Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1978 DeVille.
The 1978 Cadillac DeVille is characterized by a reliability profile featuring four recalls and four total owner complaints, with tires cited as the primary area of concern. This model year's data stands in contrast to the model's subsequent history from 1990 to 2005, which saw complaints range from a low of 94 in 1990 to a peak of 306 in 1997. Consequently, the 1978 model represents a period of significantly lower reported owner dissatisfaction than the later years tracked in the model's history.
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the DeVille of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Coupe 7.0L V8 | 10.60 sec | 18.20 sec | 195 hp | RWD |
| 1981 | d'Elegance Sedan 6.0L V8 | 11.60 sec | 18.40 sec | 145 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The provided federal data covers model years 1990–2005, which does not include the target year 1978. Therefore, no direct complaint, recall, or investigation data exists for the 1978 Cadillac DeVille in this dataset. The trend across the available years shows a general increase in complaints (from 94 in 1990 to a peak of 306 in 1997) and a dramatic rise in TSBs (from 5 in 1990 to 548 by 2005), with recalls and investigations remaining relatively low but consistent throughout. Since the target year falls completely outside the provided data range, it is impossible to determine where 1978 sits within this generational arc or what complaints were filed for that specific model year. The concrete takeaway is that while the 1990s–2000s data shows escalating technical issues for later Cadillac models, there is no NHTSA record to evaluate the 1978's reliability profile—so prospective buyers should seek independent pre-purchase inspections and historical service records rather than relying on federal complaint data.
All 4 complaints on record, top 3 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 4 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
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… Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT THE WASHER BOTTLE AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE IT WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
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.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.