Engine
4.5L 8-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 61 of 76 complaints with a usable failure date.
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Brakes
30 complaint records1 crash report
"WHEN DRIVING AT 35 MPH AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THEY LOCK UP, CAUSING VEHICLETO SLIDE. ALSO, AND ABS LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse brakes parts in the directory →
Speed control
21 complaint records5 crash reports
"WHILE GOING UP A HILL, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WENT OT THE FLOOR AND ACCELERATED WITHOUT BEING PRESSED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse speed control parts in the directory →
Engine & cooling
13 complaint records2 fire reports1 crash report
"INTERMITTENTLY WHEN SLIGHTLY TURNING THE WHEEL ON AN EXPRESSWAY ENGINE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE, RESULTING IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WILL START UP IMMEDIATELY AFTER. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse engine & cooling parts in the directory →
Federal defect investigations
Formal investigations opened by the federal safety agency into this vehicle. An investigation is the step between a complaint pattern and a recall; not every one results in one.
| Investigation | Status | Component | Subject |
|---|---|---|---|
| EA91019 opened Mar 1991 | closed Mar 1992 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES There is no summary currently available |
| PE91029 opened Jan 1991 | closed Apr 1991 | Vehicle Speed Control | THROTTLE LINKAGE INTERFER There is no summary currently available |
| PE91016 opened Nov 1990 | closed Mar 1991 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES There is no summary currently available |
Transport Canada recalls
Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990186 1990-11-30 | Seats And Restraints | 63 | IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT REQUIRING DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG, THE INFLATOR MODULE COULD SEPARATE AND THE AIR BAG WILL NOT INFLATE AS INTENDED. |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 130089009 Sep 2013 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Expanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules |
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Brake hard once from speed on an empty road.A pull to one side, a pulsing pedal, a pedal that sinks at a stop, or an ABS light that stays lit are the brake complaints on this vehicle presenting themselves.
- Test the throttle response and the cruise control on an open road.A surge, a hang in engine speed after lifting off, or cruise that will not set or cancel cleanly are the speed-control complaints on this vehicle.
- Cold-start it yourself and listen for the first thirty seconds.Knocking, ticking that fades as it warms, or blue or white smoke on startup are the sounds of this vehicle's engine cluster. Check the oil level and the coolant color, and ask whether the engine or its head gaskets have ever been out.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this Cadillac Deville →