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
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electrical system49
- Steering37
- Visibility30
- Air bags26
- Engine18
- Power train7
- Service brakes5
- Engine and engine cooling5
- Electronic stability control (esc)3
- Fuel/propulsion system3
- Tires3
- Seats3
- Vehicle speed control3
- 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
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
6
10
6
9
10
12
15
3
6
64
13
5
4
2
4
1
2
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 10 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2011 | 15 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 64 |
| 2015 | 13 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 1 |
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.
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”
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.”
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.”
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”
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”
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.”
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.