Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Cadillac Seville, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling25
- Electrical system24
- Fuel system, gasoline20
- Steering16
- Equipment11
- Air bags10
- Visibility7
- Vehicle speed control6
- Power train5
- Exterior lighting4
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 8 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 4 1996 Seville vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 4 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1996 Cadillac Seville failed the safety check 0.00% of the time — 100% less often than the average 1996 passenger car (1.47%). Median odometer at inspection: 98,700 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
1 cars built in 1996 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025.
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In New Zealand
1 1996 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 13.9 L/100 km (about 17 mpg US), CO₂ 320 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seville · Full-size · Premium gasoline | 16.5 | 10.7 | 13.9 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 1996 Cadillac Seville.
| 1995230 18 Dec 1995 | Electrical THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S 101 -"CONTROL LOCATION AND IDENTIFICATION", 108 - "LIGHTING EQUIPMENT" AND 208 - "SEAT BELT INSTALLATION". THE ANALO… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4.0L V8 ENGINES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE NYLON TUBING USED IN THE FUEL RAIL CONSTRUCTION MAY DEGRADE AND CRACK. ADDITIONALLY, THE 1995 MODEL YEAR USES A UNIQUE UNDERHOOD FUEL RETURN LINE THAT MAY CRACK. CRACKING OF THE FUEL RAIL OR RETURN LINE TUBING CAN RESULT IN A FUEL LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
THE ANALOG INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER ON THESE VEHICLES COULD HAVE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT DISRUPTING THE PASS KEY SYSTEM, CAUSING FAILURE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES AND TELL-TALES, AND A POSSIBLE NO-START CONDITION. THIS DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 101, "CONTROLS AND DISPLAYS;" NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT;" AND NO. 208, "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Cadillac told its dealers about the 1996 Cadillac Seville: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 632324 | SUBJECT REGARDING REVISED FASTENER TIGHTENING SPECIFICATIN FOR CYLINDER HEAD REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 631313 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON HIGHER THAN EXPECTED OIL CONSUMPTION. *SLC |
| 619241 | THIS PRODUCT TECHNICAL INFORMATION CONCERNS AN INTERMITTENT STUMBLE OR STALL CONDITION. SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT INTERMITTENTLY THEY EXPERIENCE A STUMBLE OR STALL CONDITION WHEN COMING DOWN TO A STOP. IN MOST INSTANCES THE ENGINE WILL RESTART, SOMETIMES WITH AN EXTENDED CRANK, AND A POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1599 MAY OR MAY NOT BE PRESENT. *TT |
| 609639 | TRUNK MOUNTED 12 CD CHANGER EJECTS INTERMITTENTLY. YD |
| 6088914 | ENGINE OIL LEAKS ALONG THE UPPER TO LOWER CRANKCASE JOINT. *TT |
| 606086 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN ABOUT A ENGINE COLD / KNOCK / TICK NOISE. *TT |
| 602983 | CONCERNS OF DOOR HANDLES ON WHITE PAINTED VEHICLES TRUNING YELLOW. *YC |
| 54338 | EXCESSIVE FORCE REQUIRED TO OPERATE THE HORN WHEN COLD. *YC |
| 54328 | EXPERIENCING INTERMITTENT STEERING COLUMN SNAP OR CLICK NOISE WHEN TURNING. *YC |
| 54195 | COMMENTS OF A RATTLE/LOOSE NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE WHEN DRIVING OVER BUMPS. *YC |
| 54065 | COMMENTS ON INOPERATIVE POWER DOOR LOCKS (FRONT AND/OR REAR DOORS). |
| 53015 | WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED FORCE OR ENGINE LOAD MAY AFFECT AND CAUSE VARIOUS NOISES. *YC |
| 52600 | CLN INDICATOR APPEARS ON RADIO DISPLAY AND DOES NOT TURN OFF (RESET CLN INDICATOR WITH THE EJECT BUTTON ON TAPE). *TW |
| 52564 | EXCESSIVE VIBRATION OF ELECTROCHROMIC INSIDE REARVIEW MIRROR. *TW |
| 51318 | BUZZ OR MOAN NOISE DURING TCC APPLY (REPLACE SPACER PLATE AND UPPER CONTROL VALVE). *AK |
| 50602 | BUZZ OR MOAN NOISE DURING TCC APPLY. *TW |
| 10246631 | Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules |
| 10208027 | This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update. |
| 10171318 | This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update. |
| 10168979 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable. E version update is to add administrative details. |
| 10166638 | This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy. |
| 10165876 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco TheftLock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. The PI update to version D is to advise the unlock procedure is temporarily unavailable. |
| 10157018 | This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update. |
| 10154641 | This warranty administration bulletin provides information regarding the field action courtesy transportation policy. |
| 10141381 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on how to unlock radios that are Delco Theft Lock. Technician will use the radio to get the scrambled code. Technician will need to contact the radio unlock center to retrieve the unlock code from the scrambled code. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FUEL RAIL LEAKS
FUEL RAIL LEAKAGE
POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE
INADVERTENT AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation