1985 Cadillac Deville: common problems

Owners of the 1985 Cadillac Deville filed 19 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and steering. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 19

What fails most often

1 Engine and cooling 32% of all complaints
2 Steering 26% of all complaints
3 Electrical system 5% of all complaints
4 Powertrain 5% of all complaints
5 Seat belts 5% of all complaints
6 Service brakes 5% of all complaints
7 Structure 5% of all complaints
8 Vehicle speed control 5% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Engine and cooling: 6 complaints (32% of all).
Steering: 5 complaints (26% of all).
Electrical system: 1 complaints (5% of all).
Powertrain: 1 complaints (5% of all).
Seat belts: 1 complaints (5% of all).

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 19 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

engine failure or replacement2 · 11%
steering or power steering problems2 · 11%
brake failure1 · 5%
knocking, grinding or other noise1 · 5%
seat belts1 · 5%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash	Technical service bulletins (TSB)
Engine and cooling	6	0	0
Steering	5	0	0
Electrical system	1	0	0
Powertrain	1	0	0
Seat belts	1	0	0
Service brakes	1	0	0
Structure	1	0	0
Vehicle speed control	1	0	0
Wheels	1	0	0
Other	1	0	0

What owners report

Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.

- 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.
Steering · 2002-05-08 · NHTSA complaint #761654
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.
Steering · 2001-01-23 · NHTSA complaint #558242
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.
Vehicle speed control · 1999-11-03 · NHTSA complaint #714265
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. .et
Steering · 1999-09-28 · NHTSA complaint #848916
Possible brake failure was the cause of vehicle collision resulting in death.
Service brakes · 1999-03-29 · NHTSA complaint #544554
A few months before purchase, the alternator/battery had been replaced. Last week, I replaced the alternator again.
Electrical system · 1999-02-13 · NHTSA complaint #703251
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.
Seat belts · 1996-10-01 · NHTSA complaint #509336
Gas strut on hood failed, causing hood to close on drivers head while checking oil.
Structure · 1996-06-28 · NHTSA complaint #505105

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

19958
19963
19971
19994
20001
20011
20021

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 8,437 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 23% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Deville has 83 complaints (33 years in the data). This year has 19, below average.

What to check before buying

Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 1985 Cadillac Deville?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, steering, electrical system. Total complaints: 19. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: engine failure or replacement (11%), steering or power steering problems (11%), brake failure (5%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1985 Cadillac Deville?

NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.

Should I buy a 1985 Cadillac Deville from a US auction?

Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.

Other 1985 models

Read also

Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.