CADILLAC DEVILLE · model year

1991 CADILLAC DEVILLE

105 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1991CADILLACDEVILLE carries 105 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 9 crashes, 10 fires, 8 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 1991 DEVILLE is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 20 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (7) and power train:automatic transmission (4). 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 1991 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.

105
Complaints
9
Crashes
10
Fires
8
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

105 filings

Crashes Reported

9 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP20
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE7
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY3
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL2
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS2

Recent Complaints

20181013FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

VEHICLE STARTED LEAKING FUEL UNDERNEATH AT THE NYLON FUEL LINE. I HAD IT REPAIRED AND IT STARTED LEAKING IN A DIFFERENT LOCATION. APPARENTLY THE ENTIRE LINE IS FAULTY AND I CANNOT EVEN SEEM TO FIND A REPLACEMENT. FIRE HAZARD!

Mileage: 89,000

20150821ENGINE

I HAD NO IDEA THIS VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL I ACTUALLY OWN A 1984 CADILLAC SEDAN DEVILLE, IT HAD A GAS LEAK WHICH ROTTED OUT THE TIMING CHAIN CASING, AND KNOCKED TEETH DOWN INTO THE GEAR BOX. I JUST REALIZED THIS CAR WAS RECALLED BECAUSE OF THE FUEL LEAKS AND THE ROTTING PARTS UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I PAID NEARLY 6,000 IN 2004 THINKING I WAS BUYING A GREAT COLLECTOR ONE TIME PREVIOUS OWNER. THEN I ENDED UP WITH A LEMON, I STORED IT CAUSE I SEE THEY SELL FOR AROUND 35K FIXED UP. BUT I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD STILL BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL THE ENGINE AND FUEL PUMP WORK.

Mileage: 50,000

20150821FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I HAD NO IDEA THIS VEHICLE WAS UNDER RECALL I ACTUALLY OWN A 1984 CADILLAC SEDAN DEVILLE, IT HAD A GAS LEAK WHICH ROTTED OUT THE TIMING CHAIN CASING, AND KNOCKED TEETH DOWN INTO THE GEAR BOX. I JUST REALIZED THIS CAR WAS RECALLED BECAUSE OF THE FUEL LEAKS AND THE ROTTING PARTS UNDER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I PAID NEARLY 6,000 IN 2004 THINKING I WAS BUYING A GREAT COLLECTOR ONE TIME PREVIOUS OWNER. THEN I ENDED UP WITH A LEMON, I STORED IT CAUSE I SEE THEY SELL FOR AROUND 35K FIXED UP. BUT I BELIEVE THIS SHOULD STILL BE COVERED UNDER THE RECALL THE ENGINE AND FUEL PUMP WORK.

Mileage: 50,000

20150213ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM WAS FAULTY, WHICH ALLOWED THE DOORS TO OPEN INDEPENDENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Mileage: 110,000

20150213LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S DOOR LOCKING MECHANISM WAS FAULTY, WHICH ALLOWED THE DOORS TO OPEN INDEPENDENTLY WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOCKS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Mileage: 110,000

20100304ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

MY 1991 CADILLAC DEVILLE HAS HAD A PROBLEM (AS HAD THE 1985 CADILLAC) WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION/ENGINE RACING. THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED AT A SIGNAL OR STOP SIGN. THOUGH MY FOOT WILL BE FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR ENGINE RACES AND THEN THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. MY SOLUTION? I KEEP A GOOD DISTANCE BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME TO PREVENT THE LURCHING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL AT SOME POINT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, WHETHER IT IS PARKING THE CAR OR WHEN THE FOOT IS OFF THE BRAKE MOMENTARILY OR WHEN THE FOOT IS ON THE GAS PEDAL. HAVE THERE BEEN RECALLS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THIS CAR, ESPECIALLY, AS I HAVE NOT OWNED THE 1985 CAR FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS? DO YOU KNOW OF ANY SOLUTIONS TO THIS DISTURBING PROBLEM. ANY FEEDBACK WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

20100304FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

MY 1991 CADILLAC DEVILLE HAS HAD A PROBLEM (AS HAD THE 1985 CADILLAC) WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION/ENGINE RACING. THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED AT A SIGNAL OR STOP SIGN. THOUGH MY FOOT WILL BE FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR ENGINE RACES AND THEN THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. MY SOLUTION? I KEEP A GOOD DISTANCE BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME TO PREVENT THE LURCHING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL AT SOME POINT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, WHETHER IT IS PARKING THE CAR OR WHEN THE FOOT IS OFF THE BRAKE MOMENTARILY OR WHEN THE FOOT IS ON THE GAS PEDAL. HAVE THERE BEEN RECALLS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THIS CAR, ESPECIALLY, AS I HAVE NOT OWNED THE 1985 CAR FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS? DO YOU KNOW OF ANY SOLUTIONS TO THIS DISTURBING PROBLEM. ANY FEEDBACK WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

20100304VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MY 1991 CADILLAC DEVILLE HAS HAD A PROBLEM (AS HAD THE 1985 CADILLAC) WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION/ENGINE RACING. THIS IS MOST NOTICEABLE WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED AT A SIGNAL OR STOP SIGN. THOUGH MY FOOT WILL BE FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR ENGINE RACES AND THEN THE CAR LURCHES FORWARD. MY SOLUTION? I KEEP A GOOD DISTANCE BEHIND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME TO PREVENT THE LURCHING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS WILL AT SOME POINT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, WHETHER IT IS PARKING THE CAR OR WHEN THE FOOT IS OFF THE BRAKE MOMENTARILY OR WHEN THE FOOT IS ON THE GAS PEDAL. HAVE THERE BEEN RECALLS ISSUED FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THIS CAR, ESPECIALLY, AS I HAVE NOT OWNED THE 1985 CAR FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS? DO YOU KNOW OF ANY SOLUTIONS TO THIS DISTURBING PROBLEM. ANY FEEDBACK WOULD BE APPRECIATED. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

20080402STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP

POWER STEERING PUMP OVERHEATS & LEAKS. REPLACED TWICE. RETURNED TO MECHANIC 4/2/08 FOR 3RD REPLACEMENT. PUMP GOT SO HOT THE DIPSTICK MELTED. *TR

Mileage: 50,000

20050802FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AT THE END OF SHORT 20 MILE TRIP AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, I NOTICED SMOKE & FLAMES COMING OUT OF HOOD / ENGINE. THE ACTION OF DRIVING, PARKING AND FIRE WAS SIMULTANEOUS. I CAN NOT SAY FOR CERTAIN THE ORDER IN WHICH THE THREE EVENTS HAPPENED. THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. I LEFT THE CAR IN PARK AT THE END OF DRIVEWAY WENT INSIDE THE HOME AND HAD MY SON CALLED THE POLICE AND FIRE ( 911 ). BY THIS TIME THERE WAS THICK SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING OUT OF CAR. INITIALLY THE SMOKE WAS WHITE WHICH LATER TURNED TO BLACK. THE SMOKE WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH REGULAR FLAMES AND OCCASIONAL FLARE UPS. THE HOOD WAS LOCKED UP AS WELL AND THE POLICE AND FIRE FIGHTERS WERE UNABLE TO OPEN THE HOOD. THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, INCLUDING ALL PLASTIC PARTS, MAJORITY METAL COMPONENTS, ENGINE HEAD, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, COOLING SYSTEM, AND OTHER MAJOR COMPONENTS ARE BURNED UP. THE FRONT INSTRUMENT PANEL, PARTS OF THE ROOF COVER, ENGINE HOOD, FRONT BUMPER, SIDE FENDERS, GRILL ETC. IS ALSO BURNED UP. UNDER CARR

Mileage: 135,696

20050802FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

AT THE END OF SHORT 20 MILE TRIP AS I WAS PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, I NOTICED SMOKE & FLAMES COMING OUT OF HOOD / ENGINE. THE ACTION OF DRIVING, PARKING AND FIRE WAS SIMULTANEOUS. I CAN NOT SAY FOR CERTAIN THE ORDER IN WHICH THE THREE EVENTS HAPPENED. THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. I LEFT THE CAR IN PARK AT THE END OF DRIVEWAY WENT INSIDE THE HOME AND HAD MY SON CALLED THE POLICE AND FIRE ( 911 ). BY THIS TIME THERE WAS THICK SMOKE AND FLAMES COMING OUT OF CAR. INITIALLY THE SMOKE WAS WHITE WHICH LATER TURNED TO BLACK. THE SMOKE WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH REGULAR FLAMES AND OCCASIONAL FLARE UPS. THE HOOD WAS LOCKED UP AS WELL AND THE POLICE AND FIRE FIGHTERS WERE UNABLE TO OPEN THE HOOD. THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, INCLUDING ALL PLASTIC PARTS, MAJORITY METAL COMPONENTS, ENGINE HEAD, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS, COOLING SYSTEM, AND OTHER MAJOR COMPONENTS ARE BURNED UP. THE FRONT INSTRUMENT PANEL, PARTS OF THE ROOF COVER, ENGINE HOOD, FRONT BUMPER, SIDE FENDERS, GRILL ETC. IS ALSO BURNED UP. UNDER CARR

Mileage: 135,696

20020912VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF AND THE WINDOW LOCK SWITCH FAILED, CONSUMERS GRANDCHILD WAS STICKING HER HEAD OUT THE WINDOW WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHILDS NECK AND HEAD WERE BEING SQUEEZED BETWEEN THE WINDOW AND FRAME, CHILD SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.*YH

20020417FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOUR MILES, THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT THE TIME IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT INDICATED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD HAVE BEEN COOLING FAN. DEALER CONTACTED. NLM PER INSPECTION, THEY FOUND THE HOT SPOT WAS ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WHERE THE FENDER AND THE TIRE HAD BEEN CONSUMED BY THE FIRE. ALSO THE FIRE WAS SO HOT THAT IT FUSED THE HOOD TO THE RADIATOR AND THE FIREMEN HAD TO USE SPECIAL INSTRUMENTS TO COMPLETELY DOUSE THE FLAMES. SCC

20020109FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

WHEN VEHICLE HAS ABOUT 7 GALLONS OF GAS, AND WHEN MAKING A HARD RIGHT TURN OR GOING UP HILLS, VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER NOTED THAT INTAKE VALVE IN TANK WAS NOT REGISTERING THAT THERE WAS FUEL.*AK *SLC

20011105POWER TRAIN

VEHICLE TAKES OFF WHEN STARTED IN NEUTRAL, COULD THIS CAUSE THE ECM TO BECOME OUT OF WHACK, SOMETIME WILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN NORMALLY, IT STALLS AND RESTARTED IN NEUTRAL VEHICLE TAKES OFF.

20010605SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT FUNCTION. IT WILL NOT LATCH TO FASTEN DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT. CONTACTED GM & THEY SAY IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE & THE CAR SEAT BELT SHOULD NOT EXPERIENCE FAILURE AT ONLY 47,000 MILES. *AK

20000911CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CAR WAS AT COMPLETE STOP: ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOES TO FLOOR AND TAKES OFF ON ITS OWN.

20000322LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

CONSUMER WENT TO PUT WINDSHIELD WIPER FLUID. OPENED HOOD, AND PNEUMATIC HOOD SUPPORTS WHICH IS THIN, AND INADEQUATE FOR S UCH A HEAVY LOAD, FAILED TO HOLD, AND CAME CRASHING DOWN ONTO CONSUMER'S HAND. *AK

20000322LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH

CONSUMER WAS INSTALLING WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID, AND HOOD CAME DOWN ON HER HANDS. SHE SAID THAT PNEUMATIC SUPPORTS FOR THE HOOD WERE DEFECTIVE AND INADEQUATE FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE HOOD. *AK

19991026SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

THE FRONT BRAKE PADS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING OUT. ALSO THE BRAKES GRIND WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES ON WET PAVEMENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Compare 1991CADILLACDEVILLE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1991 CADILLAC DEVILLE have?
The 1991 CADILLAC DEVILLE has 105 NHTSA complaints, 9 crashes, 10 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1991 CADILLAC DEVILLE?
The most-complained component for the 1991 CADILLAC DEVILLE is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 20 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 1991 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.