1981 Cadillac Seville recalls & complaints
Source: NHTSA, updated daily. Last checked 2026-10-20. Recalls apply to specific VINs — run your VIN to confirm.
2 safety recalls, most serious first
1. Seat belts
What's wrong, in plain English: Seat belts may not hold you in a crash. THE INVOLVED VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES", IN THAT THE DOOR FRAME-TO-BODY CENTER PILLAR INTERLOCK ON THE FRONT SEAT BELTS OF THESE VEHICLES MAY BE MISALIGNED.
What could happen:
The fix: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, ALIGN THE SEAT BELT INTERLOCK ASSEMBLIES PROPERLY AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1981 SEVILLE.
- Book a repair at any authorized Cadillac dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 81V075000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
Summary: THE INVOLVED VEHICLES DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES", IN THAT THE DOOR FRAME-TO-BODY CENTER PILLAR INTERLOCK ON THE FRONT SEAT BELTS OF THESE VEHICLES MAY BE MISALIGNED.
Consequence:
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, ALIGN THE SEAT BELT INTERLOCK ASSEMBLIES PROPERLY AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
Notes: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTSYSTEMS (FRONT).SYSTEM: INTERIOR; SEAT BELT CENTER PILLAR INTERLOCK.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: UNDER IMPACT FORCES MISALIGNMENT OF THE PILLARINTERLOCK WOULD PREVENT PROPER OCCUPANT LOAD TRANSFERRAL THROUGH THE SEAT BELTTO THE ANCHORAGE AT THE PILLAR. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, FRONT SEATPASSENGERS MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SECURED, THUS INCREASING THE POSSIBILITY OFPERSONAL INJURY.
2. Suspension
What's wrong, in plain English: Parts can break and cause loss of control. THE FRONT LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARM NUTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SECURELY TIGHTENED. THE NUTS MAY LOOSEN AND COME OFF AND WITH CONTINUED DRIVING THE CONTROL ARM FRONT BOLT MAY WORK ITS WAY OUT OF POSITION OR BECOME DISPLACED.
What could happen:
The fix:
What to do
- Check whether your car is affected: enter your 17-digit VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. A recall covers specific VINs, not every 1981 SEVILLE.
- Book a repair at any authorized Cadillac dealer. Quote NHTSA campaign 81V073000.
- The repair is free. By US law, safety recall repairs cost the owner nothing, no matter the car's age or mileage.
- Buying this car used? Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed, or run the VIN yourself before paying.
Official wording from NHTSA
Component: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER ARM
Summary: THE FRONT LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARM NUTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SECURELY TIGHTENED. THE NUTS MAY LOOSEN AND COME OFF AND WITH CONTINUED DRIVING THE CONTROL ARM FRONT BOLT MAY WORK ITS WAY OUT OF POSITION OR BECOME DISPLACED.
Consequence:
Remedy:
Notes: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES.SYSTEM: STEERING; FRONT LEFT UPPER CONTROL ARM NUTS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: THIS MAY CAUSE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES IN STEERING CONTROLDURING ACCELERATION AND CORNERING. THOUGH STEERING WILL NOT BE TOTALLY LOST,DEGRADED VEHICLE CONTROL COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.THE FRONT LEFT SIDE UPPER CONTROL ARM NUTS ON ALL INVOLVED VEHICLES WILL BERETIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.
Useful for owners
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Most complained-about parts: Vehicle Speed Control (1).
Complaints are unverified reports from owners. A pattern (many complaints about the same part) matters more than any single one.
Read recent complaints (1)
11/17/1997 · Vehicle Speed Control
SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSED ACCIDENT.