1984 Cadillac Deville problems

General information about Cadillac-Deville
Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list
Recalls list

The Cadillac DeVille is a model name used by Cadillac over eight generations, originally used to designate a trim level of the 1949 Cadillac Series 62 and later to designate a standalone model in the brand range. The last model marketed specifically as a DeVille was the 2005 full-size sedan, at the time, Cadillac's largest model.

For 2006, the Deville nameplate was retired, when the model line was carried forward (with minor revisions) as the Cadillac DTS, using a nomenclature adopted by the Cadillac STS and CTS.

Early history

The name "DeVille" is derived from the French de la ville or de ville meaning "of the town". In French coach building parlance, a coupé de ville, from the French couper (to cut) i.e. shorten or reduce, was a short four-wheeled closed carriage with an inside seat for two and an outside seat for the driver and this smaller vehicle was intended for use in the town or city (de ville). An (unshortened) limousine or (in the United States) town car has a division between the passenger and driver compartments and if the driver's seat is outside it may be called a sedanca de ville or town car.

The first Cadillac "Coupe de Ville" was shown during the 1949 Motorama. It was built on a Cadillac Sixty Special chassis and featured a dummy air-scoop, chrome trim around front wheel openings, and a one-piece windshield and rear glass. The interior was black and trimmed in gray leather, including the headliner, to match the roof color. It was equipped with a telephone in the glove compartment, a vanity case and a secretarial pad in the rear armrest, power windows and highly decorative chrome interior trim. The prototype "Coupe de Ville" was used by GM President Charles E. Wilson until 1957 when he presented it to his secretary. At some time during this period it acquired a dark Vicodec roof. The prototype "Coupe de Ville" was found and restored in the 2010s; it was in a private collection in London, Ontario, Canada as of 2017.

The Cadillac Series 62 Coupe de Ville was introduced late in the 1949 model year. Along with the Buick Roadmaster Riviera, and the Oldsmobile 98 Holiday, it was among the first pillarless hardtop coupes ever produced. At US$3,496 ($44,768 in 2023 dollars ) it was only a dollar less than the Series 62 convertible, and like the convertible, it came with power windows standard. It was luxuriously trimmed, with leather upholstery and chrome 'bows' in the headliner to simulate the ribs of a convertible top. In its first year the Series 62 Coupe de Ville only sold 2,150 units. But 1950 sales more than doubled to 4507, and in 1951 sales more than doubled again to 10,241 exceeding the sales for the Series 62 Club Coupe that year. Also, in 1951, Coupe de Ville chrome script appeared on the rear roof pillar for the first time, to further distinguish it from the Series 62 Club Coupe.

In 1956 the Series 62 Coupe de Ville was joined by the Series 62 Sedan de Ville, Cadillac's first standard production 4-door hardtop. Similarly to the Coupe de Ville, it was also more expensive and more luxuriously trimmed than the standard 4-door Series 62. With 41,732 sold, it also easily outsold the Series 62 sedan in its very first year. Given their sales success, it was only natural that the Coupe de Ville and Sedan de Ville were moved to their own separate series in 1959, the Series 6300, being joined by a DeVille convertible in 1964.

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Common 1984 Cadillac Deville problems

Based on the information from various sources regarding common problems with the Cadillac DeVille 1984, here is a detailed list of issues reported by owners:

HVAC Door Actuator Failure:
- - Description: Owners of Devilles from model years dating back to 1990 have reported issues with HVAC door actuators failing, leading to problems with the air conditioning or heater delivering air incorrectly or at the wrong temperature.
  - Repair Cost: Diagnosis for A/C issues can cost between $53 and $67.

HT4100 Engine Reliability Issues:
- - Description: The HT4100 engine, used in the 1984 Cadillac Sedan DeVille, has been widely criticized for its poor reliability, with reports of aluminum block melting due to excess heat and cooling issues.
  - Repair Recommendation: Due to the engine's reputation for unreliability, it is suggested that if encountering a Cadillac with this engine, an engine swap to a more reliable option is advisable.

General Maintenance and Repair Costs:
- - Yearly Maintenance Cost: On average, Cadillacs incur $476 in yearly maintenance costs, with an additional $783 annually for repair costs alone.
  - Factory Warranty: Given that some popular Cadillac models are no longer in production, owners may not benefit from a factory warranty, increasing the importance of being aware of potential issues and associated costs.

These reported problems highlight some of the common issues faced by owners of the Cadillac DeVille 1984 model, emphasizing the importance of understanding these issues to anticipate potential maintenance needs and costs.

What years of DeVille to avoid?

Overheating and cracked engine blocks in Cadillac DeVilles

The popular 2000 and 2002 Cadillac DeVilles are prime casualties, with the engine tending to overheat due to a leaking head gasket. Alternatively, a water pump leak could be preventing your coolant circulating freely through your engine.

What engine is in a 1984 Cadillac DeVille?

1984 saw the end of the rear wheel drive De Ville's before changing to a front wheel drive platform allowing this De Ville to stay true to its original roots. Under the hood it is equipped with an HT4100 4.1L V8 engine.

How long can a Cadillac DeVille last?

How Many Miles Does a Cadillac Last? A new Cadillac typically drives between 150,000 and 200,000 miles with proper maintenance. This translates to about 10 to 13 years for an average driver clocking 15,000 miles per year.

What is the problem with the Cadillac 4.1 engine?

Consumers reported all sorts of issues with the HT4100 V8. It suffered from head gasket problems, coolant leaking issues, and oil pump failures. Replacement parts were expensive, and most repair shops wouldn't work on them. It was yet another engine failure for General Motors.

What years of DeVille to avoid?

Overheating and cracked engine blocks in Cadillac DeVilles

What engine is in a 1984 Cadillac DeVille?

What is the problem with the Cadillac 4.1 engine?

How long can a Cadillac DeVille last?

1984 Cadillac Deville car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Cadillac Deville problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Vehicle speed control problems
Engine and engine cooling problems
Fuel system problems
Gasoline problems
Electrical system problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1984 Cadillac Deville vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1984 Cadillac Deville complaints

The NHTSA has received 6 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1984 Cadillac Deville.

2004-11-30

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2004-11-29
VIN: 1G6AM6982E9
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
Summary: RECALL 93E019000 REGARDING FUEL SYSTEM OTHER PARTS: WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER NOTICED FUEL WAS LEAKING ONTO THE ENGINE. A MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS UNDER A RECALL. CONSUMER CONTACTED A LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT NOTHING WOULD BE DONE. *AK

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1999-03-11

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
Number Of Injuries: 1
VIN: 1G6AM478OE9
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Summary: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT WITH INJURIES.

Add Complaint

1997-01-23

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 1996-10-01
VIN: 1G6AM4781E9
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Summary: SUDDEN ACCELERATION, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

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1996-11-25

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 1996-10-24
VIN: 1G6AM4787E9
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Summary: ANTI-FREEZE FOUND IN CRANKCASE, CAUSING COOLANT LIGHT TO COME ON.

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1995-11-13

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 1995-10-27
VIN: 1G6AM6981E9
Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Summary: PURCHASED VEHICLE USED WATER ON THE ENGINE NEED TO REPLACE ENGINE. TT

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1995-06-22

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 1995-06-21
VIN: 1G6AM6982E9
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Summary: THE ENGINE IS MAKING TERRIBLE NOISE AND WILL NOT START AND IS NOT DRIVEABLE BECAUSE OF THE NOISE. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT

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1984 Cadillac Deville recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1984 Cadillac Deville.

1993-06-04

Manufacturer: PUROLATOR PRODUCTS, INC.
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE
Summary: THE FUEL FILTERS WERE PRODUCED WITH AN INCORRECT THREADED FITTING. THE INCORRECT FITTING IS SIMILIAR ENOUGH IN SIZE THAT THE FUEL FILTER MAY APPEAR TO BE CORRECTLY THREADED ONTO THE FUEL LINE.
Consequence: REPLACE THE FILTERS WITH THE CORRECT FILTERS.
Remedy: THE IMPROPER THREADING COULD CAUSE A GASOLINE LEAK WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE WHEN EXPOSED TO A SOURCE OF IGNITION.

Additional sources

More sources of information about 1984 Cadillac Deville problems:

1984 Coupe DeVille A/C problems | Cadillac Owners Forum

https://www.cadillacforums.com/threads/1984-coupe-deville-a-c-problems.1096296/

Apr 11, 2020 ... The most common cause is low on freon. It was R-12 in 84', unless it's been converted to R-134A. The A/C compressor shuts off because the ...

1984 Cadillac Eldorado Biarritz: Q&A on General Problems

https://www.justanswer.com/cadillac/6cqsz-cadillac-eldorado-biarritz-generals-problems.html

Mar 7, 2012 ... What generals problems would I have to worry about if I invested in a 1984 cadillac eldorado as far as the engine? - Answered by a verified ...

1984 Sedan Deville problems | Cadillac Owners Forum

https://www.cadillacforums.com/threads/1984-sedan-deville-problems.378257/

Oct 2, 2013 ... 1984 Sedan Deville problems ... help me im a young 21 year old and not planning on selling this car anytime soon thanx guyd last time i had ...