1986 Cadillac Deville problems & reliability
22 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1986 Cadillac Deville. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 1986 Cadillac Deville vehicles were involved in 1 fatal crash with 1 occupant death. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 9 | 41% |
| Power Train | 3 | 14% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 14% |
| Electrical System | 2 | 9% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 9% |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 5% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 1 | 5% |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 5% |
| Steering | 1 | 5% |
| Structure | 1 | 5% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“1986 cadillac deville/fleetwood abs brake system. Consumer requests that enforcement of same inspection, testing and replacement of the failed braking parts for his vehicle. *nj the consumer stated the abs did not perform in a satisfactory manner. The consumer stated the abs was flawed. The consumer stated water came…”
Service Brakes, Hydraulic · filed Oct 8, 2008
“Car developed an oil leak, I thought it was the oil pan gasket. Took it to a dealership who changed the oilpan gasket. It still leaked oil, so I removed the engine. I discovered that the block had a crack from the crank shaft to the cam shaft on the rear of the engine. I tried to aluminum weld it once, but it still…”
Engine and Engine Cooling · filed Apr 18, 2000
“While driving into the driveway upon returning from work, parked the vehicle, noticed a puddle of water underneath. Lifted up the hood, could see water coming out of the engine cylinder gasket. *ak”
Engine and Engine Cooling · filed Mar 13, 2000
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- REAR BRAKE PIN
Engineering Analysis EA89028 · opened Jul 28, 1989 · closed Jul 27, 1990
- ANTI LOCK BRAKES
Preliminary Evaluation PE89098 · opened Mar 10, 1989 · closed May 17, 1989
- SUDDEN ACCELERATION
Engineering Analysis EA88031 · opened Apr 22, 1988 · closed Oct 23, 1989
- HYDRO BOOST
Engineering Analysis EA88019 · opened Jan 28, 1988 · closed Oct 31, 1990
- HYDROBOOST FAILURE
Preliminary Evaluation PE87038 · opened Jul 9, 1987 · closed Jan 28, 1988
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 1986 Cadillac Deville in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 1986 Cadillac Deville?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.