Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Cadillac Deville submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 36 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.
The 25 most recent of 36, in the owner's own words
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.
LOWER STEERING SHAFT REPLACED BECAUSE OF NOISE. NEW SHAFT INSTALLED BUT NOISE IS STILL THERE.
I WAS ACCELERATING ONTO MAIN HI-WAY WHEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND COULD NOT TURN STEERING WHEEL AND WAS ALMOST HIT BY A MOTOR HOME AS MY CAR WENT STRAIGHT ACROSS HI WAY INSTEAD OF TURNING WHICH I WAS TRYING TO DO. TOOK A FEW TRIES TO GET VEHICLE SAFELY OFF ROAD AS STEERING WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED.CALLED MY SON WHO BROUGHT TOOLS TO TAKE STEERING COLUMN APART.WHEN I INSPECTED THE CAUSE, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCK BUTTON WOULD NOT DISENGAGE SO HAD TO REMOVE STEERING WHEEL LOCK BUTTON FROM STEERING COLUMN. SINCE THEN THE VEHICLE HAS NO STEERING WHEEL LOCK SO CAR CAN BE SHIFTED WITHOUT PRESSING THE BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME BUT BY SIMPLY MOVING THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WHEN KEY IS IN RUN OR ACCESSORY POSITION! *TR
DRIVING FROM EXIT RAMP ONTO HIGHWAY CAR WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO KEEP IN CENTER OF LANE, IS SEEMS TO BE BETTER AFTER STABILITY SYSTEM REPLACED IN STEERING COLUMN. WAS NOT CALLED IN FOR RECALL OF KEYS UNTIL, 12/05/14. HEATER STOPPED WORKING BY 50%, ELECTRIC DOOR LOCK STOPPED WORKING APPROX SAME TIME. BRAKES NOT WORKING AS WELL, SAME TIME FRAME. EVERYTHING WAS CHECKED OUT IN FEB; THIS YEAR, ALTHOUGH STARTED NOTICING STEERING PROBLEMS AUGUST, SEPTEMBER., 2014. I THOUGHT IT WAS A SLOW LEAK IN THE TIRE CAUSING THE STEERING PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH NOW BELIEVE IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM, STEERING COLUMN AREA. WE WERE CHARGED FOR THE REPAIR, EVEN THOUGH IT FALLS UNDER THE RECALL COMPLAINTS. WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS GOING TO BE A $100 OR $150.00 JOB, AS I OK'D THEM TO USE THE MULTI-POINT INSPECTION MACHINE AND CHECK ANTI FREEZE LEVEL, COSTS US $688.15. THE FIRST ESTIMATE WAS OVER $4,000, UNBELIEVABLE, IN WHICH THE AGENT SAID " THEY HAD TO PAY THE MECHANIC FOR HIS LABOR". $533.76 FOR LABOR, $131.50 FOR A PART WHICH IS A RECALL. SERVICE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM . I WILL BE GOING BACK TO TALK WITH GMC MANAGER. *TR
I VEERED RIGHT TO AVOID A VEHICLE WHO APPROACHED OVER THE CENTER YELLOW LINE, THE WHEEL LOCKED, AND I CRASHED OVER GUARDRAIL AND INTO A UTILITY POLE. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I WAS NOT INJURED, AND DID NOT SEEK MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I DID NOT KNOW MY VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A RECALL UNTIL MY INSURANCE PROVIDER SENT ME A DOCUMENT TO THAT EFFECT AS PART OF THE PAYOUT FOR THE CAR. I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 40 YEARS, I AM A DEFENSIVE DRIVER. I HAVE 15 KEYS ON MY KEYCHAIN WHAT HAPPENED WAS JUST AS THEY OUTLINED I AM TOTALLY SCREWED IN THIS WHOLE SITUATION. *TR
WHEN GOING THROUGH A PUDDLE AT LOW SPEED THE POWER STEERING DISENGAGES. THERE IS A SQUEAL SOUND LIKE A BELT RUBBING AND THE STEERING RETURNS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE AIR BAG DISABLED WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FOR RECALL NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). HOWEVER, THE PARTS WAS UNAVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND THE SERVICE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
I WAS LEAVING A RESTAURANT AND AS I WAS CROSSING THE INTERSECTION MY CAR SHUT OFF ,I GOT IT STARTED AND AS I GOT TO THE RED LIGHT IT SHUT OFF AGAIN SO HAD TO KEEP MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND GAS AT THE SAME TIME. ONCE I GOT BACK ON THE INTERSTATE I HAD NO MORE PROBLEMS. ABOUT 6 MONTHS LATER I WAS AT MCDONALDS DRIVE-THRU AT 2AM WHEN MY CAR SHUT OFF, I COASTED INTO THE CLOSEST PARKING SPACE AND MY CAR LOCKED UP AND I HAD NO POWER AT ALL AND I WAS LOCKED INSIDE I MANUALLY UNLOCKED MY DOOR GOT OUT OF MY CAR AND I HAD TO CALL AAA. MY CAR WOULD NOT CRANK WHEN AAA MAN TRIED TO JUMP UNDER THE HOOD, HE HAD TO TAKE MY BACKSEAT OUT TO JUMP START IT, HE GOT IT STARTED AND HE TOLD ME HE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT HAPPENED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION MY GAS PEDAL STICKS AND I HAD TO PULL OVER AND SHUT MY CAR OFF AND I WAITED ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND STARTED MY CAR UP AND IT WAS FINE AFTER THAT, AND MY CAR STILL SHUTS OFF MOST WHEN I AM IDLING OR GOING SLOW THRU TOWN AND MY SERVICE STABILITY WARNING STEADY RUNS, I TURN THE RESET BUTTON AND IT COMES BACK ON , PLEASE HELP ME FIX THESE PROBLEMS BECAUSE I LOVE MY CAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF THE ROAD INTO BRUSHES AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THERE WERE UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS THAT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) BUT THE PART NEEDED WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY CONDITIONS, THE DRIVER, MY DAD, EXITED AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY ONTO A DOWN-SLOPED RAMP. NEAR THE TERMINATION POINT OF EXIT WHERE IT HAD A LEFT TURN AND A RIGHT TURN LANE, HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT TO ENTER THE RIGHT TURN LANE. HOWEVER, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, FAILING TO TURN THE WHEELS TO THE RIGHT, AND THE CAR STRUCK ANOTHER CAR SITTING IN THE LEFT-TURN LANE. MY MOTHER, WHO WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, SUFFERED WHIPLASH AS A RESULT OF THE INCIDENT. MY DAD EXPERIENCED THE RAINY WEATHER STEERING PROBLEM MANY TIMES DURING THE 41,000 MILES HE DROVE THE CAR. ALTHOUGH HE ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM WITH VARIOUS CADILLAC DEALERSHIPS AND INDEPENDENT MECHANICS SEVERAL TIMES, NONE OF THEM EVER FIXED IT. I INHERITED THE CAR UPON MY DAD'S DEATH, AND THE FIRST TIME I DROVE IT IN THE RAIN IN DECEMBER 2012, THE STEERING WHEEL FROZE WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A LEFT TURN ON A CITY STREET, AND I NEARLY STRUCK A PEDESTRIAN CROSSING THE STREET. I REPORTED IT TO CADILLAC VIA THEIR WEBSITE IN DECEMBER 2012, BUT THEY DIDN'T RESPOND TO MY INQUIRY. THE CAR IS VIRTUALLY USELESS TO ME, BUT I, OUT OF GOOD CONSCIENCE, WON'T SELL IT TO SOMEONE ELSE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED REPEATEDLY TO THE NHTSA AND ON MANY WEBSITES, SUCH AS HTTP://WWW.ARFC.ORG/COMPLAINTS/2004/CADILLAC/DEVILLE/STEERING/PROBLEM.ASPX AND HTTP://FORUMS.EDMUNDS.COM/DISCUSSION/16219/CADILLAC/DEVILLE/CADILLAC-DEVILLE-STEERING-PROBLEMS. AN UNSUSPECTING PERSON DRIVING A CAR WITH THIS PROBLEM IS LIKE PLAYING RUSSIAN ROULETTE! WHAT MUST HAPPEN TO GET NHTSA TO FORCE GM TO ISSUE A RECALL AND GET THIS VERY SERIOUS, LIFE-THREATENING PROBLEM FIXED? WILL IT TAKE LOSS OF LIFE? PLEASE, NHTSA, GIVE US SOME HELP! *TR
THIS CAR HAS CONTINUALLY STALLED OUT AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. I WAS TOLD IT WAS THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR SO I REPLACED THAT. THAT SEEMED TO FIX IT TEMPORARILY BUT JUST YESTERDAY I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR COMPLETELY CUT OFF GOING 55MPH PLUS. THE CAR COMPLETELY STALLED DIED OUT AND I HAD NO CONTROL OVER ANYTHING. HAD THIS HAPPENED IN THE FAST LANE WITH MORE TRAFFIC MY DEATH WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE NEWS. I WANT THIS FIXED AT NO COST TO ME AS THIS IS LUDICROUS THIS CAR HAS SUCH A DEFECT. I BUY A HIGH END LUXURY CAR FOR HIGH END LUXURY NOT TO BE IN A PINTO TYPE DEATH TRAP. I WANT THIS DOCUMENTED SO OTHERS ALSO KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE AS DEALER SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ISSUE AND NOT BEING ABLE TO REPLICATE RESULTS IS BS AS I STATED IT DOESN'T HAPPEN OFTEN BUT AT RANDOM TIMES. CAR STARTS UP RIGHT AFTER THE STALL BUT THE STALL IS THE HORRIFIC ISSUE! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, HE DROVE OVER A PUDDLE OF WATER WHEN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE WITH THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO INDICATED A DEFLECTOR OVER THE BELT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 04/12/14 MA THE CONSUMER STATED SPLASH GUARDS WERE INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. HOWEVER, IT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 05/14/14 *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE TO RESTART IT AND IT FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000. ..UPDATED 12-30-13 *BF
WHILE TURNING AT LOW SPEED, THE STEERING LOCKED AND THE WHEEL COULD NOT BE TURNED. CONDITIONS WERE WET/RAIN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR. MY REGULAR SERVICE MAN HAS CONTACTED GM REGARDING THIS, AND THEY HAVE NO FIX. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A KNOWN PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE STEERING WHEEL. NONE OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD; HOWEVER, WHEN SHE BEGAN TO SHIFT GEARS THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO FUNCTION AT A MINIMUM. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN THE CONTACT MADE A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 25,000. *TR
CAR WOULD NOT STEER TO RIGHT IN RAIN. DIFFICULT TO TURN STEERING WHEEL ESPECIALLY TO THE RIGHT. ONLY AFTER STOPPING COULD I TURN THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT W/O CONSIDERABLE DIFFICULTY. MY WIFE HAD COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS BEFORE BUT I DID NOT THINK IT WAS LIKE THIS. THE DEALER TOLD MY WIFE THEY HAVE THIS PROBLEM. IF SO IT IS GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED. THE CAR IS AN 04 MODEL AND HAS JUST OVER 51,000 MILES. *TR
OUR 2004 CADILLAC DEVILLE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL DURING A RAINFALL OR VERY MISTY WEATHER. THE POWER STEERING WILL STOP WORKING AND THE CAR WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THIS MAY HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED, AND THE FAILURE WILL CONTINUE FOR BETWEEN ABOUT 4 AND 10 SECONDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS, AND IT HAS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS - 25 MPH, 35 MPH AND 60 MPH. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH DRIVING THROUGH STANDING WATER, BUT MERELY REQUIRES THAT IT IS RAINING OR THAT THERE IS A HEAVY MIST. DURING DRY WEATHER THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR'S POWER STEERING. THIS LATEST POWER STEERING FAILURE TOOK PLACE TODAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2011. *TR
OUR 2004 CADILLAC DEVILLE POWER STEERING WILL FAIL DURING A RAINFALL OR VERY MISTY WEATHER. THE POWER STEERING WILL STOP WORKING AND THE CAR WILL BE EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THIS MAY HAPPEN AT ANY SPEED, AND THE FAILURE WILL CONTINUE FOR BETWEEN ABOUT 4 AND 10 SECONDS. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS, AND IT HAS OCCURRED AT VARIOUS SPEEDS - 25 MPH, 35 MPH AND 60 MPH. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH DRIVING THROUGH STANDING WATER, BUT MERELY REQUIRES THAT IT IS RAINING OR THAT THERE IS A HEAVY MIST. DURING DRY WEATHER THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR'S POWER STEERING. *TR
2004 CADILLAC DEVILLE STEEERING FAILS IF RAINING OR CAR IS DRIVEN THROUGH STANDING WATER. 6 MONTHS AGO I WAS MAKING A RIGHT TURN DURING A RAIN STORM AND THE STEERING FAILED. I HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO KEEP TURNING THE CAR. I ALMOST HIT A MINIVAN BROADSIDE. THIS NOW HAPPENS EVERY TIME IT RAINS OR THERE IS WATER ON THE ROAD. MY CADILLAC DEALER SAID ITS A DESIGN FLAW THAT CANNOT BE FIXED AND REFUSED TO OFFER ANY HELP OTHER THAN TO OFFER TO SELL ME A BUICK. I HAVE CONTACTED GM/CADILLAC WITH NO RESULTS. I HAVE HAD MANY NEAR MISSES WHEN THE STEERING FAILS AT RANDOM IN WET WEATHER. THIS DEFECT IS GOING TO CAUSE A CRASH. IT IS SHOULD BE FIXED BY CADILLAC IN A RECALL ASAP. I WILL NOT ALLOW ANYONE TO DRIVE THIS CAR DURING WET WEATHER. A AMALLER PERSON WILL NOT HAVE THE MUSCLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 5 MPH. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHENEVER IT RAINED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD LOCK WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT FOUND NO FAILURE WITHIN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
STEERING FAILS IN RAIN. WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO SAY, COMPLETE INABILITY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT OR MAKE A TURN DURING RAIN OR WET CONDITIONS. IF THIS IS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD, I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS. DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE IS KILLED???? APPARENTLY MANY, MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND CADILLAC IS UNWILLING TO MAKE GOOD ON THE PROBLEM AND/OR THE DOT HAS NOT STEPPED UP TO ADDRESS THE SITUATION EITHER. WHO IS TAKING CARE OF WHO???
WHENEVER IT RAINS OR THERE IS HIGH HUMIDITY, THE POWER STEERING COMPLETELY LOCKS UP. I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT YESTERDAY DUE TO THIS, AND HAVE HAD THE PROBLEM BEFORE ALSO. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT. I HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIM THERE IS NO RECALL OR KNOWN WAY TO FIX IT. *TR
VEHICLE STEERING BECOMES DIFFICULT OR FAILS IN RAIN OR WET ROAD CONDITIONS ON RIGHT HAND TURNS AT SLOW SPEEDS, OR WHEN PULLING IN OR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. *TR
2004 CADILLAC DEVILLE DTS . POWER STEERING FAILURE ON WET STREETS. OFTEN. LOSS OF CONTROL. DEALER CONFIRMED IT WAS CORRECT BELT. *TR
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
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