IllustrationWHEN I GOT THE CAR THE CAR WASN'T PAINTED GOOD AT ALL AND THE IGNITION COIL WAS BAD. *TR
2003 Cadillac Deville
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Deville years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Cadillac Deville are substantially higher than the model-year median of 44.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Deville years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
200–25K
1325–50K
2450–75K
1475–100K
23100–150K
11150K+
105 reports with mileage · 40 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
15 crash reports0 fire reports9 injury reports
Structure complaints
6 reportsTHE ABS & TRACTION CONTROL INDICATORS COME UP ON THE SCREEN ALONG WITH CHECK AS I'M DRIVING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS MY BRAKES MAKE A WEIRD SOUND LIKE A SPRUNG SPRING AND THE BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GONE BUT THEY'RE NOT. IT'S SCARY BE SURE I FEEL I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO STOP WHICH TO ME IS A SAFETY HAZARD. NO CODES SHOW EVEN THOUGH THE …
Read full complaint
THE ABS & TRACTION CONTROL INDICATORS COME UP ON THE SCREEN ALONG WITH CHECK AS I'M DRIVING. WHEN THIS HAPPENS MY BRAKES MAKE A WEIRD SOUND LIKE A SPRUNG SPRING AND THE BRAKES FEEL LIKE THEY'RE GONE BUT THEY'RE NOT. IT'S SCARY BE SURE I FEEL I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO STOP WHICH TO ME IS A SAFETY HAZARD. NO CODES SHOW EVEN THOUGH THE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, BUT NONE OF THE INDICATOR LIGHTS EVER STAY ON VERY LONG, IT'S OFF AND ON , OFF AND ON, JUST POPS UP OCCASIONALLY, ALL 3 TOGETHER EVERY TIME. IT MAY GO DAYS BEFORE THEY DECIDE TO POP UP ON THE DASH AGAIN. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPEN I WAS JUST HEADING OUT FOR WORK SO THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN DRIVEN SINCE THE PRIOR DAY IT WAS STABLE ON LEVEL GROUND AS I STARTED BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY. WHEN I REACHED THE POINT TO APPLY THE BRAKES THAT'S WHEN THE WEIRD BAKED SOUND ACCOMPANIED BY THE BRAKE PADDLE FEELING LIKE MY BRAKES WEREN'T WORKING AND DASH LIGHTS APPEARED. THIS HAPPENS DURING BRAKING. I WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR,/ MONITOR THING COULD BE THE CAUSE. THAT'S ANOTHER THING. WHY HAVE TIRE PRESSURE EFFECT THE WORKABILITY 9F MY BRAKES AND TRACTION CONTROL? THEY HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH TIRE PRESSURE. ALSO THE ELECTRIC REAR WINDOWS SEEM TO BE AN ISSUE SINCE DAY ONE. EVERY OWNER OF THE 03 CADILLAC DEVILLE HAS COMPLAINED OF THE WINDOWS JUST FALLING OUT OF PLACE BOTH OUTSIDE & INSIDE THE DOOR FOR NO REASON OTHER THAN A BAD DESIGN DEFECT. WHY SHOULD THE CONSUMERS CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE WINDOWS AT NO FAULT OF OURS? GM HAS KNOWN OF THIS ISSUE FROM THE FIRST YEAR OF MANUFACTURING, YET IT IS US, THE BUYERS, CONSUMERS THAT ARE PAYING AND NOT JUST OUT OF MONEY BUT THE RISK OF BROKEN GLASS HURTING A BACKSEAT PASSENGER A CHILD OR ADULT THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BECOME A LAW SUITE FOR GM. THIS IS WHY IT DEFINITELY SHOULD BE A RECALL.
FRIEND WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT THE NORMAL SPEED LIMIT AND THE CAR CUT OFF. WHEN THE CAR CUT OFF A CAR HIT HER FROM THE SIDE WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT ANOTHER CAR! THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND SHE WAS HURT BADLY. THE KEY IGNITION RECALL FOR THE 2003 CADILLAC SAID THAT IT WILL CAUSE THE CAR KEY TO SHIFT …
Read full complaint
FRIEND WAS DRIVING MY CAR AT THE NORMAL SPEED LIMIT AND THE CAR CUT OFF. WHEN THE CAR CUT OFF A CAR HIT HER FROM THE SIDE WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT ANOTHER CAR! THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND SHE WAS HURT BADLY. THE KEY IGNITION RECALL FOR THE 2003 CADILLAC SAID THAT IT WILL CAUSE THE CAR KEY TO SHIFT AND COULD CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS A SERIOUS MATTER THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE HER NECK AND SHOULDER AND FOOT GOT INJURED VERY BADLY BECAUSE THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY!......UPDATED 01/12/15*BF *TR
2003 CADILLAC DEVILLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE MOON ROOF PROBLEMS THAT CAUSED WATER DAMAGED TO INTERIOR. *SIMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE WATER DAMAGED THE SEATS AND CARPET. HE PAID $300 TO HAVE THE ROOF SEALED.
THE EXTERIOR MIRRORS ARE TOO HIGH, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO EXPERIENCE POOR VISIBILITY WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE. *AK THE DRIVER VISOR DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH CLEARANCE TO VIEW THE HIGWAY WELL. (WAS NOT DESIGNED FOR SHORT) *SC
DRIVER'S SUN VISOR IS TOO LARGE. THE LARGE SUN VISOR IMPAIRS THE VISION OF THE DRIVER. DEALER STATES THAT THE LARGER SUN VISOR IS A NEW DESIGN FOR THE 2003 VEHICLES.*AK
Official recalls
414V355000 · Electrical System:ignition
Jun 23, 2014
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14299.
03V238000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly
Jul 1, 2003
ON CERTAIN CADILLAC DEVILLE AND SEVILLE PASSENGER VEHICLES, FUNERAL COACHES, AND LIMOUSINES EQUIPPED WITH A V8 (4.6L) ENGINE, OLDSMOBILE AURORA PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A V8 (4.0L ) ENGINE, AND PONTIAC BONNEVILLE SSEI PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A SUPERCHARGED V6 (3.8L) ENGINE, THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSORS ARE UNUSUALLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO MALFUNCTIONS. IF THE SENSOR MALFUNCTIONS, EXCESSIVE VACUUM CAN BE APPLIED DURING SELF-DIAGNOSTIC TESTING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL SYSTEM COMPONENTS CAN BE DAMAGED AND FUEL CAN LEAK FROM THE VEHICLE WHEN IT IS REFUELED. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK PRESSURE SENSOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 17, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339; OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537; OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.
03V051000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Feb 14, 2003
ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG THAT MAY NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG INFLATOR COULD RUPTURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN REDUCED CAPABILITY OF THE AIR BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER. ALSO IF THE AIR BAG INFLATOR RUPTURED, PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A NEW DRIVER'S AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 11, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.
02V222000 · Air Bags:frontal
Aug 9, 2002
CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-800-521-7300, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.