Problems · by component

1998 Cadillac Deville exterior lighting problems

43 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Cadillac Deville cite exterior lighting, 18% of all 242 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
43
18% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the exterior lighting

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I AS DRIVING ON A FARMED MARKET ROAD (F.M.) APPROX. 55 MPH. AND THE RIGHT HEADLIGHT LENS FLEW OFF THE CAR. LUCKILY THERE WASN'T ANY OTHER CARS BEHIND ME, AND THERE WASN'T ANY DAMAGE TO MY CAR AND/OR ANYONE ELSES VEHICLE. AFTER I RETURNED HOME, I CHECKED THE DRIVER'S SIDE LENS TO DISCOVER IT WAS LOOSE AS WELL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 22, 2012Exterior lightingODI 10462802
“NOTICED THAT ONE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WAS OUT, BUT I STILL HAD THE HIGH BEAM. A FEW DAYS LATER BOTH WERE OUT. WENT TO AUTO PARTS STORE TO HAVE THEM PUT IN NEW BULBS AND THEY NOTICED THE THAT PLASTIC COVER WAS MISSING AND THEY SAID THAT CAUSED THE BULBS TO SHORT OUT. FROM READING OTHER COMPLAINTS I'M AFRAID I WILL HAVE TO PAY HUNDREDS FOR A NEW ASSEMBLY WHEN ALL I NEED IS A PLASTIC COVER. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 2, 2011Exterior lightingODI 10373815
“HEADLAMP LENSES CLOUD REDUCING NIGHTTIME VISIBILITY FOR DRIVER AND FOR OTHER VEHICLES. POLYCARBONATE LENSES DISCOLOR AND TURN YELLOW. PROBLEM IS PERVASIVE ACROSS MOST MAKES AND MODELS. REPLACEMENT LENSES ARE VERY COSTLY. THE PROBLEM DID NOT EXIST WHEN GLASS HEADLAMPS WERE USED, AND REPLACEMENT WAS INEXPENSIVE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 14, 2010Exterior lightingODI 10365635
“1.BOTH FRONT HEADLIGHT LENS/COVERS FELL OFF. ONE RECOVERED. ADHESIVE ATTACHING COVER TO HEADLIGHT WAS STILL ON COVER, HARDENED; NO ADHESIVE IS ON HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. NO SIGNS OF STRESS TO HEADLIGHT OR SURROUNDING BODYWORK. 2. DRIVING IN RAIN CAUSES ALL FOUR BULBS IN HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY TO FAIL WITH RESULTING INSTANTANEOUS LOSS ON HEADLIGHT (HIGH AND LOW BEAMS) AND TURN AND POSITION LIGHTS. 3. BULBS REPLACED, RECOVERED COVER EPOXIED TO HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY, HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY WITH MISSING COVER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PARTS, EXCEPT FAILED BULBS,CURRENTLY INSTALLED IN OUT OF SERVICE CAR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 12, 2009Exterior lightingODI 10261683
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE PLASTIC LENS OF THE EXTERIOR HEADLAMPS DEVELOPED A YELLOWISH TINT OVER TIME, WHICH REDUCES VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THEY WOULD ATTEMPT TO CLEAN THE LENS. IF THAT REMEDY FAILS, THE CONTACT WILL HAVE TO REPLACE THE EXTERIOR HEADLAMPS AT THE COST OF $300 EACH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 66,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 20, 2008Exterior lightingODI 10239065
“TL* - THE CONTACT HAS A 1998 CADILLAC DEVILLE WITH AN ODOMETER READING OF 133000 MILES AND BOTH HEADLIGHT UNITS ARE CLOUDY. THE CONTACT SAID THAT THE VISIBILITY IS VERY POOR AN THERE IS NO WAY TO CLEAN THEM TO IMPROVE VISIBILITY. WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN IT BECOMES DIFFICULT TO SEE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER (CARAMGO CADILLAC) AND HE WAS TOLD THAT BOTH HEAD LIGHT UNITS NEED TO BE REPLACED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 11, 2007Exterior lightingODI 10178432

Showing 6 of 43 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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