RoadVitals

1994 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.
50
Latest Aug 22, 2014
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
12
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.
9

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1994 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

  • Engine2139.6%
  • Electrical611.3%
  • Visibility59.4%
  • Brakes47.5%
  • Airbags35.7%
  • Transmission35.7%
  • Fuel system23.8%
  • Steering23.8%
  • Tires & wheels23.8%
  • Heating & air conditioning23.8%
  • Driver assistance23.8%
  • Exterior lighting11.9%

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

Engine

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

21
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

1994 CADILLAC SEVILLE HAD HOT COOLANT POUR ONTO THE DRIVER'S FOOT CAUSING SEVERE BURNS.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE HEATER CORE HAD RUPTURED, IN ADDITION THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE WATER PUMP WATER PUMP HOUSING, HOSES AND THERMOSTAT. *JB

NHTSA ID 10130250 · filed Jul 22, 2005

OIL WAS LEAKING OUT THE LOWER CRANK CASE, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE THE ENGINE TO FAIL. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BY CONSUMER, AND WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID 10115845 · filed Mar 25, 2005
All 21 reports naming engine

Electrical

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

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THIS VEHICLE IS FACTORY EQUIPPED WITH A DELCO/BOSE SOUND SYSTEM. I WAS DRIVING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY AT 5 MPH. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 3 MINUTES AND 1/4 MILE, THE RADIO SOUND BECAME DISTORTED AND INTERRUPTED. THE VEHICLE'S VOLTAGE DISPLAY INDICATED 13.3 VOLTS, RATHER THAN THE NORMAL 14.2 OR ABOVE. I TURNED OFF THE RADIO. I NOTICED AN ODOR I IDENTIFIED AS "HOT ELECTRICAL." I IMMEDIATELY PULLED INTO A NEIGHBOR'S DRIVEWAY AND SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE'S IGNITION KEY. VISIBLE SMOKE WAS FLOWING INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE AREA OF THE LEFT REAR RADIO SPEAKER UNDER THE REAR WINDOW. I OPENED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT HOOD TO ACCESS THE BATTERY AND OPENED THE TRUNK. THE TRUNK LINER MATERIAL ON THE ROOF OF THE TRUNK BETWEEN THE SEAT BACK AND TRUNK OPENING WAS BURNING. THE FLAMES WERE SPREADING IN A CIRCULAR PATTERN CENTERED ON THE LEFT REAR SPEAKER. I PULLED THE BURNING MATERIAL FROM THE VEHICLE AS MY FRIEND BROUGHT ME A DRY CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHER. I PUT OUT THE FIRE AS ANOTHER FRIEND DISCONNECTED THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE. THESE SPEAKERS HAVE AN ELECTRONIC MODULE MOUNTED TO THEM. THE MODULE WAS BURNED AND THE WIRES LEADING TO IT WERE BURNED AS FAR BACK AS THE TRUNK LINING MATERIAL HAD BURNED. I ISOLATED THE BURNED MODULE AND DAMAGED PORTION OF THE WIRES LEADING TO IT BY CUTTING THE WIRE HARNESS. I INSULATED THE WIRES AND CONNECTED THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE STARTED NORMALLY. THE RADIO PLAYED NORMALLY THROUGH THE REMAINING SPEAKERS. THE VOLTAGE INDICATOR SHOWED NORMAL VOLTAGE, 14.2 - 14.3 VOLTS. I OBSERVED NO ANOMALIES OR WARNINGS. NO FUSES NOR CIRCUIT BREAKERS TRIPPED TO INTERRUPT THE POWER TO THE MODULE AND PREVENT THE FIRE. THE DAMAGE WAS LIMITED TO THE SPEAKER AND SURROUNDING TRUNK LINING MATERIAL. I AM SURE IF THIS ISSUE BEGAN AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO A FIRE EXTINGUISHER, THE RESULT WOULD HAVE BEEN A TOTAL LOSS OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID 10627490 · filed Aug 22, 2014

THE POSITIVE POST OF THE BATTERY WAS CRACKED AND LEAKED ACID. THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM HAD FAILED DUE TO THE POSITIVE TERMINAL BOLT CORRODING. SCC *JB

NHTSA ID 10008874 · filed Mar 3, 2003

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

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

5
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING HE FELT BOILING WATER HIT HIS FEET. HE HAD TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AND PARK IT. THIS CAUSED BURNS TO BOTH OF HIS FEET. HE IS A MECHANIC AND FEELS IT IS BECAUSE THE HEATER CORE BUSTED. HE HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE OF THE BURNS TO HIS FEET. *AK

NHTSA ID 10142997 · filed Nov 17, 2005

1994 CADILLAC SEVILLE HAD HOT COOLANT POUR ONTO THE DRIVER'S FOOT CAUSING SEVERE BURNS.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. UPON INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE HEATER CORE HAD RUPTURED, IN ADDITION THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE WATER PUMP WATER PUMP HOUSING, HOSES AND THERMOSTAT. *JB

NHTSA ID 10130250 · filed Jul 22, 2005

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

Brakes

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

4
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I CALL THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE SYSTEM OVERHEATING AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT DOING ANYTHING IN HELPING ME WITH THE VEHICLE, NOT EVEN TOWTRUCK. I CALL THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN BEFORE MY WARRANTY IS ABOUT TO EXPIRED AND HE SAID HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME. THE BRAKES WERE BAD ON THE CAR AND THE COOLING SYSTEM HAD A HOLE IN IT.

NHTSA ID 10070788 · filed Jan 15, 2004

REAR BRAKES LOCKED UP WHILE DRIVING FIVE TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR, CAUSING THE REAR BRAKE PADS TO SMOKE AND CATCH ON FIRE. CONSUMER REPLACED THE REAR CALIPERS/ROTORS AND MASTER CYLINDER. CONSUMER CALLED GMC, AND WAS TOLD THAT WARRANTY EXPIRED, AND THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. EACH TIME THIS HAPPENED CONSUMER WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. *AK

NHTSA ID 10045782 · filed Nov 8, 2003

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

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION. UPON IMPACT. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, AND WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

NHTSA ID 10067047 · filed Apr 12, 2004

THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN AIR BAG PROBLEM. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. *AK *SC THE VEHICLE HIT A LIGHT POLE. *JB

NHTSA ID 10056041 · filed Apr 1, 2004

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

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I UNDERSTAND FROM MY MECHANIC THAT THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL CASES OF CRACKED TRANSMISSION CASES, WHICH ARE VERY EXPENSIVE. I WOULD HAVE HOPED THAT CADILLAC WOULD PAY FOR THE PARTS TO REPAIR THIS REPAIR, SINCE IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATILITY. DO PEOPLE HAVE TO DIE BEFORE A SAFETY ISSUE LIKE THIS IS ACTED UPON? *AK

NHTSA ID 742152 · filed Mar 8, 2001

OIL PAN GASKET LEAKING.....THERES BEEN A SERVICE BULLITEN ALERT PUT OUT ON THIS IN FEB. 1996. MY TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED IN 1997 AND THE GASKET SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT THIS TIME. OIL IS LEAKING FAIRLY BAD AND I WAS INFORMED BY CADILLAC MECHANIC THAT THE OIL GOING BACK ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM AND THE CAD. CONVERTER COULD CAUGHT FIRE. I'M TRYING TO GET CADALLIC TO REPLACE THIS GASKET AT THEIR COST. THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME $1500.00 TO REPLACE THIS $28.00 PART. ANY HELP YOU COULD GIVE ME WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *AK

NHTSA ID 717968 · filed Jan 27, 2000

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

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT IN 7-04. HE BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2000. WHEN HE DROPPED THE FUEL TANK TO GET TO THE FUEL PUMP HE NOTICED THE ELECTRICAL WIRES GOING INTO THE PUMP WERE BLACK. WHEN HE UNSCREWED THE PUMP HE NOTICED THAT ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL WERE WIRES WERE FRIED. HE TOOK THE FUEL PUMP TO A COUPLE OF CAR PARTS RETAIL PLACES, AND THEY TOLD HIM THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT. A MECHANIC AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONTACT THAT WHEN RUN NINES THE CAR A LOT THE FUEL PUMP LOOKED LIKE THAT, THE WIRES WERE FRIED TOGETHER. THE MECHANIC IMPLIED THAT HE HAD SEEN A LOT OF FUEL PUMPS IN CADILLAC THAT LOOKED LIKE THAT. ALSO, TOLD THE CONTACT THAT BECAUSE THE FUEL TANK WAS SEALED IT WAS MORE THAN LIKELY IT WILL NOT CATCH ON FIRE.*AK

NHTSA ID 10137563 · filed Sep 26, 2005

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER DIAGNOSED THAT FUEL PUMP SHORTED OUT. CONSUMER REPLACED IT WITH NEWLY DESIGNED FUEL PUMP.*AKTHE ORIGINAL PUMP HAD A FAULTY DESIGN WHICH CAUSED IT TO COLLAPSE SQUEEZING THE HOT GROUND WIRING TOGETHER RESULTING IN THE FUEL PUMP SHORTING OUT AND BLOWING THE PUMP FUSE. NLM

NHTSA ID 897170 · filed Oct 2, 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.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

GREASE USED TO LUBRICATE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN SHORTED OUT THE TURN SIGNAL AND STARTED SMOKING WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN USE. MJS

NHTSA ID 547266 · filed Jul 12, 1999

STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN, IT TIGHTENS UP AND MAKES A LOT OF NOISE WHEN TURNING THE WHELL TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT.*AK

NHTSA ID 803465 · filed Oct 11, 1996

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

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

I CALL THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE SYSTEM OVERHEATING AFTER A FEW WEEKS OF PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY COULD NOT DOING ANYTHING IN HELPING ME WITH THE VEHICLE, NOT EVEN TOWTRUCK. I CALL THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN BEFORE MY WARRANTY IS ABOUT TO EXPIRED AND HE SAID HE COULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO HELP ME. THE BRAKES WERE BAD ON THE CAR AND THE COOLING SYSTEM HAD A HOLE IN IT.

NHTSA ID 10070788 · filed Jan 15, 2004

TIRE WAS SO HOT INSERT ON HUB CAPE BLEW OFF CAR.*AK

NHTSA ID 763462 · filed Jun 25, 2002

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

Heating & air conditioning

Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID 734099 · filed Oct 12, 2000

WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR CLUTCH ASSEMBLY FAILED. IT MADE CONTACT WITH A POWER STEARING LINE. THIS BROKE A BRACKETT ALOWING THE POWER STEARING LINE TO CONTACT A AIR CONDITIONER LINE FITTING. THIS ACTION NEARLY RUPTURED THE POWER STEARING LINE. HAD THIS HAPPENED THERE WOULD BE POSSIBLE LOSS OF CONTROL AND FIRE DANGER.*AK

NHTSA ID 708572 · filed Jul 13, 1999

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

THE THROTTLE IS STILL OPEN AFTER RELEASING THE GAS PEDAL, CAUSING THE CAR TO CONTINUE MOVEMENT WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. SIMILAR TO RECALL CAMPAIGN 93V164000. *NM

NHTSA ID 10167892 · filed Sep 11, 2006

VEHICLE SURGES FOR NO REASON WHILE VEHICLE IS AT A STAND STILL. OWNER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERS FOR PROBLEM, WHERE NO FAULT CODE WAS FOUND. *AK

NHTSA ID 823006 · filed May 1, 1998

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

THE EMERGENCY HAZARD LIGHT IS HARD TO GET TO IN AN EMERGENCY THE DESIGN. TT

NHTSA ID 962114 · filed Mar 16, 1995

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 .