1987 Cadillac Deville problems & reliability
40 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1987 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.
1 complaint report injuries (2 injured, 1 deaths reported).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling → | 18 | 45% |
| Steering | 6 | 15% |
| Electrical System | 3 | 8% |
| Power Train | 3 | 8% |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 | 8% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 8% |
| Structure | 3 | 8% |
| Seats | 2 | 5% |
| Equipment | 1 | 3% |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% |
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
“Tl* the contact owned a 1987 cadillac deville. The contact stated that the driver smelled a strong odor of gasoline fuel and there was oil seen leaking from the vehicle. In addition, as the driver attempted to park, a fire erupted from the engine compartment. The driver was not able to exit the vehicle and sustained…”
Electrical System · filed Dec 17, 2014
“This complaint is in regards to the goodyear viva 2 tires sold at walmart. I had purchased two tires in august of 2005. When I was first sold these tires I asked the associate selling the tires if these tires were approved for all season driving. The associate assured me they were. I was driving in my car yesterday I…”
Tires · filed Nov 19, 2005
“Dt: consumer said motor mounts and frame rusted. Consumer had harbor motors in michigan city, indiana inspect the vehicle. They advised consumer that the vehicle was unsafe to drive due to rusted motor mounts and frame. The consumer spoke with manufacturer, and was not satisfied with answer. The manufacturer stated…”
Structure · filed Jul 7, 2005
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
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 1987 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 1987 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.