Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 Cadillac Deville problems

Owners filed 174 complaints about the 2004 Cadillac Deville with NHTSA between Aug 2004 and May 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (49).

Complaints
174
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
14
Reported by owners
Fires
4
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 system49
  2. Steering37
  3. Visibility30
  4. Air bags26
  5. Engine18
  6. Power train7
  7. Service brakes5
  8. Engine and engine cooling5
  9. Electronic stability control (esc)3
  10. Fuel/propulsion system3
  11. Tires3
  12. Seats3
  13. Vehicle speed control3
  14. Structure2

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 30, 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
20041
20056
200610
20076
20089
200910
201012
201115
20123
20136
201464
201513
20165
20174
20182
20194
20201
20212
20220
20230
20240
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

49 reports2 crashes2 fires1 related recall
“CAR WILL NOT START WHEN I TURN THE KEY CHECKED THE FUSES ALL GOOD CHECK THE BATTERY GOOD. THEN IT STARTED NEXT DAY DROVE HOME FROM WORK AND POWER TURNED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET POWER STEERING STARTED TO LOCK AS I MANAGED TO PULL OFF IN TO A PARKING LOT. STARTED ONCE AGAIN, MADE IT HOME. NEXT DAY WAS ABLE TO STARD VEHICLE DROVE TO WORK, ONCE IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO HEAD HOME TRIED STARTING CAR AND NOTHING NOTHING I CAN OPEN TRUNK WITH KEY FOB CAN'T OPEN GAS TANK DOOR FROM INSIDE MANUALLY. MY CAR IS SAYING AIR BAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY. ALSO I HAVE A CONSISTENT SQUEAK ING/GRINDING ON THE FRONT DRIVER WHEEL”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 24, 2020Electrical system, Air bags, Service brakesODI 11322216

Steering

37 reports2 crashes
“The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac Deville. The contact stated that while driving on a mountain at a slow speed, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer but was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 102,331.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 21, 2021SteeringODI 11425814

Visibility

30 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, THE SUN ROOF GLASS SEPARATED FROM THE METAL FRAME AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ROTH CADILLAC (5711 PEACH ST, ERIE, PA 16509) AND THE SUN ROOF WAS REPLACED TWICE WITH PLEXIGLASS. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPLACEMENT SUN ROOF GLASS COULD NOT BE FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 10, 2021VisibilityODI 11415926

Air bags

26 reports9 crashes
“"TAKATA RECALL" MY 2004 CADILLAC DEVILLE VIN# [XXX]. I WAS GETTING INTO MY STATIONARY VEHICLE AT AROUND 11:30PM. I WAS LOCATED IN LYNNFIELD, MA WHEN THE EVENT OCCURRED. THE SECOND I TURNED THE ENGINE OVER AND HIT THE BRAKE THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY OUTSIDE CATALYSTS BEING A FACTOR. I WAS ABRUPTLY HIT BY THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG RIGHT IN MY NOSE AND MOUTH CAUSING MY NECK TO SNAP BACK. I WAS STILL IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN MY FRIEND WHO WAS IN HIS CAR PARKED IN FRONT OF ME HEARD THE NOISE FROM THE AIR BAG AND CAME TO MY AID. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 26, 2019Air bagsODI 11191526

Engine

18 reports1 fire
“LETTER FROM SENATOR NELSON RE CONSTITUENT RE 2004 CADILLAC DEVILLE ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED OIL HAS BEEN LEAKING FROM THE MAIN OIL SEAL FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 7, 2016EngineODI 10845493

Power train

7 reports
“The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac Deville. The contact stated while driving at 35 MPH, the vehicle jerked. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred during the warm weather season. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle was serviced for an Emissions tesand the contact was informed that the torque converter clutch door was stuck. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 209.817.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 15, 2026Power trainODI 11738072
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

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