Problems · by component

2002 Cadillac Deville electrical system problems

45 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Cadillac Deville cite electrical system, 25% of all 182 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
45
25% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2002 Cadillac Deville. The contact stated that while driving approximately 7 MPH and making a left turn, the vehicle suddenly shut off, causing the driver to lose control of the steering and crash into a tree. During the crash, the vehicle sustained front-end damage, but no air bag had deployed. No injuries were reported, and no police report was taken. The vehicle was later towed to a local dealer, who diagnosed that the ignition switch had failed. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 80,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 7, 2025Electrical system, Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11653218
“I HAVE THE LIGHT ON DASHBOARD OF AIRBAGS THE LIGHT NEVER TURNS ON PLUS BLUETOOTH DOESNT WORK AND SOME TIME IT DOESNT WANT TO TURN ON THIS HAPPEN LIKE 3 TIMES 1 IN THE GAS STATION 2 AT WALMART PARKING AND 3 AT HOME THIS HAPPEN DIFFERENT DAYS AND MONTHS FROM OCT ,2018, NOV ,2018 , AND JAN OF THIS YEAR 2019”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 13, 2019Electrical systemODI 11179817
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE KEY WAS JAMMED IN THE IGNITION AND COULD NOT BE MOVED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REFUSED TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR DUE TO INSUFFICIENT PARTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN CLAIMED THAT THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND REPLACED THE WIRING HARNESS; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS NOT PROVIDED WITH ANY SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 135,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 21, 2016Electrical systemODI 10887554
“2002 CADILLAC DEVILLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH TUMBLER. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE KEY WOULD NOT STAY IN THE IGNITION, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. ALSO, WHEN THE CONSUMER TRIED TO REMOVE THE KEY, IT WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. HE HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY, IN ORDER TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 23, 2015Electrical systemODI 10677132
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 6/11/15*CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2015Electrical systemODI 10701990
“2002 CADILLAC DEVILLE. CONSUMER IS NOT SATISFIED WITH THE RESPONSE BY THE DEALERSHIP FOR REIMBURSEMENT KEY RING RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HIS WIFE PLACED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, AND TURNED IT, THE VEHICLE DIED AND SHE COULD NOT TURN THE IGNITION TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. ACCORDING TO THE REPAIR INVOICE, THERE WAS INTERNAL DAMAGE IN THE IGNITION LOCK. THE CONSUMERS REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT WAS DENIED, BASED ON THE FACT, THE PART THAT WAS REPLACED WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. *JB UPDATED 01/29/15*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 21, 2015Electrical systemODI 10661687

Showing 6 of 45 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Electrical system: ignition

Free remedy

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Electrical systemReported Jun 23, 2014NHTSA 14V355000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Other 2002 Deville problem areas