Air Bags:side/window
NHTSA campaign 00V217000 · 2000 · reported 08/11/2000
HOWEVER, AN OCCUPANT CAN RECEIVE SOME INJURY FROM A DEPLOYMENT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
1998 Cadillac Deville Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Exterior Lighting:headlights — runs 2.6× the fleet median for that category across the 720 model-years tracked on this site.
237Complaints
3Recalls
14Crashes
1Fires
17Injured
2Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Exterior Lighting:headlights (12.2% of complaints) — recall and investigation status for this vehicle is currently unavailable.
Exterior Lighting:headlights complaints here are 2.6× the median for that category across the 720 model-years tracked on this site.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting:headlights | 29 · 12.2% | not available | — |
| Air Bags:side/window | 14 · 5.9% | Recalled | Recall 00V217000 |
| Air Bags:frontal | 13 · 5.5% | Recalled | Recall 00V217000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip | 13 · 5.5% | not available | — |
| Air Bags | 12 · 5.1% | Recalled | Recall 00V217000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline | 12 · 5.1% | not available | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 237 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 3 campaigns
Vehicle Speed Control
NHTSA campaign 97V183000 · 1997 · reported 10/27/1997
THE HARNESS COULD INTERFERE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THROTTLE LINKAGE PREVENTING RETURN TO A CLOSED THROTTLE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Structure:body:hood:hinge And Attachments
NHTSA campaign 97V232000 · 1997 · reported 12/18/1997
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE HOOD COULD BE PUSHED BACK THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD GLASS POSSIBLY INJURING THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“DRIVER'S SIDE HEADLIGHT COVER FELL OFF WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE.”NHTSA complaint 8007084 — filed 04/09/2002 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
“THE DRIVER SIDE HEADLIGHT, THE LICENSE CONTINUOUSLY FALLS OFF, AND THE BULB FALLS OUT. TOOK TO DEALER. PROBLEM NOT REMEDY AS OF YET. NLM”NHTSA complaint 8006605 — filed 03/28/2002 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
“THE HEAD LIGHT LENSES HAVE FALLEN OUT OF BOTH HEADLIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER HAS SINCE REPLACED THE HEAD LIGHT LENSES AT HIS OWN EXPENSE…”NHTSA complaint 560861 — filed 07/24/2001 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Cadillac Deville?
Exterior lighting:headlights issues are the most-reported category, cited in 29 of 237 NHTSA complaints (12.2%), followed by air bags:side/window (14), air bags:frontal (13), service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (13). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1998 Cadillac Deville have?
237 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 14 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, and 17 reported injuries. 2 deaths were reported.
Does the 1998 Cadillac Deville have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 00V217000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1998 Cadillac Deville's reported problems?
Recall or investigation data is partly unavailable for this vehicle right now — check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the authoritative answer.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.
