RoadVitals

1988 Cadillac Seville Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
8
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

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Cadillac Seville, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • 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.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

FAILURE OF THE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSED LOSS OF BRAKING POWER.

NHTSA ID 524296 · filed Nov 5, 1997

BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURIES. *AW

NHTSA ID 484897 · filed Aug 12, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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

NHTSA ID 550019 · filed Dec 20, 1999

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 · filed Jul 7, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Mar 1, 1999

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

NHTSA ID 823769 · filed May 29, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Other / unspecified

Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

LEFT FRONT WHEEL BROKE LOOSE FROM STUDS TO THE POINT OF ALMOST FALLING OFF VEHICLE. *TW

NHTSA ID 489564 · filed Apr 28, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Body & structure

Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Mar 28, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

STEERING ARMATURE HAS COME LOOSE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID 811485 · filed Apr 22, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

CAR WANT TO START BUT WON'T. *AK

NHTSA ID 713405 · filed Oct 16, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Exterior lighting

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AND THE DRIVER HITS A BUMP THE LIGHTS GO OUT. CONSUMER STATES THE CONTROL SWITCH WILL NOT STAY IN THE ON OR OFF POSITION AT TIMES. *JB

NHTSA ID 800049 · filed Jul 26, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .