXCESSIVE USE (OVERHEATING). MJS

NHTSA ID
550019
Incident
Nov 11, 1999
Electrical
Filed Oct 16, 1999

CAR WANT TO START BUT WON'T. *AK

NHTSA ID
713405
Engine
Filed Mar 1, 1999
Crash reported

THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE, AND THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR HIT A WALL AND WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID
833749
Engine
Filed May 29, 1998

THE HEAD GASKETS BLEW AND LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE OIL PAN OF THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
823769
Brakes
Filed Nov 5, 1997

FAILURE OF THE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSED LOSS OF BRAKING POWER.

NHTSA ID
524296
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 7, 1997

THE SOLENOID THAT KEEPS THE CAR IN OVERDRIVE FAILED, AND KEPT THE CAR IN OVERDRIVE, CAUSING CONTINUOUS ACCELERATION WHEN THE DRIVER WAS TRYING TO STOP THE CAR, THE CAR HAD TO BE PUT INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO BE STOPPED. *AK

NHTSA ID
813817
Incident
Apr 7, 1997
Steering
Filed Apr 22, 1997

STEERING ARMATURE HAS COME LOOSE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
811485

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—
1988Viewing111150.1
1987112144.0
1986113162.1
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.