CadillacDeVille1993Overview/cadillac/deville/1993/base/

1993 Cadillac DeVille

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1993 DeVille.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1993 Cadillac DeVille is a passenger car featuring a 4-speed automatic transmission and an EPA-rated fuel economy of 15/23/17 mpg. This model year utilizes 4 quarts of 5W-30 API oil and recorded 120 owner complaints and one recall, with the hydraulic service brakes emerging as the top complaint area. Within the 1990-2005 model history, the 1993 DeVille represents a middle ground between the 1990 low of 94 complaints and the 1997 high of 306.

Model year200520042003200220012000199919981993

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/23/17 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 Note the factory front wiper blades and serpentine belt are now discontinued — plan on a superseded or quality aftermarket equivalent, which the part pages below list where known.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 filter12731179
Engine air filter19259030
Fuel filter25121468
Spark plug19300875
Front wiper blades25689175 discontinued
Serpentine belt19355279 discontinued
Thermostat03539588 alt 03522676

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 23 / 17 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume113 cu ft
Cargo volume18 cu ft
Recommended fuelPremium 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.

6.4–8.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.40 sec — 2002 DTS Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1994Concours Sedan 4.6L V87.80 sec15.80 sec270 hpFWD
1994Sedan 4.9L V88.30 sec16.50 sec200 hpFWD
1995Concours Sedan 4.6L V86.90 sec15.20 sec300 hpFWD
1996Concours Sedan 4.6L V87.20 sec15.40 sec300 hpFWD
1997Concours Sedan 4.6L V86.60 sec14.90 sec300 hpFWD
1998Concours Sedan 4.6L V86.90 sec15.10 sec300 hpFWD
2000DTS Sedan 4.6L V86.60 sec15.00 sec300 hpFWD
2000DTS Sedan 4.6L V86.80 sec15.10 sec300 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 4 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity4 qt
Power Steering FluidUSE GM PART NO. 1052884 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 at 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 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.

At 7,500 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Throttle Body (torque) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miBody Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Parking Brake Cable (lubricate) · Shift Linkage (inspect) · Steering Linkage (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miEngine Oil Filter (replace) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · EGR System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (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 1993 Cadillac DeVille sits at a notable inflection point in the data: complaints dropped to 120 from the 1992 peak of 169, and it recorded zero NHTSA investigations—the lowest of any year in this span. This follows an upward complaint trend from 1990-1992 and precedes a steeper climb that peaks at 306 complaints in 1997. The 1993 model also had only one recall (matching the early-period norm) while TSBs began their steady increase to 13, suggesting emerging technical issues were being documented though not yet triggering major regulatory action. The top complaint areas—brakes, powertrain, electrical, and speed control—indicate significant mechanical concerns, with fire complaints (20) notably exceeding crash complaints (10). The data does not specify the root cause of the complaints or whether they relate to the model redesign cycle. This year represents a relative lull before the documented quality deterioration worsens through the late 1990s, making 1993 a comparatively safer choice within this generation, though prospective buyers should still budget for potential brake and drivetrain repairs given the complaint patterns.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
13
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
0
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
120
Owner complaints
10 involved a crash · 20 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 120 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic21
Power Train20
Electrical System9
Vehicle Speed Control9
Engine & Engine Cooling8
Suspension8
Structure7
Fuel System, Gasoline6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

94V199000Power Train:Axle AssemblyReported 13/10/1994

THE UPPER TRANSAXLE OIL COOLER HOSE CAN PULL OUT OF THE CRIMPED COUPLING AT THE TRANSAXLE END OF THE LINE ASSEMBLY. Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW UPPER TRANSAXLE OIL COOLER LINE TO THE TRANSAXLE.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 13 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
1300890092013-09-01Engine And Engine CoolingExpanded Availability for Remanufacture and Return (R&R) Electronic Control Modules
017922004-01-01Engine And Engine Cooling4.0L L47, 4.6L LD8 L37 ENGINE WATER PUMP COVER P/N 12571913- THERMOSTAT LOOSE. ALSO…
0306010272003-10-01Engine And Engine CoolingTHIS BULLETIN IS BEING ISSUED TO INFORM DEALERS OF ENHANCEMENTS TO CRANKCASE, OIL…
9909410042000-01-01Air BagsINFORMATION REGARDING SWITCHES TO TURN OFF AND ON FRONTAL AIR BAGS FOR PASSENGER CARS AND…
9909400042000-01-01SeatsGENERAL MOTORS BEGAN PROVIDING CHILD RESTRAIN SEAT TOP TETHER HARDWARE PACKAGES TO…

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.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1993 DeVille take?

4 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1993 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 / 23 highway / 17 combined mpg.