Daughter was driving vehicle. On two separate occasions (thankfully both at slow speeds) steering wheel locked up and could not be turned (locked up heading left). She was able to guide vehicle to stop without injury. She turned off vehicle and restarted and steering returned to normal. Online research indicates all cadillac models of this vintage and some newer are experiencing this steering problem. However, no recall or service bulletins issued. This is the last gm product we will ever purchase. *Tr
Vehicle safety record
1998 Cadillac STS Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 3 complaints about the 1998 Cadillac STS with NHTSA, most often about the airbags (1) and the lights (1). There are no recalls for it. For comparison, the 1999 has 13.
NHTSA data checked
AFar fewer problems than a typical STS year, for its age
#254 most complained-about 1998 vehicle
- Complaints
- 3
- Recalls
- 0
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1998 Cadillac STS problems
Share of all 3 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
No recalls for the 1998 Cadillac STS
What owners say
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
3 complaints about the 1998 Cadillac STS
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
The main air bag from the steering wheel was set off with the car running and in park. The car was not moving nor was there any collision to set off the air bag. Later investigation by cadillac/gm determined faulty sensors that caused the air bag to deploy improperly which created/creates a potentially dangerous situation.
After a police stop for high-mount brake light inoperative, I learned that there is a 100% failure rate for this 3rd brake light in cadillac vehicles. Mine is a 1998 sts, now with 80k miles. It is not simply a bulb replacement because it is a sealed led unit and it is very expensive. The unit is subject to water damage. The price for the part alone is over $800. Research has revealed that this problem was first noted on 1992 - 1997 vehicles, and then again on 1998 - 2001 cadillac vehicles with 100% failure rate, no repair is possible other than replacing the $800 part. The cadillac division of gm should stand behind their product and replace these defective units. *Tr
Cadillac STS: every year compared
All STS years1998 Cadillac STS vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Cadillac STS | 3 | 0 | A | |
| 1998 Cadillac Deville | 242 | 3 | F | Compare |
| 1998 Cadillac Catera | 123 | 0 | D | Compare |
| 1998 Cadillac Seville | 65 | 2 | F | Compare |
| 1998 Cadillac Eldorado | 38 | 1 | F | Compare |
| 1998 Cadillac Fleetwood | 4 | 0 | A | Compare |
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.
Questions about the 1998 Cadillac STS
Does the 1998 Cadillac STS have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1998 Cadillac STS right now. Recalls can be announced at any time, and this page checks NHTSA every day. You can also check your exact vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common problems with the 1998 Cadillac STS?
How many complaints has the 1998 Cadillac STS had?
3 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on June 22, 2010 and the latest on May 30, 2014. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 1998 Cadillac STS a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 95 out of 100 (grade A: far fewer problems than a typical Cadillac STS 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 STS years have the most complaints?
2006 (141), 2005 (101), 2007 (53). See every Cadillac STS year compared.
What should I do if my 1998 Cadillac STS 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