1988 Cadillac Deville Problems
- Complaints
- 28filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- —no mileage reported
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 17 mpgcombined, 4.5L 8-cyl FWD · 15 city / 22 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1988 Cadillac Deville (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 28 consumer complaints for the 1988 Cadillac Deville. The part named most often is vehicle speed control, with 8 complaints (29% of the total), followed by steering (7) and tires (5). Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Steering7 25%
- Tires5 18%
- Brakes4 14%
- Engine cooling4 14%
- Electrical system2 7.1%
- Equipment1 3.6%
- Fuel system1 3.6%
- Other or unknown1 3.6%
Also reported: Body and structure (1), Wheels (1).
Example complaints
Vehicle speed 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.”
NHTSA complaint #781112, filed 1998-10Steering: “When the vehicle is turned to the left the steering locks, assumes that it is the steering sector or the central front end, the speed is at any limit. Any time the steering grabs and pulls when driving at a lower speed, the vehicle won't turn at all, and it may turn if sitting for a while. Warranty has expired. Dealer cannot duplicate the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #822923, filed 1998-04Tires: “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. …”
NHTSA complaint #731215, filed 2000-09Brakes: “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.”
NHTSA complaint #861516, filed 2000-05Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1988 Cadillac Deville version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DeVille FWD | 4.5L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 15 | 22 | 17 | $3,950 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1988 Cadillac Deville in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1988 Cadillac Deville.
Other model years of the Cadillac Deville
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 95 | 75,500 | 1 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2004 | 167 | 68,686 | 1 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 145 | 68,500 | 4 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 176 | 59,000 | 5 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 175 | 74,238 | 4 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 2000 | 225 | 70,000 | 5 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1999 | 187 | 65,555 | 1 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1998 | 237 | 74,211 | 3 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 269 | 82,000 | 2 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1996 | 218 | 85,575 | 2 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 129 | 104,000 | 2 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1994 | 127 | 88,690 | 0 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 92 | 113,000 | 1 | — | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 135 | 110,000 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 87 | 97,000 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 76 | 100,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 48 | 143,000 | 0 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 28 | — | 0 | — | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 40 | 108,100 | 1 | — | — | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1986 | 22 | — | 2 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1985 | 19 | — | 1 | — | — | — | Stable |
| 1984 | 6 | 90,995 | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
| 1983 | 5 | — | 0 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Cadillac Deville model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1988 Cadillac Deville have?
NHTSA recorded 28 consumer complaints for the 1988 Cadillac Deville as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1988 Cadillac Deville is reported most often?
Vehicle speed control is named most often, in 8 complaints (29% of the total), followed by steering with 7.
Has the 1988 Cadillac Deville been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1988 Cadillac Deville get?
The EPA rates the 1988 Cadillac Deville (DeVille, 4.5L 8-cyl) at 17 mpg combined, 15 city and 22 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,950 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.