Complaints
310
Crashes
19
Fires
3
Injuries
22
Fatalities
3
Recalls
0
Worst 1998 Cadillac Deville Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#129 complaints
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Avg mileage:75,749 mi
Fires:1
#214 complaints
Air Bags:Side/Window
Avg mileage:121,058 mi
Crash-related:2
#313 complaints
Air Bags:Frontal
Avg mileage:120,000 mi
Crash-related:3
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1998 Cadillac Deville.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 29 | — | 1 | 75,749 mi | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 14 | 2 | — | 121,058 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 13 | 3 | — | 120,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 13 | — | — | 10,000 mi | |
| Airbags | 12 | 4 | — | 46,335 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 12 | — | — | 90,000 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 10 | 1 | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices | 9 | — | — | 57,395 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 8 | — | — | 87,667 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 8 | 1 | — | 170,000 mi | |
| Electrical Faults | 7 | — | — | 44,060 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 7 | 1 | — | 98,904 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 6 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 6 | — | — | 30,705 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 | — | — | 87,000 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 5 | — | — | 72,756 mi | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 5 | — | — | 39,216 mi | |
| Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | 5 | — | — | 95,333 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 5 | — | — | 130 mi | |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 4 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc) | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 4 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior | 4 | — | — | — |
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
29
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
75,749
Air Bags:Side/Window
14
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
121,058
Air Bags:Frontal
13
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
120,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
10,000
Airbags
12
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
46,335
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
90,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices
9
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
57,395
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System
8
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
87,667
Unintended Acceleration
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
170,000
Electrical Faults
7
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
44,060
Engine & Cooling
7
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
98,904
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
30,705
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
87,000
Headlight/Taillight Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
72,756
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
39,216
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
95,333
Suspension Failures
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
130
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc)
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Power Window Devices And Controls
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices:Exterior
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1998 Cadillac Deville. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Cadillac Deville Years
1998 Cadillac Deville — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1998 Cadillac Deville reliable?
Verdict: High Complaint Volume. The 1998 Cadillac Deville has 310 NHTSA complaints, 19 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Exterior Lighting:Headlights with 29 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1998 Cadillac Deville?
Top reported problems: Exterior Lighting:Headlights (29 complaints, avg 75,749 mi); Air Bags:Side/Window (14 complaints, avg 121,058 mi); Air Bags:Frontal (13 complaints, avg 120,000 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1998 Cadillac Deville?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 76,396 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1998 Cadillac Deville?
NHTSA complaints for the 1998 Cadillac Deville include 19 crash-related reports, 3 fire reports, 22 injuries, and 3 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 1998 Cadillac Deville have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1998 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 1998 Cadillac Deville?
This year has a higher-than-normal complaint volume. It's not an automatic no, but focus inspection on the top reported issue (exterior lighting:headlights) and verify open recalls have been addressed.
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 1998 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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