Total Complaints
15 filings
CADILLAC SEVILLE · model year
1988 CADILLAC SEVILLE
15 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988CADILLACSEVILLE carries 15 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 3 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 SEVILLE is vehicle speed control with 2 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (2) and wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (1). 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 SEVILLE, 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.
15
Complaints
2
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
2 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 | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| STEERING:LINKAGES | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20010328STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
ROOF BLEW OFF WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMERTHAT THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY. *AK THE CLOTH TOP FLEW OFF STRIKING THE VEHICLE BEHIND. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER DO NOT WANT TO ADDRESS THIS DEFECT. *YH
19991230VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN DAMAGE TO BRAKE COMPONENTS DUE TO EXCESSIVE USE (OVERHEATING). MJS
19991016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAR WANT TO START BUT WON'T. *AK
19990301CrashENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS BROKE, AND THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL. THE CAR HIT A WALL AND WAS COMPLETELY TOTALED. *AK
19980529ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE HEAD GASKETS BLEW AND LEAKED COOLANT INTO THE OIL PAN OF THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS VEHICLE. *AK
19980205SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
FAILURE OF THE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSED LOSS OF BRAKING POWER.
19980205SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
FAILURE OF THE ABS MOTOR CAUSED LOSS OF BRAKING POWER.
19970707VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
THE SOLENOID THAT KEEPS THE CAR IN OVERDRIVE FAILED, AND KEPT THE CAR IN OVERDRIVE, CAUSING CONTINUOUS ACCELERATION WHEN THE DRIVER WAS TRYING TO STOP THE CAR, THE CAR HAD TO BE PUT INTO NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO BE STOPPED. *AK
19970422STEERING:LINKAGES
STEERING ARMATURE HAS COME LOOSE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
19960726EXTERIOR LIGHTING
WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AND THE DRIVER HITS A BUMP THE LIGHTS GO OUT. CONSUMER STATES THE CONTROL SWITCH WILL NOT STAY IN THE ON OR OFF POSITION AT TIMES. *JB
19960726EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON AND THE DRIVER HITS A BUMP THE LIGHTS GO OUT. CONSUMER STATES THE CONTROL SWITCH WILL NOT STAY IN THE ON OR OFF POSITION AT TIMES. *JB
19951026CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT/INJURIES. *AW
19951026PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
EMERGENCY BRAKES FAILED DURING ABOVE ACCIDENT.
19950706WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
LEFT FRONT WHEEL BROKE LOOSE FROM STUDS TO THE POINT OF ALMOST FALLING OFF VEHICLE. *TW
19950706SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
BRAKE ROTORS RESURFACED TO ALLEVIATE A VIBRATION CONDITION.
Compare 1988CADILLACSEVILLE 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 SEVILLE have?▼
The 1988 CADILLAC SEVILLE has 15 NHTSA complaints, 2 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 CADILLAC SEVILLE?▼
The most-complained component for the 1988 CADILLAC SEVILLE is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS.
Is the 1988 CADILLAC SEVILLE 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.