Problems · NHTSA complaints

1996 Cadillac Deville problems

Owners filed 225 complaints about the 1996 Cadillac Deville with NHTSA between Dec 1995 and Dec 2018. The most-cited component is steering (44).

Complaints
225
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
12
Reported by owners
Fires
8
Reported by owners
Injuries
13
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Steering44
  2. Engine and engine cooling40
  3. Fuel system, gasoline32
  4. Vehicle speed control22
  5. Service brakes, hydraulic19
  6. Electrical system18
  7. Air bags13
  8. Exterior lighting12
  9. Power train8
  10. Tires6
  11. Suspension6
  12. Seats6
  13. Equipment6
  14. Seat belts4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19952
199617
199741
199828
199912
200026
20017
200218
200314
200422
200511
20062
20079
20085
20092
20103
20111
20121
20130
20140
20152
20161
20170
20181

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Steering

44 reports1 crash1 fire
“CAR LOSES POWER COMPLETELY AND CUTS OFF. THERE IS NO ELECTRIC OR ENGINE AVAILABLE AND THE CAR MUST BE RESTARTED IN ORDER TO PROCEED IN TRAFFIC. THIS FAILURE USUALLY OCCURS AT LOW RATES (20-35MPH) OF SPEED BUT ESPECIALLY WHEN TURNING CORNERS. POWER STEERING IS DIMINISHED DUE TO POWER FAILURE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 21, 2008Engine and engine cooling, SteeringODI 10215524

Engine and engine cooling

40 reports3 fires
“MY FATHER PURCHASED A 1996 SEDAN DEVILLE BRAND NEW. HE PASSED AWAY IN APRIL 1998. MY MOTHER DROVE THE CAR UNTIL THIS YEAR. SHE GAVE ME THE CAR. THE CAR HAS APPROX 17,000 MILES. I JUST FOUND OUT THE CAR HAS A BLOWN REAR HEAD GASKET. I REALIZE THE CAR IS 15 YRS OLD BUT I FEEL THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. THE CAR WAS NEVER ABUSED AND STILL SMELLS NEW INSIDE. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE WITH GM? *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 15, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10396042

Fuel system, gasoline

32 reports2 fires1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 04V110000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE: DELIVERY: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS) YET THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE AFTER REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED AND THE MECHANIC ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE PLASTIC TUBING CONNECTED TO THE STAINLESS STEEL FUEL RAIL FAILED, CAUSING FUEL TO SPRAY INTO THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE TUBING WAS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED THEREFORE THEY COULD NOT AUTHORIZE THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 154,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 8, 2010Fuel system, gasolineODI 10364962

Vehicle speed control

22 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED UNTIL HEAVY PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER YET THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 90,201.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 19, 2010Vehicle speed controlODI 10350630

Service brakes, hydraulic

19 reports1 crash1 fire
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RUBBER PART OF THE BRAKE LINE SPLIT INTO TWO SEPARATE PIECES WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH. THE BRAKES COULD NOT BE USED AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND GEARS WERE APPLIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. GENERAL MOTORS STATED THAT SOMEONE WOULD LOOK INTO THE FAILURE AT SOME POINT. THE CONTACT IS A MECHANIC AND STATED THAT HE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT OCCUR ON A VEHICLE. HE STATED THAT THE BRACKET THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE STRUT IS BEING STRETCHED BEYOND ITS LIMIT, WHICH AFTER TIME WILL EVENTUALLY SPLIT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,210 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 138,449. UPDATED 09/10/08 *BF THE METAL BRACKET THAT HOLDS THE RUBBER PART OF THE BRAKE LINE IS CUTTING THE RUBBER LINE RIGHT AT THE TOP OF THE BRACKET . UPDATED 09/18/08. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 1, 2008Service brakes, hydraulicODI 10236632

Electrical system

18 reports3 fires
“INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WENT BLANK WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING LOSS OF GAUGE FUNCTION AND ALL TELL-TALE INDICATORS EXCEPT FOR ABS, SIR, PARK BRAKE AND SERVICE ENGINE SOON. CHECKED FUSES AND LET THE VEHICLE SIT. STARTED VEHICLE FOLLOWING DAY TO CHECK, INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WORKED. DRIVING VEHICLE FOLLOWING DAY, INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER WORKING, CLUSTER WENT BLANK AFTER DRIVING FOR 15 MINUTES. PARKED VEHICLE, CHECKED 1 HOUR LATER, CLUSTER BLANK, THEN FADED IN AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES. THIS OCCURRED AT LEAST 2 MORE TIMES WHILE DRIVING AND IS STARTLING WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT. WHEN RESEARCHING TO SEE IF THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS I OBSERVED A RECALL FOR THE 1996 SEVILLE, NOT THE DEVILLE, BUT FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID# IS 95V224000 FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD# 101. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 18, 2007Electrical systemODI 10212256
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.