Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1998 Cadillac Seville, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling20
- Steering10
- Suspension6
- Exterior lighting6
- Visibility5
- Air bags5
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Seat belts4
- Electrical system3
- Power train2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 5 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1998 Cadillac Seville failed the safety check 0.00% of the time — 100% less often than the average 1998 passenger car (1.71%). Median odometer at inspection: 85,407 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
10 cars built in 1998 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 29 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
6 of these cars first registered in 1998 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 279,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
20 1998 cars are on the New Zealand register; 95% 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 13.0 L/100 km (about 18 mpg US), CO₂ 299 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seville · Mid-size · Premium gasoline | 15.5 | 9.8 | 13.0 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1998 Cadillac Seville.
| 1999058 14 Apr 1999 | Electrical On certain vehicles, a rectifier bridge short may develop in the generator even when the engine is off. The electrical short could cause an engine compartment … |
| 1998129 29 Jun 1998 | Visual System THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 104 - WINDSHIELD WIPING AND WASHING SYSTEM. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR LOW SPEED FUNCTION MAY BECOME INOPERATIVE W… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAN DEVELOP IN THE GENERATOR, EVEN WHEN THE ENGINE IS OFF.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR 'LOW' SPEED FUNCTION CAN BECOME INOPERATIVE WHEN THE MOTOR IS SWITCHED FROM 'HIGH' TO 'LOW' SPEED.
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 1998 Cadillac Seville: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 634993 | TECHNICAL INFORMATION REGARDING SHAKE / VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, FLOOR, SEAT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON SMOOTH ROADS. *TT |
| 634981 | SUBJECT REGARDING SHAKE / VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, FLOOR, SEAT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON SMOOTH ROADS. *TT |
| 634919 | CONCERNS WITH CLUNK / RATTLE NOISE FROM LOWER STEERING COLUMN AREA WHEN TRAVELING OVER ROAD BUMPS. *TT |
| 634874 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A SQUEAK/SQUAWK NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE WHEN TRAVELLING OVER ROAD BUMPS/SWELLS. *TT |
| 631313 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON HIGHER THAN EXPECTED OIL CONSUMPTION. *SLC |
| 629621 | SUBJECT REGARDING TIRE VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON SMOOTH ROAD SURFACES. *TT |
| 628839 | FRONT/REAR HEATED SEAT BACK/CUSHION NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. *TT |
| 627462 | INFORMATION REGARDING SHAKE/VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, FLOOR,SEAT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON SMOOTH ROADS (DIAGNOSE/BALANCE TIRES/WHEELS). *YH |
| 627418 | INFORMATION REGARDING REAR BRAKE MOAN/HUM NOISE DURING BRAKE APPLY. *YH |
| 619249 | CONCERNS WITH THE POWER STEERING SYSTEMS. *TT |
| 619248 | INFORMATION MESSAGE CONCERNING THE POWER STEERING SYSTEM APPLICABLE TO 1998 THROUGH 2000 MODEL YEAR CADILLACS. *TT |
| 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 |
| 618097 | VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SHAKE / VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL, FLOOR, SEAT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON SMOOTH ROADS. *JB UPDATED *EH GM VOICEMAIL MESSAGE. *TT |
| 616402 | INFORMATION ON THE FRONT FLOOR CONSOLE TRIM PLATE. *TT |
| 614358 | SOME VEHICLES BUILT PRIOR TO VIN YU260745 MAY EXHIBIT SOUND FROM THE LH / RH FRONT SIDE DOOR RADIO BOSE SPEAKER ASSEMBLY IS DISTORTED OR NOISY. *TT |
| 614356 | CONCERNS WITH MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ILLIMINATES, SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES / INOPERATIVE, CRUISE CONTROL / TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH INOPERATIVE. *TT |
| 6088906 | CONCERNS WITH LOSS OF DRIVER SEAT, MIRROR & STEERING COLUMN MEMORY SETTINGS, PROGRAMMING FUNCTION AND / OR MEMORY RECALL FUNCTIONS IMPROPERLY. *TT |
| 6088866 | EXPERIENCING CLUNK, RATTLE OR METAL TO METAL NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. *TT |
| 6088811 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A POPPING TYPE NOISE HEARD IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *TT |
| 608389 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATES, SPEEDOMETER FLUCTUATES/INOPERATIVE, CRUISE CONTROL/TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH INOPERATIVE. *MJS |
| 607574 | CONDITIONS WITH POOR RECEPTION ON THE AM RADIO BAND. *TT |
| 606370 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE RECEPTION IS POOR ON THE AM RADIO BAND. *TT |
| 606086 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN ABOUT A ENGINE COLD / KNOCK / TICK NOISE. *TT |
| 606017 | EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE NOISE COMING FROM THE DRIVER AND / OR PASSENGER SEAT ADJUSTER RAIL / TRACK WHEN MOVING THE SEAT ASSEMBLY FORWARD OR REARWARD. *TT |
| 606012 | CONDITIONS WITH SPOTTING ON RUBBER PORTION OF SIDE DOOR EXTERIOR MOLDINGS AND WEATHERSTRIPS AT BELTLINE (EXTERIOR FINISH REPAIR PROCEDURE). *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
POWER RACK AND PINION STEERING FAILURE
CADILLAC COOLANT COOLED ALTERNATOR FIRES
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation