NHTSA vehicle safety data

1998 Cadillac STS Recalls & Complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1998 Cadillac STS right now, so this page doesn't state a recall count — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for current campaigns. 3 owner complaints are on file.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1998 Cadillac STS.

1998 Cadillac STS owner complaints

Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Cadillac STS, describing incidents dated June 19, 2010 to April 1, 2014.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 1 complaint
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint
Steering 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #10595072 · Filed May 30, 2014
DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS (THANKFULLY BOTH AT SLOW SPEEDS) STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND COULD NOT BE TURNED (LOCKED UP HEADING LEFT). SHE WAS ABLE TO GUIDE VEHICLE TO STOP WITHOUT INJURY. SHE TURNED OFF VEHICLE AND RESTARTED AND STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. ONLINE…
ODI #10394538 · Filed March 29, 2011
THE MAIN AIR BAG FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SET OFF WITH THE CAR RUNNING AND IN PARK. THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING NOR WAS THERE ANY COLLISION TO SET OFF THE AIR BAG. LATER INVESTIGATION BY CADILLAC/GM DETERMINED FAULTY SENSORS THAT CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY IMPROPERLY WHICH CREATED/CREATES A…
ODI #10339541 · Filed June 22, 2010
AFTER A POLICE STOP FOR HIGH-MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT INOPERATIVE, I LEARNED THAT THERE IS A 100% FAILURE RATE FOR THIS 3RD BRAKE LIGHT IN CADILLAC VEHICLES. MINE IS A 1998 STS, NOW WITH 80K MILES. IT IS NOT SIMPLY A BULB REPLACEMENT BECAUSE IT IS A SEALED LED UNIT AND IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE. THE UNIT IS…

Read all 3 complaints

We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the 1998 Cadillac STS right now — this is not a confirmed "no recalls". Check the VIN at NHTSA.gov/recalls for the official status.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1998 Cadillac STS. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

3 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1998 Cadillac STS.

Steering

ODI #10595072

Incident: April 1, 2014 · Filed: May 30, 2014

DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS (THANKFULLY BOTH AT SLOW SPEEDS) STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND COULD NOT BE TURNED (LOCKED UP HEADING LEFT). SHE WAS ABLE TO GUIDE VEHICLE TO STOP WITHOUT INJURY. SHE TURNED OFF VEHICLE AND RESTARTED AND STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. ONLINE RESEARCH INDICATES ALL CADILLAC MODELS OF THIS VINTAGE AND SOME NEWER ARE EXPERIENCING THIS STEERING PROBLEM. HOWEVER, NO RECALL OR SERVICE BULLETINS ISSUED. THIS IS THE LAST GM PRODUCT WE WILL EVER PURCHASE. *TR

Air Bags

ODI #10394538

Incident: February 8, 2011 · Filed: March 29, 2011

THE MAIN AIR BAG FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WAS SET OFF WITH THE CAR RUNNING AND IN PARK. THE CAR WAS NOT MOVING NOR WAS THERE ANY COLLISION TO SET OFF THE AIR BAG. LATER INVESTIGATION BY CADILLAC/GM DETERMINED FAULTY SENSORS THAT CAUSED THE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY IMPROPERLY WHICH CREATED/CREATES A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10339541

Incident: June 19, 2010 · Filed: June 22, 2010

AFTER A POLICE STOP FOR HIGH-MOUNT BRAKE LIGHT INOPERATIVE, I LEARNED THAT THERE IS A 100% FAILURE RATE FOR THIS 3RD BRAKE LIGHT IN CADILLAC VEHICLES. MINE IS A 1998 STS, NOW WITH 80K MILES. IT IS NOT SIMPLY A BULB REPLACEMENT BECAUSE IT IS A SEALED LED UNIT AND IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE. THE UNIT IS SUBJECT TO WATER DAMAGE. THE PRICE FOR THE PART ALONE IS OVER $800. RESEARCH HAS REVEALED THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS FIRST NOTED ON 1992 - 1997 VEHICLES, AND THEN AGAIN ON 1998 - 2001 CADILLAC VEHICLES WITH 100% FAILURE RATE, NO REPAIR IS POSSIBLE OTHER THAN REPLACING THE $800 PART. THE CADILLAC DIVISION OF GM SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT AND REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE UNITS. *TR

Other Cadillac STS model years

Check your 1998 Cadillac STS VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Cadillac STS at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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