Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Cadillac Deville submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 16 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY AND THE BRAKE PEDAL STIFFENED. IN ADDITION, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A STEEL DUMPSTER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE DRIVER WAS INJURED AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM), BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE ABS SENSOR, BRAKE SENSOR AND TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE PEDAL SANK INTO THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE ROLLED AWAY IN REVERSE AND CRASHED INTO A FENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000.
A RECALL LETTER WAS SENT TO ME, I CONTACTED TO GM TO LET THEM KNOW THEIR RECALL WAS A LITTLE TOO LATE AND LUCKILY I WAS NOT ON THE ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED I WAS IN A STORE PARKING LOT WHEN THIS OCCURRED. I EXPERIENCED COMPLETE LOSS OF BRAKES,STEERING AND ELECTRICAL. I THOUGHT IT WAS A BATTERY ISSUE. I PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY. I HAD TO CARRY THE BATTERY 3 MILES EACH WAY, IT WAS NOT THE BATTERY .CAR WAS TOWED, REPAIRS WERE FOUND TO BE IGNITION PROBLEM AND A MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, COSTING OVER $800, HOW DO I GET REIMBURSED FOR THIS? GM SAID THEY WOULD GET BACK TO ME AND ITS BEEN 3 WEEKS,I HAVE HEARD NOTHING. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR HELP. I HAVE ALL THE RECEIPTS AND HAD WE BEEN TOLD OF THE RECALL A BIG EXPENSE MIGHT OF BEEN SAVED,HOW DO I GET SOME SORT OF CLAIM FORM TO GET REIMBURSED? *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK IN PARKING SPACE, BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY (PEDAL TO THE FLOOR). HAD TO APPLY EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP. *TR
2003 CADILLAC DEVILLE DHS *GR THE FRONT BRAKE PADS, ROTORS AND LEFT FRONT CALIPER HAD TO BE REPLACE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE LEFT FRONT CALIPER WOULD STICK AND IT DIDN'T RELEASE PROPERLY WHICH CAUSED THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE AND ROTOR TO WEAR. AFTER THE CONSUMER PICKED THE VEHICLE UP AND STARTED DRIVING, SHE HEARD THE NEW BRAKES GRINDING. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER AGAIN AND WAS TOLD AFTER MARKET PARTS HAD BEEN INSTALLED ON HER VEHICLE. CONSUMER STATED SHE SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED ORIGINAL GM PARTS BE PUT ON THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ALSO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE ENGINE BLOCK HALVES AND REAR SHOCKS WERE LEAKING OIL. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC DEVILLE. IN OCTOBER OF 2008, AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY TWENTY MINUTES, THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING OF BRAKE FAILURE AND NO INJURIES. THREE WEEKS AGO, THE VEHICLE DISAPPEARED AFTER BEING PARKED FOR AN HOUR. THE CONTACT ORIGINALLY SUSPECTED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN STOLEN. HE LOOKED APPROXIMATELY 35 YARDS DOWN THE STREET AND NOTICED A CROWD OF PEOPLE AND THE POLICE. THE VEHICLE HAD ROLLED DOWN THE STREET, BUT DID NOT STRIKE ANYTHING OR ANYONE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD IMPROPER SPRING TENSION AND THE PARKING PAWL WAS NOT ENGAGING AS DESIGNED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND WOULD LIKE ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,000. UPDATED 05/27/09. *LJ THE DEALER FOUND THE PAARKING PAWL WAS NOT ENGAGING CORRECTLY. THE DALER REPLACED THE SPRING AND PARKING PAWL. UPDATED 05/28/09.*JB
DT: THE VEHICLE IS A 2003 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE BRAKE ROTORS WERE BAD AND THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND ALL FOUR ROTORS OUT OF ROUND. *JB *NM
THE EMERGENCY BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY WHEN APPLIED. CONSUMER PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKES AND THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. *AK.....THE BRAKE LOCKS UP TO THE POINT THAT IT TAKES PRESSURE FROM THE DRIVE TRAIN TO RELEASE THE PARKING BRAKE. IT SHOULD RELEASE WHEN IT IS PUT INTO REVERSE. ALSO, POWER STEERING MAKES A GROANING NOISE WHEN BACKING UP OR FIRST STARTING OUT. *AK
BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN TO THE FLOOR. DEALER CHANGED THE MASTER CYLINDER, BUT BRAKE PEDAL STILL GOES DOWN TO THE FLOOR. *AK
2003 CADILLAC DEVILLE [XXX]. YOU CAN PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND GM SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO HAVE A CAR WHERE ONE CAN FORCE THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. *AK UPDATED 07/30/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH VEHICLE ACCELERATED, AND CONSUMER TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BY PRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. BRAKES FAILED, BUT THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO A STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT. MECHANIC DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WHICH FOUND NO ERRORS OR CODES. ALSO, MECHANIC KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR A WEEK TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM WOULD OCCUR AGAIN. HOWEVER, MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN AND WAS FORCED INTO THE ROAD ALMOST HITTING A BEER TRUCK WHEN THE BRAKES DID NOT ACTIVATE. (THE ABS LIGHT HAD COME ON) *SC
WHILE BRAKING 20 MPH CONSUMER TEMPORALLY LOST BRAKE POWER FOR 20 SECONDS OR MORE. AS THE CONSUMER WAS TRYING TO GAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE BRAKE RESUMED, AND VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO COME TO A STOP. HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE, HOWEVER THERE WERE NO BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER INDICATED THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A CLIP BUSHING WHICH WAS HOLDING THE BRAKE TOGETHER. *AK *TS. THE CONSUMER HAD TO USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. *JB
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
Data on this page last refreshed .