What breaks most · 1990 to 2004 model years
Cadillac Seville problems by year
Owners have filed 749 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Cadillac Seville across model years 1990 to 2004. One year stands out: 1996 for engine and cooling complaints. The quietest years are 1990, 1991 and 1992.
- Years to check closely: 1996
- Fewest complaints: 1990, 1991, 1992
- Complaints on file
- 7491990 to 2004, all trims
- Worst year
- 1996122 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 5138 fires · 51 injuries · 4 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 85kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 23Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 3 | 3 | Speed control and throttle (8) | |
| 21 | 6 | 0 | Brakes (hydraulic) (5) | |
| 27 | 7 | 1 | Air bags (4) | |
| 42 | 1 | 2 | Fuel system (11) | |
| 50 | 4 | 2 | Engine and cooling (21) | |
| 74 | 4 | 2 | Fuel system (20) | |
| 122 | 8 | 2 | Engine and cooling (25) | |
| 95 | 4 | 2 | Engine and cooling (19) | |
| 65 | 3 | 2 | Engine and cooling (20) | |
| 73 | 1 | 1 | Engine and cooling (23) | |
| 38 | 2 | 2 | Steering (6) | |
| 53 | 5 | 1 | Suspension (10) | |
| 45 | 3 | 2 | Suspension (12) | |
| 16 | 0 | 1 | Body and structure (3) | |
| 9 | 0 | 0 | Steering (5) |
What fails on the 1996 Cadillac Seville
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and coolingRadiators, thermostats and cooling | 20% |
25 | 0 | Shop engine and cooling parts for the 1996 Cadillac Seville |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 20% |
24 | 1 | Shop electrical system parts for the 1996 Cadillac Seville |
| Fuel systemFuel pumps and injectors | 16% |
20 | 1 | Shop fuel system parts for the 1996 Cadillac Seville |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 13% |
16 | 2 | Shop steering parts for the 1996 Cadillac Seville |
| Equipment and infotainment | 9% |
11 | 0 | — |
| Air bags | 8% |
10 | 3 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| VisibilityMirrors and glass | 6% |
7 | 0 | Shop all visibility parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 5% |
6 | 1 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 1996 Cadillac Seville |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
While driving check engine lightappeared on the dashboard and remained on. Consumer noticed that the temperature gauge registered hot, and overheated. Could not drive the vehicle. Consumer contacted dealer for an appointment for inspection and repairs. *ak
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Cadillac Seville years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 1996 carries the most filings on the Cadillac Seville. The 1996 alone has 122 complaints, led by engine and cooling.
What is the most common Cadillac Seville problem?
On the 1996 model year, the most-reported component is engine and cooling with 25 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Cadillac Seville problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Cadillac Seville complaints that include mileage is about 85,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.