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1988 Cadillac DeVille

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1988 DeVille.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1988 Cadillac DeVille is specified with an automatic 4-speed transmission, a 4.5-quart engine-oil fill using either 10W-30 or 5W-30, and EPA ratings of 15/22/17 mpg. Its reliability record lists 37 owner complaints and one recall, with vehicle speed control standing out as the top complaint area. Because this model year falls outside the 1990–2005 complaint window—whose tallies range from 94 to a peak of 306 in 1997—it occupies the lower end of the documented grievance spectrum, suggesting a comparatively quieter reliability profile than the later years tracked.

Model year2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1988

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type10W-30 / 5W-30OEM · verified

EPA fuel economy15/22/17 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses OE oil filter 12731179. Note the factory fuel filter is now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter	12731179
Engine air filter	19259030
Fuel filter	25171792 discontinued
Spark plug	19354416
Front wiper blades	22155381
Serpentine belt	03531941
Thermostat	03539588 alt 03522676

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

Transmission

Automatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined	15 / 22 / 17 mpg
Drivetrain	Front-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume	110 cu ft
Cargo volume	16 cu ft
Recommended fuel	Regular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

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.

6.6–11.6 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.60 sec — 1997 Concours Sedan

Year	Trim / engine	0–60	¼ mile	HP	Drivetrain
1994	Concours Sedan 4.6L V8	7.80 sec	15.80 sec	270 hp	FWD
1994	Sedan 4.9L V8	8.30 sec	16.50 sec	200 hp	FWD
1981	d'Elegance Sedan 6.0L V8	11.60 sec	18.40 sec	145 hp	RWD
1995	Concours Sedan 4.6L V8	6.90 sec	15.20 sec	300 hp	FWD
1996	Concours Sedan 4.6L V8	7.20 sec	15.40 sec	300 hp	FWD
1997	Concours Sedan 4.6L V8	6.60 sec	14.90 sec	300 hp	FWD
1978	Coupe 7.0L V8	10.60 sec	18.20 sec	195 hp	RWD
1998	Concours Sedan 4.6L V8	6.90 sec	15.10 sec	300 hp	FWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 10W-30 / 5W-30 engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Differential Gear Oil	80W-90 · GL-5
Differential Gear Oil Capacity	4.3 qt
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	10W-30 · 5W-30
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Power Steering Fluid	USE GM PART NO. 1050017 OR EQUIVALENT

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 5,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 7,500 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 mi	Brake System (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Injection System Air Pump Filter Element (replace) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Transmission Fluid & Filter (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The provided year-by-year federal record begins in 1990 with 94 complaints and 5 technical service bulletins (TSBs), showing a general upward trend in both metrics through 2005, where TSBs reached 548. For the 1988 model year, specific federal data highlights low-volume complaints in Vehicle Speed Control and Steering (7 each), alongside 3 crash complaints and 1 fire complaint. Although a total complaint count for 1988 is not explicitly aggregated in the provided dataset, the sum of its top complaint categories is substantially lower than the 94 total complaints recorded for the 1990 model year. This places the 1988 DeVille prior to the documented escalation in investigations and TSBs that characterizes the 1990–2005 period, implying potentially fewer documented systemic issues. However, the data does not specify root causes for the steering or speed control complaints, and the lack of total recall data for 1988 limits a full safety assessment. Consequently, while the lower complaint volume suggests this is a favorable year to buy compared to later models, purchasers must prioritize inspecting the steering and speed control systems due to the specific concerns noted.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

Owner complaints

3 involved a crash · 1 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’90 ’91 ’92 ’93 ’94 ’95 ’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01 ’02 ’03 ’04 ’05

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 37 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Vehicle Speed Control7

Steering7

Engine & Engine Cooling5

Tires5

Service Brakes, Hydraulic3

Visibility3

Electrical System2

Structure1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06E043000Fuel System, GasolineReported 19/05/2006

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific DeVille. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Vehicles taking 4.5 qt Engine oil filter 12731179 Engine air filter 19259030 Fuel filter 25171792 Spark plug 19354416

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1988 DeVille take?

4.5 qt of ABOVE 40 degrees F: 30, ABOVE 0 degrees F: 10W-30, BELOW 60 degrees F: 5W-30, per the factory manual.

Does the 1988 DeVille have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the DeVille get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 22 highway / 17 combined mpg.