1998 Cadillac DeVille
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Visibility & Lighting
Visibility & Lighting leads by volume: 58 of 237 complaints (24%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (11) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 269 in 1997 to 237 in 1998.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | vs. 1998 Large Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 4,300 | 4,300 | 3,450 | 4,300 | 4,100 | |
| Combined MPG | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 15 / 24 | 15 / 24 | 15 / 24 | 15 / 24 | 15 / 25 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 494 | 494 | 494 | 494 | 468 | |
| Complaints filed | 218 | 269 | 237 | 187 | 225 | |
| Recalls issued | 2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 5 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 11 | 4 | 14 | 17 | 25 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 7 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 4 | |
| Injuries reported | 12 | 6 | 17 | 25 | 30 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 13 | |
| Configurations compared | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 1998 Cadillac DeVille have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 1998 Cadillac DeVille?
Visibility & Lighting: 58 of 237 NHTSA complaints (24%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 1998 Cadillac DeVille get?
EPA rates it 18 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 1998 Cadillac DeVille?
EPA estimates $3,450 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (1)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 8 | 4.6L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Large Cars | 15 mpg | 24 mpg | 18 mpg | $3,450 | 494 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 33 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 23 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Brakes | 39 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Steering | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 37 | 7 | 0 | 11 | 1 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 11 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 58 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW · Campaign 00V217000 · Aug 11, 2000
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THE SIDE IMPACT SENSOR MODULES HAVE QUALITY PROBLEMS THAT CAN CAUSE AN INADVERTENT DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER SIDE IMPACT AIR BAGS. THESE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOY WITH LESS FORCE THAN A FRONTAL AIR BAG AND ARE DESIGNED TO MINIMIZE THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY.
Consequence: HOWEVER, AN OCCUPANT CAN RECEIVE SOME INJURY FROM A DEPLOYMENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE IMPACT SENSING MODULES. IF THE VEHICLE HAS HAD THE SIDE AIR BAGS TEMPORARILY DISCONECTED, THE TEMPORARY DISCONNECT WILL BE REMOVED BEFORE REPLACING THE SIDE IMPACT SENSING MODULES.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS · Campaign 97V232000 · Dec 19, 1997
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH HOOD HINGE PIVOT BOLTS WHICH CAN BREAK DUE TO AN IMPROPER HEAT TREAT CONDITION. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 219, "WINDSHIELD ZONE INTRUSION." A BROKEN BOLT CAN CAUSE EITHER THE CORNER OF THE HOOD NEAR THE WINDSHIELD TO RAISE, OR ONE SIDE OF THE HOOD TO BE UNSTABLE WHEN OPENED.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE HOOD COULD BE PUSHED BACK THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD GLASS POSSIBLY INJURING THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOOD HINGE PIVOT BOLTS.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · Campaign 97V183000 · Oct 28, 1997
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, HEARSES AND LIMOUSINES. THE CANISTER PURGE EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS HARNESS ON THESE VEHICLES WAS MISROUTED.
Consequence: THE HARNESS COULD INTERFERE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE LINKAGE PREVENTING RETURN TO A CLOSED THROTTLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR PROPER ROUTING OF THE HARNESS, CORRECT AS NECESSARY, AND INSTALL A PLASTIC TIE STRAP TO THE HARNESS.