1992 Cadillac Seville

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

67/100

Be careful

AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Cadillac Seville, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Air bags	4	13%
Vehicle speed control	3	10%
Engine and engine cooling	3	10%
Steering	2	6%
Tires	2	6%
Seats	2	6%
Exterior lighting	2	6%
Service brakes	2	6%
Equipment	2	6%
Steering	1	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

WHILE WAITING FOR A RED LIGHT TO CHANGE TO A GREEN LIGHT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END ACCIDENT. THE IMPACT WAS ABOUT 40 TO 45 MPH, AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS ISSUED. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED A TIRE BLOW OUT ON THE RIGHT SIDE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. (GENERAL RADIAL XP 2000II, DOT#A3XO 2NB 2400, SIZE 16 TIRE)*JB
NHTSA complaint: Tires

WHEN DRIVING AND UPON MAKING A SUDDEN STOP PASSENGER'S SIDE SEATBACK BROKE TO RECLINING POSITION, CAUSING INJURIES TO PASSENGER'S SEAT OCCUPANT'S BACK AND NECK. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER NOTED THAT ENTIRE
NHTSA complaint: Seats

MY CAR ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED TWICE. THE FIRST TIME MY MECHANIC SCRAPED CARBON FROM A METAL PLATE ON THE CARBURATOR. NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control

WHEN TURNING CAR OFF THEFT SYSTEM PRVENTS STARTING OF CAR. PLATED GOLD ON IGNITION KEY GRADUALLY FLAKES OFF, AND SHORTS OUT THEFT SYSTEM. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Steering

BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEAT BACKS WILL NOT STAY LOCKED IN THE UPRIGHT POSITION. THERE IS NO RATCHET OR OTHER APPARENT LOCKING MECHANISM EXCEPT A SIMPLE FRICTION LOCK WHICH HAS FAILED. IN THE EVENT OF REAR END COLLIS
NHTSA complaint: Seats

WHEN CONSUMER TURNS THE KEY SOMETIMES CAR WON'T TURN ON. FEELS SOMETHING IN STEERING COLUMN IS NOT CONNECTING. ONE DAY IT MAY BE AN EMERGENCY AND VEHICLE WON'T START. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON-ONE CADILLAC DEALER TELLS ME THE LEFT REAR STRUT IS BAD, ANOTHER CADILLAC DEALER TELLS ME THE LEFT FRONT STRUT IS BAD. ON THIS VEHICLE ONE STRUT COSTS $800 APIECE. I WAS TOLD THAT CADILLAC HA
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1992 Cadillac Seville. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Steering:rack and pinion 91V157000

THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT TO STEERING RACK LOWER COUPLING PINCH BOLT MAY BE MISSING.

Risk: IF THIS CONDITION EXISTS AND SHAFT DISENGAGEMENT OCCURS, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WILL BE EXPERIENCED BY THE DRIVER WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Fix: INSTALL PINCH BOLT.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	86	excellent
Longevity est.	78	good
Maintenance	62	average
Depreciation	52	average
Performance	65	good
Efficiency	32	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 58% of midsize & large cars
Longevity: better than 56% of midsize & large cars
Running costs: better than 27% of midsize & large cars
Value retention: better than 22% of midsize & large cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 86: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 78: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1992 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 62: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1992 Cadillac Seville?

Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 4 of them (13%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1992 Cadillac Seville reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 1992 Cadillac Seville last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1992 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1992 Cadillac Seville?

AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.