RecallMyCar

1978 Cadillac Deville Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 1978 Cadillac Deville, and owners have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
4
owner complaints to NHTSA

4 safety recalls for the 1978 Cadillac Deville

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Accelerator pedal (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 79V111000 Reported 372,466 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The involved vehicles were built with an accelerator pedal having an extension, or rubber flap, at the bottom of the pedal. This pedal flap could be inadvertently displaced by a floor covering and wedged under the accelerator pedal in a manner that can influence the throttle setting and increase the engine idle RPM.

    Remedy: The dealer will remove the rubber flap from the accelerator.

  2. Unknown or other

    NHTSA 78V189000 Reported 388,867 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    If paper or other combustible materials are placed in the instrument panel ashtray receptacle, they could become ignited and flames from the fire may reach the interior of the instrument panel.

    Remedy: Owner will be sent a metal heat shield to be installed above the instrument panel, either by the owner or by the dealer.

  3. Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (wheels)

    NHTSA 77V200000 Reported 4,504 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    The rear wheel mounting bolts on the affected vehicles, are brittle and therefore may fracture. This brittleness is due to improper heat treatment during manufacture. If the bolts break, the tire and wheel assembly may separate from the vehicle.

    Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, will replace defective bolts on all axles and the ten rear axle wheel mounting bolts, free of charge.

  4. Windshield wiper/washer (visibility)

    NHTSA 77V162000 Reported 5,146 vehicles potentially affected GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

    Some of the involved vehicles fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 104, "windshield wiping and washing systems". The windshield washer bottle on the involved vehicles may crack and allow washer fluid to drain out.

    Remedy: Dealer will inspect the washer bottle and, if necessary, replace it without charge to owner.

4 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1978 Cadillac Deville have filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. Complaints peaked in 1995 with 1 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Jetzon innovation tire, p225/75r15, DOT u9hh, rcj, 5110, d121, radial dension 0341, 44210-1, r25502. This tire was mounted and immediately separated when parked in my garage at home. The obvious probl”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, August 12, 2011 · Tires

“Fuel leak due to a punctured fuel line. *ak”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 24, 1997 · Fuel system, gasoline

Compare Cadillac Deville model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Cadillac Deville model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1964 Cadillac Deville01
1971 Cadillac Deville10
1972 Cadillac Deville20
1973 Cadillac Deville01
1974 Cadillac Deville12
1976 Cadillac Deville03
1977 Cadillac Deville21
1978 Cadillac Deville44
1979 Cadillac Deville11
1981 Cadillac Deville01
1982 Cadillac Deville13
1983 Cadillac Deville05
1984 Cadillac Deville06
1985 Cadillac Deville119
1986 Cadillac Deville222
1987 Cadillac Deville140
1988 Cadillac Deville028
1989 Cadillac Deville048
1990 Cadillac Deville076
1991 Cadillac Deville187
1992 Cadillac Deville1135
1993 Cadillac Deville192
1994 Cadillac Deville0127
1995 Cadillac Deville2129
1996 Cadillac Deville2218
1997 Cadillac Deville2269
1998 Cadillac Deville3237
1999 Cadillac Deville1187
2000 Cadillac Deville5225
2001 Cadillac Deville4175
2002 Cadillac Deville5176
2003 Cadillac Deville4145
2004 Cadillac Deville1167
2005 Cadillac Deville195

Checking a specific 1978 Cadillac Deville

How do I know if my 1978 Cadillac Deville has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 1978 Cadillac Deville; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Cadillac dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 77V162000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Cadillac models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.