Total Complaints
41 filings
CADILLAC DEVILLE · model year
1988 CADILLAC DEVILLE
41 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988CADILLACDEVILLE carries 41 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 3 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1988 DEVILLE is vehicle speed control with 7 filings, followed by tires (4) and engine and engine cooling:engine (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 10 investigation files overlapping the 1988 DEVILLE, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
41
Complaints
4
Crashes
3
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 7 |
| TIRES | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| STEERING | 3 |
| STEERING:RACK AND PINION | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | 2 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20020806STRUCTURE
HEADLINER WAS REPLACED. *SLC
20020806ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
MOTOR MOUNT WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK. *SLC
20020806ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
MOTOR MOUNT WAS REPLACED, CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK. *SLC
20020806TIRES
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS CUT. *SLC
20020806SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKED AND FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED. *SLC
20020806SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER LEAKED AND FRONT BRAKES WERE REPLACED. *SLC
20020806ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE HAD MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *SLC
20020128VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THROTTLE SENSOR SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED BECAUSE VEHICLE WILL IDLE/ REV UP, AND TRY TO MOVE WITHOUT CONSUMER STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
20010615WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
INSIDE OF LUGS: NUTS HAVE A LIP RING THAT TIGHTENS BOLTS, CAUSING BOLTS TO BE STRIPPED. LUGS: NUTS CAME LIKE THAT, AND CONSUMER WILL NOT CONSIDER PAYING FOR PROBLEM. WHEELS COULD COME OFF UNDER HEAVY STRESS.*AK
20010507TIRES
WHILE DRIVING TIRE SUDDENLY LOSS AIR PRESSURE, TIRE WAS REPLACED WITH SPARE, TIRE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION BUT NO BREAKS OR HOLES WERE FOUND, IT WOULD NOT HOLD AIR WHEN MECHANIC TRIED TO INFLATE IT, ON THE RIGHT REAR TIRE, THERE WAS A BULGE ABOUT THE SIZE OF A BASEBALL ON THE OUTSIDE OF TIRE, NEAR THE WHEEL RIM, AND A SMALL BULGE ABOUT 3 INCHES LONG AND ABOUT 1/2 INCH HIGH ON THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE, ALL 4 OHTSU (205/70 R14) V4NPL021700(3) AND V4NPJ09100(1) HAVE BEEN REPLACED.
20000919TIRES
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH FIRESTONE TIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF CRACKS ALL AROUND THE EDGES. *AK
20000918TIRES:TREAD/BELT
I WAS DRIVING ON A LOCAL SIDE STREET DOING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH. WITHOUT ANY WARNING I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND MY CAR VEERED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT ALMOST CAUSING ME TO LOSE CONTROL OF IT. DUE TO A LACK OF TRAFFIC AT THE MOMENT I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE CURB. THE NOISE WAS SO LOUD IT BROUGHT PEOPLE OUT OF THEIR HOUSES TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. IT WAS NOT OBVIOUS THAT I HAD TREAD SEPARATION BY WALKING AROUND LOOKING AT IT. I DISCOVERED THAT MY LEFT REAR TIRE HAD THE TREAD SEPARATED ALL THE WAY DOWN. IT HAS COPPER COLOR WIRES TWISTED IN LONG COILS WITH THE RUBBER STICKING UP OUT OF IT AND WAS SHARP TO THE TOUCH. A LARGE SLAB OF TREAD WAS ON THE TIRE BUT YOU COULD JUST LAY IT BACK. IT DIDN'T APPEAR TO HAVE LOST TREAD ON THE ROAD, JUST LOOKED LIKE SOMEONE HAD CUT IT NEATLY BACK, EXCEPT FOR THE TWISTED WIRE AND RUBBER IN SMALL STRANDS THAT WERE STICKING UP. HAD THERE BEEN ANOTHER CAR ONCOMING OR AT THE RIGHT OF ME IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED ME TO HIT THEM. I HAD A DIFFICULT TIME RETAINING CONTROL
20000505CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
APPROXIMATELY 1,OOO MILES AFTER REPLACING BRAKE PADS AND SHOES FOR FRONT BRAKES, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 2 REAREND ACCIDENTS. IN BOTH INSTANCES, VEHICLE WAS IN STOP AN GO TRAFFIC. CONSUMER APPLIED FULL FORCE ON BRAKES, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AFTER 2ND ACCIDENT. *AK
20000505CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
APPROXIMATELY 1,OOO MILES AFTER REPLACING BRAKE PADS AND SHOES FOR FRONT BRAKES, CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 2 REAREND ACCIDENTS. IN BOTH INSTANCES, VEHICLE WAS IN STOP AN GO TRAFFIC. CONSUMER APPLIED FULL FORCE ON BRAKES, VEHICLE DID NOT STOP, RESULTING IN ACCIDENTS. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS AFTER 2ND ACCIDENT. *AK
19990730STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
THE POWER STEERING IS HARD TO TURN IN COLD WEATHER. *YC
19981014VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE COLLISION.
19981010FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHILE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE REFUSED TO STOP WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED DUE TO IDLE SPEED CONTROL MOTOR FAILURE. VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. ALSO, BRAKES WERE SMOKING AND ON FIRE. VEHICLE HAD NO CUT OFF SWITCH TO STOP IT.
19981010FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE REFUSED TO STOP WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED DUE TO IDLE SPEED CONTROL MOTOR FAILURE. VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. ALSO, BRAKES WERE SMOKING AND ON FIRE. VEHICLE HAD NO CUT OFF SWITCH TO STOP IT.
19981010FireSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE REFUSED TO STOP WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED DUE TO IDLE SPEED CONTROL MOTOR FAILURE. VEHICLE LOST CONTROL. ALSO, BRAKES WERE SMOKING AND ON FIRE. VEHICLE HAD NO CUT OFF SWITCH TO STOP IT.
19980624TIRES
GILLETTE TIRE BLEW OUT CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. (P0215/70R14)
Compare 1988CADILLACDEVILLE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
PE24011Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Electronic Brake Module Component Failure
PE22006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Rear-View Camera Failure
PE19001Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Roof Skin Separation While Driving
EQ11001EQClosed
IEE Passenger Sensing System Mats
EA07017Engineering AnalysisClosed
REAR DRIVETRAIN COMPONENT FAILURE
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1988 CADILLAC DEVILLE have?▼
The 1988 CADILLAC DEVILLE has 41 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 3 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 CADILLAC DEVILLE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 CADILLAC DEVILLE is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE.
Is the 1988 CADILLAC DEVILLE safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.