Problems · NHTSA complaints

2003 Cadillac Deville problems

Owners filed 148 complaints about the 2003 Cadillac Deville with NHTSA between Nov 2002 and Aug 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (52).

Complaints
148
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
15
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
15
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electrical system52
  2. Air bags25
  3. Engine16
  4. Power train14
  5. Steering12
  6. Engine and engine cooling10
  7. Visibility10
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic8
  9. Vehicle speed control7
  10. Service brakes6
  11. Structure6
  12. Fuel system, gasoline5
  13. Suspension4
  14. Fuel/propulsion system3

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20021
200311
200411
20053
20064
20078
20083
20095
20108
20113
20122
201310
201445
201517
20163
20171
20183
20193
20204
20211
20220
20230
20241
20250
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Electrical system

52 reports1 crash1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2003 Cadillac Deville. The contact stated that the ignition switch seized. Occasionally, the contact was able to wiggle the switch for the ignition to operate. The contact stated that the ignition switch failed to turn or operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was able to replace the ignition switch on three or four occasions. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 105,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 25, 2026Electrical systemODI 11759347

Air bags

25 reports9 crashes2 related recalls
“BACK ON JULY 16TH 2019, I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN ABOUT TO GET A ON THE MAIN ROAD. WHEN I WAS REAR ENDED IN MY 03 CADILLAC DEVILLE. AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED, CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO HAVING WHIPLASH/NERVE DAMAGE. AS PER MYSELF, NOW I HAVE LOWER BACK ISSUES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 27, 2020Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11302368

Engine

16 reports1 crash
“I tried to explain to the dealership that unaware of the recall my cars breaks had failed and crashed my vehicle. They said the only thing that was affected was the key. I had told her that the result of my crash was from my breaks not working due to the recall. She told me no that that wasnt affected. I just want my car to be safe on the road as i have kids, and family that ride with me regularly.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 20, 2021Electrical system, Service brakes, EngineODI 11441153

Power train

14 reports1 crash
“NOTIFIED LAST SUMMER (2014) ABOUT RECALL...IN SEPTEMBER (2014) NOTIFIED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE REPAIR...HAVE CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER SEVERAL TIMES....DEALER DOES NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY MATERIALS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES THE IGNITION TURNING OFF....(THE REASON FOR THE RECALL)...FORTUNATELY HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT. WHAT IS HOLDING UP THE REPAIRS? WHY SEND A LETTER INSTRUCTING US TO NOW GET IT REPAIRED WHEN THE LOCAL DEALER DOES NOT HAVE THE MATERIALS NEEDED? VERY FRUSTRATING!!!! *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 18, 2014Steering, Power train, EngineODI 10667178

Steering

12 reports2 crashes
“FUEL LEVEL SENSOR STOPPED WORKING , ALSO AFTER I GOTTEN MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT AND MY FRONT MOTOR MOUNT PLACED IN THE CAR NO LONGER CRANKS LIKE NORMAL . TAKES A WHILE TO TURN OVER, KEY SLIDES OUT , STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN WHILE DURING AND STEERING WHEEL JERKS IN THE OTHER DIRECTION WHILE TURNING . THE POWER STEERING HAS A LEAK AND ALSO THE AIR RIDE SUSPENSION HAS STOPPED WORKING LOWERED THE CAR AND SHOCKS HAVE LOWERED . NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 14V355000 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 03V238”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 19, 2020Steering, Unknown or other, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11321533

Engine and engine cooling

10 reports
“2003 CADILLAC DEVILLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SEVERAL MECHANICAL DEFECT ISSUES. *SMD CONSUMER SENT ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE WATER PUMP AND RADIATOR LEAKED RESULTING IN A COOLANT LEAK, AND THE ENGINE OVERHEATING. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DETERMINED THE METAL BRACKETS HOLDING THE LEFT SIDE TANK HAD RUSTED AND CAUSED A CRACK IN THE LEFT RADIATOR TANK. THE ENGINE DEVELOPED AN OIL LEAK FROM THE LOWER CRANKCASE OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. THE OIL LEAK CAUSED A DEFECTIVE DESIGN IN THE LOWER CRANK SHAFT. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REMOVED TO PROPERLY REPAIR THE OIL LEAK. ALSO, THE TIRE PRESSURE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT A DIAGNOSTIC FROM ONSTAR OF THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED A MALFUNCTIONED AIRBAG. *JS THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A FORMAL INVESTIGATION INTO THESE ISSUES. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT ONLY A $5,000 GIFT CARD WOULD BE AN ACCEPTABLE REIMBURSEMENT. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 28, 2015Engine and engine cooling, Air bags, TiresODI 10681261
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

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