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Vehicle safety record

1989 Cadillac Deville Problems, complaints & recalls

Owners have filed 49 complaints about the 1989 Cadillac Deville with NHTSA, most often about the acceleration & cruise control (17) and the brakes (7). Those complaints describe 5 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in May 2006 for the fuel system, gasoline. For comparison, the 1988 has 29 and the 1990 has 80.

NHTSA data checked

CAbout as many problems as a typical Deville year, for its age

#26 most complained-about 1989 vehicle

Complaints
49
Recalls
1
Crashes
5
Fires
1
Injuries
3
Deaths
0

Most common 1989 Cadillac Deville problems

Share of all 49 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.

1989 Cadillac Deville recalls 1

Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do

Fuel system

06E04300088,303 vehicles affected

The problem
Certain replacement fuel filters, fram brand name p/n g3727, with date codes x52911 through x60801 sequentially or x600141 and a mexico country or origin marking on the fuel filter housing manufactured from october 18, 2005, through march 21, 2006, sold for use on the vehicles listed above and on certain school buses. (To see the school bus engine sizes, click on "document search" and then "bus applications"). The connector on the fuel filter was not manufactured to honeywell's specification. As a result, the o-ring may not seat correctly on the fuel line.
The risk
This condition may cause an inadequate seal at the connection, potentially leading to a fuel leak. In the presence of an ignition source, a fire could occur.
The fix
Honeywell will notify owners and replace the fuel filters free of charge. The recall began on october 18, 2006. Owners may contact fram customer service at 1-800-890-2075 (option 1).

What owners say

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49 complaints about the 1989 Cadillac Deville

Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 2.

Acceleration & cruise controlEquipment & accessories

1989 Cadillac deville cp speed actuator - high idle / runaway vehicle - have replaced 3 times problems still happening. Now I will not drive this car for fear of a accident! I went online to see if any other consumers had same problems and it is confirmed! "Incidents numerous times". *Tr

Filed Incident Vehicle speed control · EquipmentNHTSA 10315999
Engine & cooling

Would not pass emissions due to misfire and nox control system malfunction (most likely due to problems in only a few cylinders). Possible causes include lean air/fuel ratio, port vacuum leaks, egr system, erratic ignition timing, and/or other mechanical problems. *Tr

Filed Incident Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 10220454
Body, doors & structure1 injury

Hood on front car fell closed by itself and latched closed. My fingers were on fender at the time it fell. My fingers were smashed between the hood and the fender. I could not get them out. I had to scream for someone to open the hood from inside the car since I was trapped. My fingers came very close to being cut off. There was no wind or any outside causes for the hood to fall. The hood was all the way open and I did not do anything improper to cause this problem. I believe the hood supports are a designed in flaw that caused this to happen. They do not adequately support the hood. Hood has never fallen before. *Nm

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 10142493
BrakesAcceleration & cruise control

While driving vehicle accelerated, and went out of control. Consumer stated there was something called an accelerator motor that malfunctioned. The technician replace the idle speed sensor.*Ak front calipers and rotors burned up. The technician replaced the calipers, rotors and flushed the brake fluid. *Bf *nm

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 10118953
Transmission & drivetrain

Rear axle assembly fell apart and dropped front end onto the pavemnent.*Ak

Filed Incident Power trainNHTSA 765443
BrakesFuel systemElectrical systemAcceleration & cruise control

After accelerating throttle keeps pumping, dealer has been contacted, and can not correct problem. *Ak alternator failed, front brakes make noises, also the fuel filter was replaced.*Yh *yh

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulic · Fuel system, gasoline · Electrical system · Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 8006945
Acceleration & cruise control

Runaway throttle, sudden high speed engine conditions that occurred entirely independent of the driver. Stopping required steering to the side of the road and turning off the ignition. Last time it happened it persisted each time engine was restarted.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 9006327
Wheels & tires

The tire and rim assembly on the right front corner came off damaging the front fender (ohio traffic crash report). Nlm

Filed Incident Tires · WheelsNHTSA 560370
Acceleration & cruise control

While in cruise control mode, put foot on brake to release cruise control, car immediately excelled to 85mph. Reached over to turn off switch on cruise control, at the same time both feet on brakes, trying to slow down, finally put car in neutral, car slowed down.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 9001063
Acceleration & cruise control

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 723716
Brakes

Brakes are not adequate for the vehicle, very weak in spite of good linings. *Mjs

Filed Service brakes, hydraulicNHTSA 551811
Acceleration & cruise control

Consumer was driving 55mph accelerated to change lanes in the middle of rush hour traffic. Consumer thought accelerator got stuck and hit the brake. Then consumer tried to lift the gas pedal with her foot, thinking it was stuck and car kept accelerating. Car was also placed in neutral, but continued to accelerate up to 90mph. Consumer turned ignition off, and put emergency brake while in the middle of a turn. The plastic lock in retainer clip fell off into the throttle body & jammed the throttle open. *Ak

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 856162
Acceleration & cruise control

The dates are approximate. I bought may 29,1996 and was in the shop within two weeks. The service advisor (dick smith I think his name is) assured me that scheduled maintenance would address the engine surge problem and as I think about it I agreed to it because that was at least the second time I was in lindsay cadillac for service on the engine surge. I returned a few days later as my scheduled allowed and recall talking with the service manager who refused to admit that the first 3 times I was there, those...

Read the full complaint

cadillac "experts" should have fixed it properly the first time and at the most before the 3rd visit. Of course "dick" assured his boss that he said nothing of the sort (that $495 shceduled maintenance would once and for all solve the engine surge). I came so close to rearending maybe five different people during that whole runaround period. Finally, with my limited knowledge of vehicles, I reduced the idle control so the high reving engine wouldn't do damage until I found a solution to this. And now I come across your website and see some of the same complaints I made to lindsay cadillac of alexandria, virginia in a list of recalls and tsb's that were issued 2 years after they (lindsay) sold this car to the previous owner named tipton according to dick smith in summer of 1989. Of the 253 complaints on the 1989 cadillac deville that I find in your complaints database, 29 of them cite a problem with the throttle. That is a considerable percentage considering that silent suffers (those who won't make official complaints but will buy imports instead) could count for a estimated additional 30%. It is no wonder that import automakers advertise less than "dams" (domestic auto maker s) dams are the single best reason for buying unamerican. Now, with the significant % of reported complaints on the throttle of the 1989 cadillac deville, shouldn't a recall be in order? Remember that a recall on the 1992 cadillac fleetwood involved the throttle.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 715506
Wheels & tires

After discovering that the vehicle was not driving right owner checked the wheels and found the left front wheel to be cracked and coming apart. Spokes were coming out of the wheel. Customer was notifed about the problem. Owner will be replacing the wheels. Please provide any further information. *Ak

Filed Incident WheelsNHTSA 853117
Fuel system

Had new tires put on vehicle, and dealer noticed that there was a gas leak. Took the car to the local mechanic who removed the gas tank because it sat on top of the the fuel sending unit. Fuel sending unit rusted because moisture backed up in the lines. Contacted dealer and manufacturer. *Ak

Filed Incident Fuel system, gasolineNHTSA 850119
Electrical systemCrash

Electrical system shut down, resulting in loss of vehicle control and in a minor collision. *Ak

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 849447
Brakes

The abs braking system malfunctioned, causing extended stopping distance which may resultin a crash. Please provide further information. *Ak

Filed Incident Service brakes, hydraulicNHTSA 842940
Acceleration & cruise control

Engine raced out of control on startup. Despite my hearing problem, I turned off the ignition before leaving "park". If I had put the car in "drive" I would have smahed into the parked car in front of me. The service station said that the idle speed control unit had failed. It was jammed in the full throttle position and couldn't be repaired. *Ak

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 706803
Acceleration & cruise control

When turning the ignition ,the engine goes to full power. Consumer must press hard on brakes in order to keep the vehicle from accelerating without touching the accelerator. *Ak *ml

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 835579
Acceleration & cruise controlCrash

Throttle stuck at 71 mph cruise control was not engaged, when brakes were applied vehicle would not slow down and continued through an intersection striking a stop sign which fell on the car braking the windshield and damage to the left front fender and scratchs along the left side of vehicle, upon checking the vehicle at the scene the throttle was still stuck in the wide open position, it took some force to break it loose.

Filed Incident Vehicle speed controlNHTSA 701275
Body, doors & structure

Transaxle mount (bottom mount): 2 bottom bolts shear off from transaxle side at the same time. Stem part of bolt still left inside the transmission orifice. Possible wrong bolt strength. Both bolts are original parts.

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 700614
Body, doors & structure1 injury

Hood struts failed twice, hitting driver in the back while he was working under the hood. The struts that hold the hood up are not sufficient enough for the weight of the hood. *Ak

Filed Incident StructureNHTSA 816792
Engine & cooling

FAN BELT FAILED.

Filed Engine and engine coolingNHTSA 531707
Electrical systemFire

INGITION SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 531233
Visibility & wipers

WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED.

Filed Incident VisibilityNHTSA 528761

Cadillac Deville: every year compared

YearComplaintsRecallsCrashesFiresTop problemGrade
19931021818BrakesF
199213711614Fuel systemF
1991911811BrakesF
1990802102BrakesD
198949151Acceleration & cruise controlC
198829121Acceleration & cruise controlB
198741213Engine & coolingC
198622310Engine & coolingA
198521200Engine & coolingB
All Deville years

1989 Cadillac Deville vs rivals

More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.

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Questions about the 1989 Cadillac Deville

Does the 1989 Cadillac Deville have any recalls?

Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 1989 Cadillac Deville: fuel system, gasoline (May 2006). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.

What are the most common problems with the 1989 Cadillac Deville?

By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the acceleration & cruise control (17), brakes (7), engine & cooling (6).

How many complaints has the 1989 Cadillac Deville had?

49 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on December 22, 1994 and the latest on March 3, 2010. Of these, 5 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 3 injuries and 0 deaths.

Is the 1989 Cadillac Deville a reliable vehicle?

Its Safety Index is 50 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Cadillac Deville year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.

Which Cadillac Deville years have the most complaints?
What should I do if my 1989 Cadillac Deville has a problem?

If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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