AI Damage1998 Cadillac Seville: common problems
Owners of the 1998 Cadillac Seville filed 65 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and steering. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 65
- involving a crash
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 31% of all complaints
- 2 Steering 15% of all complaints
- 3 Exterior lighting 9% of all complaints
- 4 Suspension 9% of all complaints
- 5 Visibility 9% of all complaints
- 6 Air bags 8% of all complaints
- 7 Seat belts 6% of all complaints
- 8 Service brakes 6% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 20 complaints (31% of all).
- Steering: 10 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Exterior lighting: 6 complaints (9% of all).
- Suspension: 6 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Visibility: 6 complaints (9% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 4.6 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 65 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 10 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 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.
While driving approximately 30 mph, the contact heard a loud whining noise coming from the steering wheel. The steering wheel became difficult to maneuver as the wheel seized without warning. The contact stated that as the steering failed, another vehicle crashed into the rear of her vehicle.
I have a 1998 cadillac seville sls and was going through left curve on road 40-45 mph right rear axle broke, causing car to spin left then right. Parallel to road on the right and crashing into a big rock between two ponds that saved my life. Car had 70,000 miles on it.
Upon impact, both frontal air bags did not deploy, and seat belt failed. Driver sustained injuries.
While driving 60 mph, the temperature warning indicator illuminated and the contact stated that the motor began to overheat. As a result, the contact pulled over to allow the engine to cool.
Windshield wipers failed to work on low, intermittent or "rain sense" settings. Failure was intermittent and sometimes the wipers would not stop or they came on voluntarily. Additionally, the windshield washer failed at the same time.
The contact stated that whenever the vehicle stopped or driving various speeds, the engine would overheat and a message informing him to add coolant would display on the instrument panel. The engine coolant was routinely added to the vehicle, but the failure continued.
Tl contact owns a 1998 cadillac seville. In inclement weather conditions, the windshield wiper motor's 'low' speed function becomes inoperative. The failure occurs when the motor is switched from 'high' to 'low' speed.
The battery warning light illuminated on the instrument control panel. He took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that the battery was causing the failure and was replaced. Shortly afterwards, the dealer stated that the alternator was causing the failure.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 4,606 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 13% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Seville has 31 complaints (26 years in the data). This year has 65, above 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.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Suspension. Wheel alignment, control arms, subframe, even tire wear.
Other years of this model
- Seville 19856 sources
- Seville 198611 sources
- Seville 198711 sources
- Seville 198811 sources
- Seville 19895 sources
- Seville 199019 sources
- Seville 199121 sources
- Seville 199227 sources
- Seville 199342 sources
- Seville 199450 sources
- Seville 199574 sources
- Seville 1996122 sources
- Seville 199795 sources
- Seville 199973 sources
- Seville 200038 sources
- Seville 200153 sources
- Seville 200245 sources
- Seville 200316 sources
- Seville 20049 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Cadillac Seville?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, steering, exterior lighting. Total complaints: 65. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (12%), steering or power steering problems (11%), headlights and tail lights (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1998 Cadillac Seville?
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 1998 Cadillac Seville 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 1998 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.