Cadillac Deville Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 389 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Cadillac Deville across 11 model years. The 2000 model year has the most (60). The words owners use most often: “ignition switch” (10% of reports).
- 389electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 17mention a crash
- 14mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 34%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Ignition switch: mentioned in 40 of 389 complaints (10%)
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 184 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 389 complaints, 17 mention a crash, 21 a fire, 14 an injury.
Cadillac Deville electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Deville | 34 | 36% | 101,000 |
| 2004 Deville | 47 | 28% | 72,000 |
| 2003 Deville | 52 | 36% | 64,539 |
| 2002 Deville | 45 | 26% | 75,500 |
| 2001 Deville | 45 | 26% | 92,250 |
| 2000 Deville | 60 | 27% | 84,676 |
| 1999 Deville | 20 | 11% | 53,750 |
| 1998 Deville | 21 | 9% | 50,150 |
| 1997 Deville | 28 | 10% | 80,852 |
| 1996 Deville | 17 | 8% | 89,000 |
| 1995 Deville | 20 | 16% | 85,266 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system:ignition
Model years: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
Problem: 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.
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
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…
Odometer Fraud. The contact owns a 1990 Cadillac Brougham. The contact purchased the vehicle from a dealer on eBay on 05/15/2025. The vehicle was shipped to the contact. The contact stated that when the vehicle was purchased, the Sales Agreement and the odometer indicated the mileage was 46,260. In…
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…
The contact owns a 2003 Cadillac DeVille. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. The power steering was inoperable. In addition, the contact stated that the message that the key was not detected was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle was…
All light come on in engine
Frequently asked questions
Do all Cadillac Devilles have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 389 owner complaints about electrical system for the Cadillac Deville. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Cadillac Deville electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the Cadillac Deville?
The most frequent phrase is “ignition switch”, in 40 of 389 complaints.
Other Cadillac Deville problems
See all Cadillac Deville problems.