Complaints
41
Crashes
4
Fires
3
Injuries
2
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1988 Cadillac Deville Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#17 complaints
Unintended Acceleration
Crash-related:1
#24 complaints
Tire Defects
#33 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1988 Cadillac Deville.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unintended Acceleration | 7 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 2 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Brake Master Cylinder | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs | 1 | — | — | — |
Unintended Acceleration
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Rack And Pinion
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brake Master Cylinder
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1988 Cadillac Deville. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Cadillac Deville Years
1988 Cadillac Deville — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1988 Cadillac Deville reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1988 Cadillac Deville has 41 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Unintended Acceleration with 7 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1988 Cadillac Deville?
Top reported problems: Unintended Acceleration (7 complaints); Tire Defects (4 complaints); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (3 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1988 Cadillac Deville?
NHTSA complaints for the 1988 Cadillac Deville include 4 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1988 Cadillac Deville have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1988 Cadillac Deville as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1988 Cadillac Deville?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Cadillac Deville reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1988 Cadillac Deville
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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