1990 Cadillac Seville recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-20. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
3 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Seat belts
What's wrong, in plain English: Seat belts may not hold you in a crash. MISALIGNED REAR SEAT SAFETY BELT SHOULDER RETRACTOR ASSEMBLIES COULD CAUSE PENDULUM INTERFERENCE, CAUSING THE BELT TO REMAIN IN LOCKED POSITION OR TO TRAVEL FREELY WITHOUT LOCKING.
What could happen: IN THE EVENT OF A PANIC STOP OR ACCIDENT, IF THE BELT RETRACTOR INERTIA LOCK DOES NOT ENGAGE, THE REAR SEAT OCCUPANT WOULD HAVE AN INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY.
The fix: REALIGN REAR SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1990 SEVILLE.
- Book a repair at any authorized Cadillac dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 90V028000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
Summary: MISALIGNED REAR SEAT SAFETY BELT SHOULDER RETRACTOR ASSEMBLIES COULD CAUSE PENDULUM INTERFERENCE, CAUSING THE BELT TO REMAIN IN LOCKED POSITION OR TO TRAVEL FREELY WITHOUT LOCKING.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A PANIC STOP OR ACCIDENT, IF THE BELT RETRACTOR INERTIA LOCK DOES NOT ENGAGE, THE REAR SEAT OCCUPANT WOULD HAVE AN INCREASED LIKELIHOOD OF INJURY.
Remedy: REALIGN REAR SHOULDER BELT RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY.
Notes: SYSTEM: REAR SEAT SHOULDER SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS.
2. Airbags
What's wrong, in plain English: The airbag system — the part that is supposed to protect you in a crash. THREADED INFLATOR COMPONENTS MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY WHICH MAY ALLOW COMPONENTS TO SEPARATE WHEN INFLATOR RECEIVES A SIGNAL TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG.
What could happen: INFLATOR COMPONENT SEPARATION ALLOWS HOT COMBUSTION GASESTO ESCAPE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURIES TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
The fix: REPLACE AIR BAG MODULES CONTAINING POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE INFLATORS.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1990 SEVILLE.
- Book a repair at any authorized Cadillac dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 90E043004.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Summary: THREADED INFLATOR COMPONENTS MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY WHICH MAY ALLOW COMPONENTS TO SEPARATE WHEN INFLATOR RECEIVES A SIGNAL TO DEPLOY THE AIR BAG.
Consequence: INFLATOR COMPONENT SEPARATION ALLOWS HOT COMBUSTION GASESTO ESCAPE INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURIES TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
Remedy: REPLACE AIR BAG MODULES CONTAINING POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE INFLATORS.
Notes: NOTE: THIS CAMPAIGN WAS INITIATED BY TRW, INC., MANUFACTURER OF THE AIR BAG MODULE SYSTEM: AIR BAG MODULES. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS EQUIPPED WITH DRIVER SIDE SUPPLEMENTAL AIRBAG MODULES.
3. Transmission / drivetrain
What's wrong, in plain English: The parts that send engine power to the wheels. Failure can mean a sudden loss of power or the car rolling away. TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE FROM THE FLOOR SHIFT CONTROL WITH LOSS OF GEAR INDICATOR REFERENCE AND SHIFT SELECTOR OPERATION.
What could happen: DRIVER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE ACTUAL GEARPOSITION THE TRANSAXLE IS IN, WHICH COULD RESULT IN UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENTAND AN ACCIDENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
The fix: INSTALL A TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIP TO PREVENT CABLE DISENGAGEMENT.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1990 SEVILLE.
- Book a repair at any authorized Cadillac dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 90V164000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
Summary: TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE FROM THE FLOOR SHIFT CONTROL WITH LOSS OF GEAR INDICATOR REFERENCE AND SHIFT SELECTOR OPERATION.
Consequence: DRIVER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DETERMINE ACTUAL GEARPOSITION THE TRANSAXLE IS IN, WHICH COULD RESULT IN UNEXPECTED VEHICLE MOVEMENTAND AN ACCIDENT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: INSTALL A TRANSAXLE SHIFT CONTROL CABLE RETAINING CLIP TO PREVENT CABLE DISENGAGEMENT.
Notes: SYSTEM: TRANSAXLE; SHIFT CONTROL CABLE.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER CARS.
Useful for owners
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Vehicle Speed Control (8), Brakes (4), Hydraulic (3), Visibility (wipers / glass) (2), Wheels / tires (2).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (8)
01/13/2012 · Brakes
I BOUGHT A NEW 1990 CADILLAC FROM CADILLAC DEALER IN 1990 THAT I HAVE DRIVEN ONLY 53,678 MILES, WELL CARED FOR AND GARAGED. .THE ABS MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR SOME TIME AND I HAVE CONTACTED NUMEROUS CADILLAC DEALERS AND BRAKE MECHANICS AND CANNOT FIND ANYONE TO REPAIR LEAK. I HAVE LEARNED THAT MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER (COMBINED PUMP BOOSTER…
01/29/2001 · Unknown Or Other
THE DRIVERS INFORMATION SCREEN IS INOPERATIVE. NLM
01/29/2001 · Transmission / drivetrain
GEAR SHIFT FAILED. NLM
01/29/2001 · Equipment
A/C INOPERATIVE. NLM
01/29/2001 · Visibility (wipers / glass)
DRIVER SIDE POWER WINDOW INOPERATIVE. NLM
09/29/2000 · Wheels / tires
WHILE DRIVING, RIGHT REAR FIRESTONE TIRE P205/70R15 DOT VD080A1124 EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. *SLC
07/03/2000 · Vehicle Speed Control
ON THREE DIFFEERENT OCCASIONS VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 45-50 MPH. CRUISE CONTROL WAS ONLY USED ON ONE OCCASION. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY NOTHING ELSE COULD BE DONE. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
04/27/1999 · Vehicle Speed Control
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE. WHEN THE FOOT IS OFF THE GAS PEDAL IT KEEPS ACCELERATING, AND RPMS GO UP. BRAKING SYSTEM DOES NOT WORK. ONCE ALMOST RESULTED IN A CRASH. HAD TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO STOP. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, BUT THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A FAULTY GROUND STUD AT THE STARTER. OWNER HAD THEN REP…