Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Cadillac Deville owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
1996 Cadillac concours Deville. 1. Events leading to failure: power steering fails during rain events. 2. Failure & consequences: unable to safely steer vehicle. 3. Belt tensioner replaced; did not correct the problem.
Power steering failure; while driving had complete loss of steering, had no control of vehicle, in for repair,installed a drive belt/shield splash shield. *akthe vehicle would lose all power steering due to the design of the vehicle, the vehicle was designed without a splash shield, the auto locks wont unlock when put in park most of the time, the dealer replaced shorted rke reciever and reprogram remote, the consumer complained radio/tape sounded fuzzy, right front speaker is noisy, dealer replaced the right front door speaker.
Whenever the vehicle goes through even to a moderate water puddle the power steering is subject to temporary failing and the drag on the wheel is considerable. Very hard to steer for several seconds. Many people would be unable to control the car. Number of failures is many but this is the first time I have been able to get together and report the matter.
Vehicle is going 45-55mph it starts to decelerate. Steering gets stiff. Oil pressure light comes on, and when brakes are applied vehicle begins to accelerate without pressing on accelerator pedal. Problem has duplicated itself many times, but dealer can't duplicate this problem to find a solution. Once vehicle is restarted there is no problem.
When driving vehicle in wet wether the vehicle loses all power steering and the wheel locks up, causing the driver to lose steering when vehicle goes around the corner. Took vehicle to dealer, and they said that the power steering goes out when driving through water. The dealer fixed the problem, but driver says that this is a safety hazard.
While driving in the rain and attempting to make right hand turn, steering wheel locked up. After several tries, steering wheel finally turned. This happened twice that day. Contacted dealer, and was told that when the serpentine belt gets wet, it will slip. GMC is aware of the problem because they have issued a bulletin.
This automobile loses power steering assist when turning and water is splashed under the front of the car.steering failure has happened on several occasions and is very dangerous in turns when you need power assist most. I have not contacted the dealer since I feel it is a design problem and not a routine maintenance issue.
Car loses power completely and cuts off. There is no electric or engine available and the car must be restarted in order to proceed in traffic. This failure usually occurs at low rates (20-35mph) of speed but especially when turning corners. Power steering is diminished due to power failure.
While driving in the rain steering wheel will not turn. Consumer has come very close to having a collision on several occasions. Took vehicle to dealer, and they replaced steering belt. Next time, dealer put on a splash pan. However, consumer is still experiencing the same problem.
Metal casting on idler is broken and does not remain positioned on main drive belt, which causes vehicle to become very difficult to steer. Consumer stated the casting where the bolt was attached cracked, and the bolt pulled off from the block, amking the vehicle inoperative.
NHTSA investigations
Power rack and pinion steering failure
GM conducted a safety recall (NHTSA # 02V286) to address a steering defect pertaining to a lower pinion bearing (lpb) within the rack and pinion steering gear (r&p). The recall covered 1,159,156 model year 1997-1998 Pontiac grand prix vehicles built between March 1, 1996 and October 31, 1997, 1996-1998 Pontiac trans sport, Chevrolet lumina apv, Chevrolet venture, Oldsmobile silhouette minivans, and Chevrolet…
Steering complaints in other Deville years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 1996 Cadillac Deville?
NHTSA has 43 complaints about the steering of the 1996 Cadillac Deville, 20% of the model year's 218 complaints. The component named most often is hydraulic power assist system (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Cadillac Deville steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 1996 Cadillac Deville, though it has 2 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1996 Cadillac Deville steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 1 fire and 0 injuries to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.