FaultScore

FaultScore report

1990 Cadillac Seville problems

Owners have filed 24 complaints about the 1990 Cadillac Seville with NHTSA between 1995 and 2012. The largest single group is the acceleration & cruise control.

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

24

Complaints

3

Crashes reported

0

Fires reported

1

Injuries reported

How 1990 compares with every other Cadillac Seville

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1990 Cadillac Seville

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Acceleration & Cruise Control 8 33.3%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Brakes 4 16.7%

1 crashes, 0 fires · median 45,000 mi

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 2 8.3%
Electrical System 2 8.3%
Other & Unspecified 1 4.2%
Equipment & Accessories 1 4.2%
Seats 1 4.2%

1 crashes, 0 fires

Seat Belts 1 4.2%
Wheels 1 4.2%
Tires 1 4.2%
Transmission & Drivetrain 1 4.2%
Engine & Cooling 1 4.2%

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Feb 1995 peak 4 Jan 2012

Recalls on the 1990 Cadillac Seville

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 1990142 1,541 units in Canada

Powertrain

THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE FLOOR CONTROL ASSEMBLY RESULTING IN LOSS OF INDICATOR REFERENCE AND SHIFT OPERATION. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE TRANSMISSION NOT BEING IN THE GEAR INDICATED BY THE SELECTOR THEREBY ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL AWAY IF PARKED ON AN INCLINE OR TO PROCEED IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THE ONE SELECTED. CORRECTION: TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIP WILL BE INSTALLED ON SUSPECT VEHICLES.

Recall 1990025 346 units in Canada

Seats And Restraints

A MISALIGNED REAR SEAT SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY RESULT IN PENDULUM INTERFERENCE CAUSING THE BELT TO REMAIN IN THE LOCKED POSITION OR TO TRAVEL FREELY WITHOUT LOCKING. A NON-LOCKING SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR COULD INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY TO A SEAT OCCUPANT IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR VEHICLE CRASH. CORRECTION: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REALIGN THR REAR SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Grants PAS, OR Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THROTTLE STUCK OPEN, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #526950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Longmont, CO Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

SLAMMED ON BRAKES, VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING, CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, HAPPENED AGAIN, MAY 29, 1997, NOT CHECKED BY DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA complaint #812706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clinton, NJ Crash

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEAD REST BROKE WHILE INVOLVED IN REAR END COLLISION. TT

NHTSA complaint #972713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sandusky, OH 1 injured

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

PARKING EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED TO RELEASE WHEN ENGAGED OUT OF PARK. FINGER SMASHED BETWEEN (2) GEARS W/PART GOING THROUGH FINGERNAIL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #961151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 45,000 miles NEW York City, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

I BOUGHT A NEW 1990 CADILLAC FROM CADILLAC DEALER IN 1990 THAT I HAVE DRIVEN ONLY 53,678 MILES, WELL CARED FOR AND GARAGED. .THE ABS MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR SOME TIME AND I HAVE CONTACTED NUMEROUS CADILLAC DEALERS AND BRAKE MECHANICS AND CANNOT FIND ANYONE TO REPAIR LEAK. I HAVE LEARNED THAT MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER (COMBINED PUMP BOOSTER AND ABS MASTER CYLINDER WAS ONE UNIT MFG BY ATE FOR CADILLAC AS PER CADILLAC'S SPECIFICATIONS AND PLANS AND WAS USED IN 1989 AND 1990 CADILLACS AND DISCONTINUED THEREAFTER) ADDITIONALLY I HAVE LEARNED THAT CADILLAC MADE CHANGES/REPAIRS OF SOME KIND TO ABS BRAKE SYSTEM, UNANOUNCED PUBLICALLY, WHEN SEVILLES WERE BROUGHT TO CADILLAC FOR OTHER SERVICING. MY PRESENT AUTO MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT PART OF THE MASTER CYLINDER IS NEWER THAN THE REST OF THE UNIT. CADILLAC NEVER OBTAINED MY CONSENT TO MAKE CHAGES TO MY CAR NOR WAS I EVER INFORMED BY CADILLAC OR CADILLAC DEALER OF SUCH WORK. THE DEFECT IN THE ABS MASTER BRAKE SYSTEM IS A LATENT DEFECT AND THE OBLIGATION AND WARRANTY BY GM OF THE SERVICABILITY OF THEIR PRODUCTS NEVER EXPIRES. I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT CADILLAC, NOTWITHSTANDING THE CAR'S AGE OF 21 YEARS BE INSTRUCTED TO FIX THE DEFECTIVE LEAKY ABS MASTER BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS LEAK HAS NOT RESULTED FROM USE AND WEAR IT IS THE RESULT OF A INHERENT LATENT DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10443669 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW INOPERATIVE. NLM

NHTSA complaint #785001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

GEAR SHIFT FAILED. NLM

NHTSA complaint #785001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE DRIVERS INFORMATION SCREEN IS INOPERATIVE. NLM

NHTSA complaint #785001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Austin, TX

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

A/C INOPERATIVE. NLM

NHTSA complaint #785001 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Homestead, FL

TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WHILE DRIVING, RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE TIRE P205/70R15 DOT VD080A1124 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *SLC

NHTSA complaint #871876 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Westwood, MA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

ON THREE DIFFEERENT OCCASIONS VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 45-50 MPH. CRUISE CONTROL WAS ONLY USED ON ONE OCCASION. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY NOTHING ELSE COULD BE DONE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #864692 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Teague, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE. WHEN THE FOOT IS OFF THE GAS PEDAL IT KEEPS ACCELERATING, AND RPMS GO UP. BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. ONCE ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH. HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO STOP. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A FAULTY GROUND STUD AT THE STARTER. OWNER HAD THEN REPAIR IT AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO PROBLEMS SINCE. *AK.ET.

NHTSA complaint #837144 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Athens, GA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ACCELERATOR ARM GOT STUCK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE.

NHTSA complaint #534097 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Buffalo, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO CONTAMINATION OF THE AIR PUMP WITHIN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #525561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Redwater, TX

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

FRONT PASSENGER'S AND THE REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS DO NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY. WHEN PUTTING THE SEAT BELT INTO THE BUCKLE, THE BELT WILL COME BACK APART, CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO BE FREE OF SEAT BELTS.

NHTSA complaint #820017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grants PAS, OR Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THROTTLE STUCK OPEN, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #526950 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Upper Arlington, OH

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

VEHICLE PULLS SEVERELY TO THE LEFT WHEN ANTI LOCK BRAKES ARE APPLIED.

NHTSA complaint #517770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Longmont, CO Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

SLAMMED ON BRAKES, VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING, CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE, HAPPENED AGAIN, MAY 29, 1997, NOT CHECKED BY DEALERSHIP.

NHTSA complaint #812706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Middletown, CT

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DSECRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #805533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bethesda, MD

WHEELS

ENGINE STALLED AND WHEEL LOCKED UPON TURNING. DIAGNOSIS: COMPUTER CHIP CAUSING ENGINE IDLE SPEED TO BECOME LOW.

NHTSA complaint #803414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bethesda, MD

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

ENGINE STALLED AND WHEEL LOCKED UPON TURNING. DIAGNOSIS: COMPUTER CHIP CAUSING ENGINE IDLE SPEED TO BECOME LOW.

NHTSA complaint #803414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Aptos, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

VEHICLE STALLS. ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAUSES CAR TO SHUT DOWN.

NHTSA complaint #985352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clinton, NJ Crash

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HEAD REST BROKE WHILE INVOLVED IN REAR END COLLISION. TT

NHTSA complaint #972713 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elyria, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CARBON WAS STUCK IN THROTTLE AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED AT HIGH SPEED AND COULD ONLY BE STOPPED BY PUTTING IT IN PARK. TT

NHTSA complaint #970761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Elyria, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK WHILE DRIVING. FOUND CARBON IN THROTTLE WHICH MADE IT STICK. TT

NHTSA complaint #970730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sandusky, OH 1 injured

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL

PARKING EMERGENCY BRAKE FAILED TO RELEASE WHEN ENGAGED OUT OF PARK. FINGER SMASHED BETWEEN (2) GEARS W/PART GOING THROUGH FINGERNAIL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #961151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hockely, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CRUISE CONTROL WAS STUCK IN OPEN, CAUSING ENGINE TO SURGE.

NHTSA complaint #960462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hockely, TX

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:REAR WINDOW

CENTER WIRE REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #960462 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.