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Cadillac Deville Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

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Is the Cadillac Deville reliable? We analysed 859 real MOT tests across 102 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 859 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
80.1%
Typical Mileage
63,484mi
Annual Mileage
740mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
37yrs

The Cadillac Deville is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, direction indicator incorrect colour and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Cadillac Deville.

Cadillac Deville Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Cadillac Deville. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Cadillac Deville MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Cadillac Deville to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

84.2%
2003
77.8%
1997
83.6%
1990
75.4%
1989

Cadillac Deville Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Cadillac Deville fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 27
Direction indicator incorrect colour 13
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 12
Brake hose excessively deteriorated 12
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 10
brake application uneven 10
Exhaust has a major leak of exhaust gases 9
Headlamp not working on main beam 9
fog lamp missing 9
Track rod end ball joint has excessive play 8

Cadillac Deville Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Cadillac Deville owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
222 mi/yr
Typical
740 mi/yr
Average
1,497 mi/yr
Heavy usage
1,840 mi/yr

Cadillac Deville MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Cadillac Deville year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2003 57 84.2% 36,523 46,451 63,484
1997 54 77.8% 76,586 89,168 107,517
1990 67 83.6% 44,508 51,575 93,658
1989 61 75.4% 85,968 87,888 96,640

How Long Does a Cadillac Deville Last?

Based on 102 Cadillac Deville vehicles on UK roads.

Average
23.9 years
Median
22.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
37 years

Cadillac Deville Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Cadillac Deville MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
63,484 mi
75th Percentile
87,837 mi
95th Percentile
155,511 mi
Max Recorded
366,443 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Cadillac Deville

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2003

84.2% MOT pass rate from 57 tests

Year to avoid
1989

75.4% MOT pass rate from 61 tests

The best year to buy a used Cadillac Deville is 2003, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 84.2% across 57 tests. The 1989 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.4% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Cadillac Deville Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Cadillac Deville THIS CAR 80.1% 859 63,484 mi 37 yrs
Cadillac Seville Sts V8 Auto 78.6% 4,231 69,466 mi 28 yrs
Cadillac Cts 76.3% 2,997 44,836 mi 21 yrs
Cadillac Escalade 79.6% 2,148 67,102 mi 24 yrs
Ford Mondeo Zetec 78.8% 1,150 100,360 mi — yrs

Compared to the Cadillac Seville Sts V8 Auto (78.6% pass rate) and the Cadillac Cts (76.3% pass rate), the Cadillac Deville outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Cadillac Deville?

The Cadillac Deville has an overall MOT pass rate of 80.1% across 859 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Cadillac Deville are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid (27 recorded failures), direction indicator incorrect colour (13), and parking brake: efficiency below requirements (12). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Cadillac Deville owner drives around 740 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Cadillac Deville models stay on UK roads for around 37 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Cadillac Deville — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Cadillac Deville reliable?
Based on 859 MOT tests, the Cadillac Deville has a 80.1% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Cadillac Deville?
The most common MOT failures are windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid, direction indicator incorrect colour, and parking brake: efficiency below requirements. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Cadillac Deville do per year?
The typical Cadillac Deville does around 740 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Cadillac Deville last?
Most Cadillac Deville models stay on UK roads for around 37 years based on our analysis of 102 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Cadillac Deville?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Cadillac Deville?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Cadillac Deville is 2003 with a 84.2% pass rate across 57 tests.