Model year guide

1987 Cadillac seville

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1987 Cadillac seville is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 1 on record.

1987 Cadillac seville — representative photo
Representative photo

1987 Cadillac seville at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints13
Combined18 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1987 Cadillac seville recalls 2

Fuel System, Gasoline NHTSA Campaign #06E043000 · 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, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE C…

Fix: 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 1).

Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch NHTSA Campaign #87V047000 · 06/04/1987

THE TWILIGHT SENTINEL POTENTIOMETER (THUMBWHEEL CONTROL) MIGHT HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH ELECTRICAL CONTACTS WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN INTERMITTENT HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT.

Fix: INSTALL A NEW PART IN ONE OF THE VEHICLES CONTROL COMPUTERS TO PREVENT THIS CONDITION FROM OCCURING.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1987 Cadillac seville common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Seat Belts
Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Equipment
Test all accessories — sunroof, climate, seats, electronics — for proper operation.
Tires
Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.
Exterior Lighting
Confirm all headlights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights work, with no moisture inside the housings.
Visibility
Test wipers, washers, defrosters and all mirrors. Check the windshield for cracks and any camera/sensor for fogging or faults.

1987 Cadillac seville MPG & running costs

Combined18 mpg
City15 mpg
Highway23 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,700
EPA size classMidsize Cars
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd
Passenger volume98 cu ft
Cargo volume14 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$6,500 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1987 Cadillac seville costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$18,500
Fuel only$18,500
Per mile$0.25

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length
188.2 in
Width
70.9 in
Height
53.9 in
Wheelbase
107.9 in
Curb weight
3,419 lb

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1987 Cadillac seville. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

NHTSA defect investigations 1

THROTTLE NON-RETURN Closed

NHTSA #C89001 · Vehicle Speed Control · opened Mar 1989 · closed Jan 1990

An investigation means NHTSA is examining a possible defect — it is not a recall, and many close without one.

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the SEVILLE. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

Canadian recalls 1

Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1987 Cadillac seville. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.

Accessories

AN INTERMITTENT CIRCUIT IN THE TWILIGHT SENTINEL SYSTEM COULD CAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS TO GO OUT. SUDDEN LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS COULD REDUCE VISIBILITY AND RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CORRECTION: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EPROM IN THE BODY CONTROL MODULE ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Transport Canada #1987036 · Apr 1987

Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.

About the Cadillac seville

The Cadillac Seville is a mid-size luxury car manufactured and marketed by General Motors under the Cadillac brand from the 1976 to 2004 model years as a smaller-sized, premium model. It was replaced by the STS in 2004 for the 2005 model year.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1987 Cadillac seville trims & engines on record

Engines
4.1L 8-cyl

1987 Cadillac seville vehicles on record

Other Cadillac seville model years

1987 Cadillac seville — frequently asked questions

Does the 1987 Cadillac seville have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1987 Cadillac seville. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1987 Cadillac seville?

Across all 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are seat belts, steering, equipment.

What gas mileage does the 1987 Cadillac seville get?

The 1987 Cadillac seville has a U.S. EPA estimate of 18 mpg combined (15 city / 23 highway).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.