1985 Cadillac Deville
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Cadillac › Deville › 1985
These records cover every 1985 Cadillac Deville. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
2 recalls name the 1985 Cadillac Deville. Newest first.
The fuel filters were produced with an incorrect threaded fitting. The incorrect fitting IS similiar enough in size that the fuel filter may appear to be correctly threaded onto the fuel line.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Replace the filters with the correct filters.
Remedy
The improper threading could cause a gasoline leak which may result in an underhood fire when exposed to a source of ignition.
Omission of the certification labels as required by federal motor vehicle safety standard number 110 "tire selection and rims".
Owner complaints
19 complaints1 injuries1 deaths
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Steering › Rack and pinion
- rack and pinion steering - stuck in certain positions and when cold - dangerous! - rear load leveling sys. Doesn't seem to work on any cadillacs of this era. I can't put a single bag of groceries in the trunk without the rear bottoming - why haven't they been recalled? - headliner came loose and…
- rack and pinion steering - stuck in certain positions and when cold - dangerous! - rear load leveling sys. Doesn't seem to work on any cadillacs of this era. I can't put a single bag of groceries in the trunk without the rear bottoming - why haven't they been recalled? - headliner came loose and hangs down. - cassette plays a couple seconds then ejects. - engine sputters and misses even though all tune-up related items have been replaced. - front brake hose clogged and locked brake off and on. - dangerous. hit brakes and pull hard to right. I owned an 86 celebrity with twice the miles as this cadillac yet it was 100 x more reliable. can't believe cadillac could have stayed in business after this model year. Who in their right mind would ever buy another. this one was garage kept and not driven in snow since 1987 and was owned by an elderly minister. it was very well maintained and looked like new when I bought it directly from him. if one that was taken care of this well was so bad, what about the ones that received only normal levels of care and maintenance. this car looks like new (except headliner) but I've been tempted to give it to the junk yard. it depresses me greatly. when I fix one thing, other things fail twice as fast as the rate I can get them fixed. I want to tryto get it repaired to sell but I can't get ahead of new problems.*ak
- Steering
While attempting to turn right at any degree greater than a lane change, the steering gives the consumer high resistance, especially during a cold start. *slc
- Unknown or other
No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak( dot number: tire size: 205-75r14 )
- Vehicle speed control
Stopped to open the gate. restarted the car and the engine began to race uncontrollablly (as though one had their foot on the brake and gas at the same time). had my foot the brake and shifted back into park, it still raced until I shut it off. Started the car again to see if we could get home.…
Stopped to open the gate. restarted the car and the engine began to race uncontrollablly (as though one had their foot on the brake and gas at the same time). had my foot the brake and shifted back into park, it still raced until I shut it off. Started the car again to see if we could get home. Proceeded down the road and stopped to let off my father. restarted the car in our parking area. this time the brakes did not hold and it raced full speed in a circle that I was stearing. finally shifted into neutral and was able to stop the car before any real physical damage (other than the severe fright it caused me and my father)
- Steering › Steering wheel/handle bar
Intermittently steering wheel locks up when started. when driving, it frequently offers high resistance to turn right to any degree greater than a lane change. *Ak.et
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components
Possible brake failure was the cause of vehicle collision resulting in death.
- Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery · Electrical system › Alternator/generator/regulator
A few months before purchase, the alternator/battery had been replaced. last week, I replaced the alternator again.
- Engine and engine cooling › Cooling system › Radiator assembly · Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Radiator replaced.
- Seat belts
Upper seat belt IS not snug against chest, if driver leans forward, belt does not retract/sometimes, upper belt stays all the way out and requires that belt be unbuckled. *ak
- Structure › Body › Hood › Hinge and attachments
Gas strut on hood failed, causing hood to close on drivers head while checking oil. *Dh
- Steering › Steering wheel/handle bar
Failure on the steering wheel and column, the bolts that holds the steering wheel IS breaking away from the steering column. *ak
- Wheels
Consumer wheels bend and tires wobbles all 4 of them. tt
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Engine failure. *aw
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Engine has failed, needs a new engine after 30K miles. tt
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
The engine has a knock in it and the head gasket has been replaced and it has only 22,000 miles on it. tt
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Replaced engine due to anti-freeze leakage. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Main bearings /blower module failed. *tw
- Steering › Hydraulic power assist system
Power steering failure when starting vehicle. tt
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Transmission supports/transaxle failed. *ak
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Sudden acceleration
Status:analysis of information from the manufacturer IS in progress.however, neither nhtsa of gm has identified a failure or malfunction thatcould result in unintended acceleration.some vehicles in this group werefound potentially subject to throttle cable restrictions, and wererecalled along with h cars with similar problems.investigation iscontinuing.===
- Hydro boost
There is no summary currently available
- Hydroboost failure
Subject vehicles:caprice, caprice classic, custom cruiser, deville,electra, estate wagon, fleetwood, lesabre, ninety-eight, parisienne,park avenue.(all 1984-86 gm vehicles equipped with hydroboost II systems)analysis:consumer complaints allege several problems involving the powersteering and power brake systems of…
Subject vehicles:caprice, caprice classic, custom cruiser, deville,electra, estate wagon, fleetwood, lesabre, ninety-eight, parisienne,park avenue.(all 1984-86 gm vehicles equipped with hydroboost II systems)analysis:consumer complaints allege several problems involving the powersteering and power brake systems of these vehicles.these problemsinclude: power steering fluid loss, power brake fluid loss, leakage fromthe hydro-boost II power brake booster, broken booster seals, and mastercylinder failure.all problems seem to be related to the hydro-boost iipower assist system, in which the working fluid provides power assist to boke booster.the effect of these problems could be a loss of steeringcontrol and/or brake effectiveness.status:the voluminous amount of data supplied by gm IS presently being coded by a contractor and should be completed by 12/30/87. Gm data indicated a 50% weibull distribution failure at 50K miles for the piston push-rod seal. This pe looks to have an extrodinarily high frequency, although the severity apears to be low.should be interesting discussing this for upgrade/closure.===
- Windshield wipers
Summary:gm believes the problem has been corrected through its publi-cation of 7 service bulletins concerning this matter. In addition, gmdoes not believe windshield wiper failure represents a safety hazard.analysis: three failure modes have been identified; insulating film maybuild up between the brush face and the…
Summary:gm believes the problem has been corrected through its publi-cation of 7 service bulletins concerning this matter. In addition, gmdoes not believe windshield wiper failure represents a safety hazard.analysis: three failure modes have been identified; insulating film maybuild up between the brush face and the commutator of the wiper motor,corrosion may form in the wiper motor brush and disengagement of thewiper arms may occur. In view of the existing legal precedent, the largenumber of warranty claims concerning wiper motor failures (114,000) andthe high wiper motor and motor kit part sales (251,000), it IS imperativethat this matter receive management support.status: gm response dated 2/23/87. Analyzing as time permits.ea closed 3/2/88.=== d@
Every Cadillac Deville model year
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