1990-1993 Cadillac DeVille/Fleetwood: Full Review
Updated: 11/23/08
1993 Cadillac DeVille/Fleetwood
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1990-1993 Cadillac DeVille/Fleetwood
- Price Range: $800 - $1,900
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Learn about the year-to-year changes and reliability for the 1990-1993 Cadillac DeVille/Fleetwood and our price chart details a range of prices based on vehicle mileage and condition.
Pros
- Acceleration
- Quietness
- Traction control
- Drivability
- Antilock brakes
- Passenger and cargo room
- Ride
Cons
- Fuel economy
- Electronic instruments (early models)
- Rear visibility
Vehicle Highlights
Restyled in 1989, the DeVille/Fleetwood was two feet shorter than a rear-drive Brougham and carried a transverse-mounted V8 engine. Both 2-door Coupe de Ville and 4-door Sedan de Ville versions were available. Fleetwoods were the plusher variants, while the Fleetwood Sixty Special--only in sedan form--ranked as most luxurious of them all. By 1990, a driver-side airbag was standard. So was GM's "pass-key" theft-deterrent system. Also new for 1990 was a 180-horsepower engine, courtesy of multipoint fuel injection. Antilock braking was standard on Fleetwoods, optional on DeVilles.
Expert Ratings Summary (view detailed report)
| Category | Cadillac DeVille Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 6 | |
| Fuel Economy | 3 | |
| Ride Quality | 7 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 4 | |
| Quietness | 7 | |
| Controls/Materials | 5 | |
| Interior Room | 8 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 5 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 5 | |
| Value within Class | 5 | |
| Total Score: | 55 |
Learn about the year-to-year changes of the 1990-1993 Cadillac DeVille/Fleetwood. Get full details of the styling and performance changes throughout the history of the 1990-1993 Cadillac DeVille/Fleetwood.
Year to Year Changes
1991 Cadillac DTS:
A new 4.9-liter V8 arrived for 1991, along with an electronically controlled transmission. DeVilles got standard antilock braking. Fleetwoods gained Computer Command Ride (optional on DeVilles) that varies shock damping according to car speed. Cadillacs got a new grille, "power dome" hood, and 15-inch aluminum wheels. EZ-Kool solar-control glass was designed to absorb more ultraviolet and infrared rays. Late in the model year, a DeVille Touring Sedan debuted, with monochrome paint, 16-inch performance tires, quicker-ratio steering, thicker stabilizer bars, and walnut/leather interior trim.
1992 Cadillac DTS:
Traction control became optional for 1992. Standard on the Fleetwood and DeVille Touring Sedan, it was optional on other DeVilles. Computer Command Ride was now standard on the Fleetwood and Touring Sedan.
1993 Cadillac DTS:
The Fleetwood name was dropped after 1992, transferred to Cadillac's rear-drive model. So, the upmarket model adopted a Sixty Special designation. A new Special Edition option group debuted, with "phaeton" roof and gold trim. All models got speed-sensitive steering. Speed Sensitive Suspension, formerly optional on base models, now was installed across the board. DeVilles were restyled for '94 on a new chassis, with a Northstar V8 engine.
Our road test for the 1990-1993 Cadillac DeVille/Fleetwood includes a full evaluation from the inside out. We've evaluated every aspect of the 1990-1993 Cadillac DeVille/Fleetwood and highlighted the vehicle's performance with pros and cons. Use our comprehensive road test ratings to decide if this generation 1990-1993 Cadillac DeVille/Fleetwood is right for you.
Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation
Cadillac's 4.5-liter V8 is impressive, moving these luxury heavyweights with authority. You get ample power for brisk takeoffs from stoplights, as well as for safe highway passing. Cadillac estimated a 0-60 mph acceleration time of 9.5 seconds--not bad at all for a big sedan. The 4-speed automatic transmission stays out of overdrive until the car reaches a cruising speed past 40 mph, and downshifts rapidly for passing/merging. The 4.9-liter V8 installed in '91 models turned these cars into some of the most powerful front-drive sedans around. Even if slightly rough at idle, the 4.9 is a fine V8, delivering ample power for quick takeoffs and easy passing. A slicker automatic now complemented the engine with prompt, smooth gear changes. No economy improvement occurred, so expect 25 mpg on the highway but no more than 15 mpg or so around town. We got only 11.3 mpg in the city. Premium fuel is required. Computer Command Ride improves both ride and handling. At speeds past 60 mph, CCR-equipped cars offer a stable, smooth ride with almost none of the bounding and floating of previous models. But CCR feels too soft between 40 and 60 mph, so you get a lot of bobbing up and down over wavy surfaces. With the regular suspension, in particular, handling and roadholding favor conservative driving. Those Cadillacs bounce and float too much at intermediate speeds. Interior space is bountiful, cargo room ample. Even back-seat occupants can stretch out, and the spacious trunk has a flat, uncluttered floor. Occupants enjoy easy-chair softness. Doors are tall and wide, so there's easy entry to the huge cabin. Chunky styling and nonflush glass contribute to noticeable wind noise around roof pillars; otherwise, you cruise in near silence. Thick rear pillars and a narrow rear window limit visibility.
Value for the Money
If you're looking for a strong, refined engine plus appealing comfort and a host of convenience features in a full-size front-drive automobile, Cadillac might have just what you seek.
If you're looking for a strong, refined engine plus appealing comfort and a host of convenience features in a full-size front-drive automobile, Cadillac might have just what you seek.
Expert Ratings Summary
| Category | Cadillac DeVille Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | 6 | |
| Fuel Economy | 3 | |
| Ride Quality | 7 | |
| Steering/Handling/Braking | 4 | |
| Quietness | 7 | |
| Controls/Materials | 5 | |
| Interior Room | 8 | |
| Room/Comfort (rear) | 5 | |
| Cargo Capacity | 5 | |
| Value within Class | 5 | |
| Total Score: | 55 |
Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer
Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering
and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room,
Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle
rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the
ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.
Our reliability study for this generation Cadillac DTS includes details on average repair costs, manufacturer recalls, and everything you need to know to gauge the long-term reliability of this generation Cadillac DTS .
Trouble Spots
Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search
for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested
solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer,
however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.
Automatic transmission:
440-T4 automatic transmissions may shift late or not upshift at all. The problem is a stuck throttle valve inside the transmission. (1990-92)
Automatic transmission:
4T60E transmissions may drop out of drive while cruising, shift erratically, or have no second, third, or fourth gear because of a bad ground connection for the shift solenoids. Poor grounds also allow wrong gear starts. (1991-93)
Brakes:
Some early build models have unexpected ABS brake-pedal pulsation below 10mph due to moisture getting into the rear-wheel speed sensor(s). (1991)
Brakes:
Some models may be hard to shift out of park due to maladjustment of the brake-shifter interlock system. (1991)
Engine noise:
A rattling noise at startup is often caused by automatic-transmission pump starvation or cavitation, or a sticking pressure-regulator valve. (1991-93)
Engine stalling:
The engine may stall when coasting down to a stop due to a faulty throttle-position sensor (TPS). (1990-91)
Transaxle leak:
The right front axle seal at the automatic transaxle is prone to leak and GM issued a revised seal to correct the problem. (1992-94)
Vehicle noise:
Noises from the front, often mistaken as coming from behind the dash, are due to the front spring coils clashing when driving over bumps requiring sleeves on the lower spring coils. (1991-92)
Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs
This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The
dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the
typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement
costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership
to be slightly higher.
| Item Name | Repair Cost |
| A/C Compressor | $470 |
| Alternator | $270 |
| Automatic Transmission or Transaxle | $1,010 |
| Brakes | $200 |
| Constant Velocity Joints | $875 |
| Exhaust System | $429 |
| Radiator | $417 |
| Shocks and/or Struts | $745 |
| Timing Chain or Belt | $250 |
Our price chart for this generation Cadillac DTS details a range of prices in
year-by-year listings based on vehicle mileage and condition.
| Prices | Good | Average | Poor |
|
|
|||
| 1993 | |||
| DeVille | $2,000-2,700 | $1,400-1,900 | $300-500 |
| 1992 | |||
| DeVille | $1,700-2,200 | $1,100-1,500 | $300 |
| Fleetwood | $1,900-2,400 | $1,300-1,700 | $300-400 |
| 1991 | |||
| DeVille | $1,500-1,900 | $1,000-1,200 | $200 |
| Fleetwood | $1,700-2,100 | $1,100-1,400 | $300 |
| 1990 | |||
| DeVille | $1,300-1,700 | $800-1,100 | $200 |
| Fleetwood | $1,500-1,900 | $1,000-1,200 | $200 |
|
|
|||
This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:
Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.
Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings;
engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.
Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or
abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations
reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car
lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical
amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo,
etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep
in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from
region to region.
Specs for this generation Cadillac DTS include everything from fuel mileage to seating capacity to options availability.
Vehicle Dimensions
| Specification | 2-door coupe | 4-door sedan |
| Wheelbase, in. | 110.8 | 113.7 |
| Overall Length, in. | 203.3 | 206.3 |
| Overall Width, in. | 73.4 | 73.4 |
| Overall Height, in. | 54.8 | 55.1 |
| Curb Weight, lbs. | 3519 | 3605 |
| Cargo Volume, cu. ft. | 18.1 | 18.4 |
| Standard Payload, lbs. | -- | -- |
| Fuel Capacity, gals. | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Seating Capacity | 6 | 6 |
| Front Head Room, in. | 39.2 | 39.3 |
| Max. Front Leg Room, in. | 42.0 | 42.0 |
| Rear Head Room, in. | 37.9 | 38.1 |
| Max. Rear Leg Room, in. | 40.3 | 43.6 |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
||
Powertrain Options and Availability
DeVilles began the decade with a 4.5-liter, overhead-valve V8 engine that sent 180 horsepower to a 4-speed overdrive automatic transmission. Compression ratio of 9.5:1 demanded premium unleaded fuel, and the V8 produced 245 pound-feet of torque. A new 4.9-liter V8 for 1991 was accompanied by an electronically controlled automatic. Horsepower grew to 200, torque to 275 pound-feet. A single "powertrain control module" computer coordinated operation of the engine, cruise control, and transmission. Cadillac claimed more precise and smoother operation. A new interlock in '91 prevented shifting out of park unless the brake pedal was applied.
| Engines | cu. in |
Horse- power | Torque | Transmission: |
Consumer Guide Observed |
| ohv V8 | 4.5 / 273 | 180 | 245 | 4-speed automatic: 16/25 | 4-speed automatic: 16.1 |
| ohv V8 | 4.9 / 300 | 200 | 275 | 4-speed automatic: 16/25 | 4-speed automatic: -- |
|
Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist. |
|||||
Built In: USA
Drive Wheels: transverse front-engine/front-wheel drive
Detailed safety information for this generation Cadillac DTS include detailed crash test scores from the NHTSA.
NHTSA Crash-Test Results
| Test | 1993 DeVille |
|---|---|
| Front Impact, Driver | 5 |
| Front Impact, Passenger | -- |
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Sideimpact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.
Learn about official auto recalls, reliability issues, and vehicle problems for the 1990-1993 Cadillac DeVille/Fleetwood directly from the NHTSA and manufacturers.
NHTSA Recall History
1991-93:
Transaxle oil-cooler hose can pull out of coupling, causing oil leak that could result in fire.
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