2003 Cadillac Seville Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2003 Cadillac Seville, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Body & structure317.6%
- Driver assistance211.8%
- Engine211.8%
- Suspension211.8%
- Powertrain (other)211.8%
- Steering211.8%
- Exterior lighting211.8%
- Fuel system15.9%
- Brakes15.9%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
I DRIVING ON I-20 WEST GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW. I STOPPED IN EMERGENCY LANE AND MY CAR WOULDN'T STAY CRANKED. THERE WERE 7 WIRES THAT WERE CUT IN HALF. I COULDN'T CRANK CAR BECAUSE THE WIRES WENT TO FUEL SYSTEM AND HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED AND SOMEONE TRAVEL 3 HRS ONE WAY TO PICK ME UP.
FRONT FRAME MEMBER COLLIDES WITH GROUND EVEN ON SHALLOW DRIVEWAYS AND DRAINAGE SWALES. FRONT END IS MUCH TOO CLOSE TO THE GROUND. INSPECTED SEVERAL SEVILLES OF THIS MODEL AND FOUND DEEP GOUGES IN FRONT FRAME MEMBERS. IS FRAME WEAKENED? DEALER AND GM REP SAY DAMAGE IS NORMAL AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE. HAS HAPPENED SINCE FIRST MONTH OF OWNERSHIP. DEALER TECHNICIAN SAYS, "THAT'S NORMAL - THEY ARE ALL GOUGED AND SCRAPED LIKE THAT." *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* - WHILE DRIVING HIS 2003 CADILLAC SLS SEVILLE AT 68 MPH THE FRONT END BEGAN TO VIBRATE, AND THE CONTACT FEARED THAT HE WOULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THE SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM LIGHT WAS LIT, AND IMMEDIATELY DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED AT THIS TIME. THE ROAD CONDITIONS AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT WERE WET. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE SIX TIMES FOR THE SAME INCIDENT.*AK
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS NOT ENOUGH ROOM BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHILE RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE CONTACT'S FOOT CATCHES ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AN OBJECT CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE CAST ALUMINUM OIL PAN. THIS RESULTED IN THE OIL PAN DEVELOPING A CRACK. CONSUMER WAS CLOSE TO HOME WHEN THIS OCCURRED AND THE OIL DIDN'T LEAK OUT.*AK
THE VEHICLE BURNED A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1500 MILES. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT GMC IS FRAUDULENTLY MISINFORMING THE PUBLIC OF THIS PROBLEM. *AK THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM PER DEALER SERVICE MANUAL. *SC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
2003 CADILLAC SEVILLE SLS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RUSTED STABILIZER BAR BOLTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE MADE A KNOCKING NOISE, WHEN HE MADE A LEFT OR RIGHT TURN. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE OF THE BOLTS HAD BROKE IN HALF. *JB
AT 65 MPH VEHICLE SHAKES AND VIBRATES. NEW TIRES AND FOUR WHEEL ALIGNMENT HAVE BEEN DONE TO TRY TO ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM, BUT TO NO AVAIL. TWO SEPARATE GARAGES HAVE TOLD ME THEY CAN SEE NO OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
I was driving the car all day and just had jumped back on highway doing around 65mph and all of a sudden the car threw itself into first gear it felt like and started accelerating on decelerating on its own jerking very violently if I wasn't wearing my seatbelt I would of went through the front windshield because it threw me forward i went from doing 65mph down to 10mph in less then 5seconds I was scared as [XXX] the steering wheel was hard to control and other cars were honking at me and it was just a mess and my car only has 100,763miles on it I barley drove it this year i will not get back in that car unless it is fixed because that's my daily driver and now its stuck in my driveway and my brother cant get his car out of the driveway so he's pissed now it wont go in reverse or wont move in neutral I left it alone I don't wanna mess with the car i already made a complaint to Cadillac and they said they will look into it and asked me for my vin but that was a few days ago they never called me or anything imagine if my nieces were in the car with me which I'm glad they Were not usually they are that [XXX] coulda killed someone and now I'm out of a car and there gonna look into it that's crazy they need to fix these cars transmission problems there having my car has never done this before and now I cant get to my job interviews because of this and still nothing is being done about it . INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING JUST AFTER PURCHASE FROM (LIA INFINITY) DEALERSHIP IN ALBANY, NY. REQUESTED DEALER TAKE VEHICLE TO CADILLAC DEALER FOR CHECKOUT WHICH HE SAID WAS DONE AND RETURNED WITHOUT REPAIR. CONDITION WAS INTERMITTENT AND WAS THEREFORE DIFFICULT TO DIAGNOSE. AFTER 1 YEAR OF OWNERSHIP ID PROBLEM AS CRANKSHAFT SENSOR (PART NO.S 012575481 AND 012575482) ISSUE WHICH WAS GENERALLY KNOWN IN INDUSTRY. TOOK VEHICLE TO CADILLAC DEALER ON 1/20/2009 (LONG CADILLAC SOUTHBOROUGH, MA. 01772) AND REQUESTED SPECIFIC REPAIR WHICH COST $427.56. DEALER INSISTED WOULD NOT BE WARRANTED SINCE I WASN'T FOLLOWING DEALER PROCEDURES WHICH REQUIRED DEALER DIAGNOSIS AT ADDITIONAL EXPENSE. PROBLEM NO LONGER PERSISTED AFTER REPLACING SENSORS BUT WAS EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS CONDITION AND CADILLAC/GM WAS NO HELP IN REPAIR OR DIAGNOSIS DURING PROCESS. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
THIS CAR HAS THE SAME OR SIMILAR ELECTRIC POWER STEERING PUMP THAT GM IS NOW RECALLING FOR OTHER MODELS. THE POWER PUMP WILL JUST STOP WORKING AND THEN IT WILL START WORKING AGAIN. IT USUALLY STOPS WORKING AT LOW SPEEDS MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN. IN LOOKING ON-LINE I NOTICE THERE ARE A LARGE NUMBER OF POSTING ABOUT THE SAME AND / OR SIMILAR PROBLEMS CONCERNING THIS ITEM. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC SEVILLE. HE HAD TO REPLACE THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD 24,923 MILES ON IT. HE IS CONCERNED THAT THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE AT SUCH LOW MILEAGE. THE TOTAL REPAIR COST WAS $439.27 THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 24,923.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
MY CONCERN IS PLASTIC HEADLIGHT LENSES. THE PLASTIC LENSES DETERIORATE TO THE POINT THAT THEY CLOUD OVER AND BECOME YELLOW, DRASTICALLY REDUCING THERE EFFECTIVENESS IN LIGHTING THE ROADWAY AT NIGHT OR DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER. HOW DID THE AUTO MAKERS CONVINCE THE NHTSA THAT PLASTIC LENSES WERE SAFE ? WHEN DID IT BECOME THE VEHICLE OWNERS RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE TO BUY EXPENSIVE KITS, WHOSE EFFECTIVENESS IS DUBIOUS AT BEST, TO TRY AND KEEP THEIR HEADLIGHTS BRIGHT ENOUGH TO BE SAFE ? THE ONLY OTHER ALTERNATIVE IS TO BUY REPLACEMENT LENSES AND FOR THOSE WITHOUT THE MECHANICAL ABILITY, ALSO HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THEM INSTALLED, ONLY TO FACE THE SAME PROBLEM WHEN THE NEW ONES BECOME UNUSABLE. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE AUTO MAKERS SAVE WEIGHT AND MONEY BY NOT USING GLASS BUT IT IS MY FIRM BELIEF THAT IT THE AUTO MAKERS RESPONSIBILITY TO DELIVER A SAFE VEHICLE TO THE DRIVING PUBLIC AND THAT USING PLASTIC ON HEADLIGHT LENSES IS IRRESPONSIBLE AND DANGEROUS. THIS COMPLAINT ADDRESSES ALL AUTO MANUFACTURERS. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THE NHTSA IS THE RIGHT AGENCY TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AND THAT I MIGHT HERE BACK FROM YOU REGARDING ANY RESOLUTION THAT MIGHT BE FORTHCOMING. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC SEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THERE WAS A DECREASE IN THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT LENS COVER WAS NOT CLEAR AND CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO APPEAR DIM. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT HAD POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 55,000. UPDATED 12/30/08.*LJ UPDATED 01/05/09. *JB
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
I DRIVING ON I-20 WEST GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEW. I STOPPED IN EMERGENCY LANE AND MY CAR WOULDN'T STAY CRANKED. THERE WERE 7 WIRES THAT WERE CUT IN HALF. I COULDN'T CRANK CAR BECAUSE THE WIRES WENT TO FUEL SYSTEM AND HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED AND SOMEONE TRAVEL 3 HRS ONE WAY TO PICK ME UP.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THERE IS NOT ENOUGH ROOM BETWEEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHILE RELEASING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE CONTACT'S FOOT CATCHES ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN ALERTED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .