2002 Cadillac Seville

Routine

Owners filed 45 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the suspension. It has been recalled 2 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
90,000 milesMedian miles at failure

28 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 150,000200,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Suspension6
000
Electrical System5
000
Engine and Engine Cooling4
000
Suspension › Front3
000
Steering3
000
Exterior Lighting › Headlights3
100
Structure › Body2
000
Engine2
000
Air Bags2
102
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly03V238000
Filed Jul 1, 2003102,212 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Steering › Gear Box (other Than Rack and Pinion)02V067000
Filed Mar 6, 2002249 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE BUILT WITH MISSING OR UNDER-TORQUED STEERING GEAR ATTACHMENT BOLTS. IF A BOLT IS MISSING, THE DRIVER MAY NOTICE UNEVEN STEERING RESPONSE OR UNUSUAL NOISES DURING TURNS.

Risk. IF THE LEFT BOLT IS MISSING AND THE RIGHT MOUNTING STRAP FAILS, STEERING CONTROL IS LOST AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD RESULT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR PRESENCE AND PROPER TORQUE OF BOTH STEERING GEAR BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 5, 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 OR CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train
Filed Apr 22, 2021167,000 milesGA

CAR SNAKES EXTREMELY BAD AROUND 45 TO 70 MPH SO BAD IT SHAKES THE ENTIRE CAR LIKE MY WHEELS ARE LOOSE OR BENT AND SO I BOUGHT 4 NEW WHEELS AND GOT ALIGNMENT NO HELP DID RESEARCH AND LEARNED THAT IT IS DUE TO TYPE OF TORQUE CONVERTER IN THE CAR IS A BAD BRAND THAT MESSES UP A LOT AND THAT GM HASN'T ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE WHICH IS SUCH A SHAME AND A SHAM THAT I HATE THEY ARE DOING BECAUSE IT IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX AND I HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL PLUS BUSHING ARE LOW GRADE IN FRONT END AND YOU WOULD THINK BE HIGH END VEHICLE SHOULD BE HIGH END PARTS HAPPENED FIRST ON HIGHWAY AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE

Structure › Body
Filed Feb 2, 2021131,000 milesMN

DRIVE TRAIN CRADLE HAS WEAKENED SIGNIFICANTLY FROM RUST. WHILE DRIVING THERE IS A LOOSENESS OF THE SUSPENSION FELT AND A SHIFTING EVIDENT WHEN ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING. I RESIDE IN MINNESOTA AND THE D.O.T. USES SALT ON THE ROADS DURING THE WINTER SEASON AND THIS HAS SIGNIFICANTLY ACCELERATED CORROSION OF VEHICLES AND THEIR EXPOSED COMPONENTS. MATERIALS USED FOR CRITICAL COMPONENTS ON VEHICLES MUST WITHSTAND THIS FACTOR OR LIVES MAY BE LOST DUE TO THIS CORROSION, FAILURE OF THE SUB-FRAME CRADLE WILL BE CATASTROPHIC LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL . HELP... THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND REPLACE SUCH A MAJOR COMPONENT WITH A RESISTANT COMPONENT. VEHICLE HAS BEEN PARKED NOW SINCE 2008 WHEN THIS ISSUE HAD BEEN DISCOVERED. BEAUTIFUL CAR AND I'D LIKE THE SUB=FRAME REPLACED, ONLY THAT COMPONENT NEEDED TO ENABLE ROADABILITY. PHOTO/S OF DEGRADATION UPON REQUEST.

Structure › Body
Filed Sep 28, 2020131,150 milesMN

ENGINE CRADLE/FRAME IS SEVERELY DEGRADING STRUCTURALLY DUE TO THE NORTHERN STATES PRACTICES OF SALTING/SANDING ROADS DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. THE INTEGRITY OF THE SUB-FRAME STEEL STRUCTURE IS SUCH THAT NORMAL USE OF THE VEHICLE, ITS SUSPENSION, STEERING AND DRIVE TRAIN STABILITY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED. THE MANUFACTURES USE OF SUBSTANDARD METALS IN ITS SUB-FRAMES IS THE REASON FOR THIS VEHICLES INSTABILITY ISSUES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOW BEEN PARKED FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS FOR FEAR OF A POTENTIAL HAZARDOUS OUTCOME, RELATED TO THE DRIVE-TRAIN FRAME INSTABILITY, WHICH MAY CAUSE INJURY TO NOT ONLY THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE BUT ALSO ANYONE ELSE SHARING THE ROAD.

Seat BeltsFire
Filed Apr 11, 2019100,000 milesOK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC SEVILLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A DRIVE THRU WINDOW, THE SEAT BELT MECHANISM EXPLODED AND SMOKE FILLED THE CABIN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Steering
Filed Oct 25, 2018156,500 milesMN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC SEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING UNKNOWN SPEEDS AND MAKING TURNS AND LANE CHANGES, THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK AND MADE AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL CAP WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO KEY CADILLAC (6825 YORK AVE S, MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55435, (952) 388-0813), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 8-4766958386. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,500.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 7, 2018GA

WHILE STOPPED BEHIND 3 VEHICLES AT A STOPLIGHT I FLORIDA A FEMALE WHO SAID SHE WAS UNFAMILIAR WITH DRIVING HER HUSBANDS STICK SHIFT VEHICLE STALLED OUT. TWO VEHICLES IN FRONT OF ME PULLED AROUND HER WHEN THE LIGHT CHANGED, THIS LEFT ABOUT TWENTY FEET BETWEEN MY CAR AND HERS. SHE ACCIDENTALLY PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE AND BACKED INTO MINE AT ABOUT 15 MILES PER HOUR. WHEN I STARTED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR SHE PULLED FORWARD FIFTEEN TO TWENTY FEET BEFORE THE ENGINE OF HER CAR QUIT. AS I WATCHED TO SEE WHAT SHE WAS DOING SHE GOT THE CAR STARTED AND PUT IT IN REVERSE AGAIN HITTING MY CAR AGAIN. SHE DID THIS THREE TIMES BEFORE GETTING IT IN A FORWARD GEAR AND MOVING FORWARD WITHOUT THE CAR ENGINE STALLING. AT NO TIME DID DURING THIS DID THE AIRBAGS IN THE SEVILLE DEPLOY.

Electrical System
Filed Dec 14, 2015115,000 milesAZ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000. UPDATED 04/19/16*LJ UPDATED 05/11/18*JB *TR

Electrical System
Filed Oct 15, 2015116,000 milesAZ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 116,000.

Electrical System
Filed Nov 21, 201485,626 milesIL

WHILE DRIVING MY 2002 CADILLAC SLS THE IGNITION JUST SHUT OFF THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING I CAME TO A STOP AND PUT MY CAR IN PARK. AT THE POINT I HAD TO REMOVE MY KEY AND PUT IT BACK IN TO START MY CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY WIFE WHILE GOING 65 MPH WE HAD TO COME TO A STOP AND REMOVE THE KEY TO START THE CAR. THIS ALSO HAPPENS SOME TIMES AFTER I DRIVE A SHORT DISTANCE MY CAR WILL NOT START RIGHT AWAY. I HAVE CALLED GM AND TOLD THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM AFTER THE LARGE RECALL ON THE IGNITION RECALL THEY TOLD ME MY CAR WAS NOT IN THE RECALL. ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS GM STEP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT I JUST HOPE IT IS NOT ME. GM YOU HAVE A IGNITION PROBLEM IN CADILLAC SLS!!! *TR

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Sep 10, 201454,000 milesFL

THIS IS A CONTINUAL PROBLEM. ONCE THE FUEL GAUGE GETS TO APPROXIMATELY HALF TANK, THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT READ CORRECTLY. WHEN YOU GO AROUND A CURVE OR STOP/GO, THE GAUGE GOES TO ALMOST HALF FULL, AND THEN FLUCTUATES CONSTANTLY. THUS YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW HOW MUCH FUEL IS REMAINING. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Jul 10, 2014CA

2002 CADILLAC SEVILLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO IGNITION PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED ON FIVE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE SHUT DOWN, WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. ON ONE OCCASION, THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION. ALSO, THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS, THAT NEEDED TO BE ADDRESS. *JB

Electrical System
Filed May 18, 2014140,393 milesCA

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD JUST STOP, IT WOULDN'T START WHILE MOVING. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR STOP WHERE I WAS AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND THEN IT WOULD RESTART. ONLY TO STOP AGAIN, EVERY THING WENT DEAD, LIGHTS, ENGINE, INTERIOR GAGES EVERYTHING. LOST POWER STEERING, POWER BRAKES, AIR BAGS, EVERYTHING STOPPED. THIS WAS REPORTED TO THE CADILLAC DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. THE PROBLEM WENT ON FOR OVER A YEAR BEFORE THEY FOUND THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH (KEY TYPE) WAS THE PROBLEM AND ONCE REPLACED THE CAR HAS FUNCTIONED WELL SINCE. BUT I FOUND MYSELF ONLY DRIVING ON SIDE STREETS KEEPING THE VEHICLE AT SLOW SPEEDS AND OFTEN NOT DRIVING IT FOR WEEKS AT A TIME WHILE THE DEALERSHIP WORKED ON THE VEHICLE TRYING TO FIX IT. THIS WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT AS THE MONTHS PASSED IT BECAME MORE FREQUENT UNTIL IT WAS EVERY TIME I DROVE THE CAR. UPDATED 11/24/2014 *JS

Engine
Filed Mar 18, 201450,000 milesFL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED. AFTER RESTARTING, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS FAULTY. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT A NEWLY DESIGNED CRANK SHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS INSTALLED WHICH CORRECTED THE DEFECT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

Engine
Filed Mar 11, 201485,000 milesVA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

Steering › Rack and Pinion
Filed Nov 26, 2012165,000 milesMN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE. THE CONTACT PARKED THE VEHICLE AND ALLOWED IT TO SIT OVERNIGHT. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO REVERSE FROM HER DRIVEWAY WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD, ABNORMAL NOISE. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT THE THERE WAS A BOLT MISSING THAT WAS CAUSING THE RACK AND PINION TO BEND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 165,000. UPDATED 01/02/2013*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WOULD NOT BE HONORED EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RECALL. UPDATED 1/9/2013 *JS

Steering
Filed Oct 30, 2012162,000 milesMN

MY VEHICLE STARTED TO FEEL AS IF THE STEERING WAS A LITTLE LOOSE A FEW MONTHS AGO, AT ONE POINT I THOUGHT I HAD A FLAT TIRE, BUT I BROUGHT THE CAR TO A TIRE SHOP AND THEY VERIFIED MY TIRES WERE FINE AND THEY COULD NOT SEE ANY VISIBLE PROBLEMS OR LEAKS. ABOUT A WEEK LATER I WAS DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY 610 AND I TEMPORARILY LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHEN TRYING TO SWITCH LANES, AND ALMOST SIDE SWIPED A TRUCK. THE LOSS OF CONTROL WAS ONLY DURING THE TURN OF THE STEERING WHEEL, I GAINED CONTROL WHEN I STRAIGHTENED THE STEERING WHEEL AND CONTINUED ON HOME. ON OCTOBER 13, 2012 I GOT INTO MY CAR AND PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE, AND THE VEHICLE'S STEERING WAS EVEN MORE LOOSE. I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND THE FRONT END MADE A CLUNK SOUND AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE SHIFTED UPWARDS WHEN I PROCEEDED TO TURN THE WHEEL. A MECHANIC VERIFIED THAT A MISSING BOLT DAMAGED THE MOUNTING STRAP, WHICH ALSO DAMAGED THE RACK AND PINION. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Oct 15, 2012170,000 milesMA

I WAS GOING TO GET AN INSPECTION STICKER AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PASS BECAUSE OF AN EMISSION PROBLEM. CYLINDER 4 WAS MISFIRING. *TR

Air Bags1 injured
Filed Jul 5, 201288,000 milesNV

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC SEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ON A NARROW CURVED ROAD, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG ABRUPTLY DEPLOYED WITHOUT ANY IMPACT TO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL UNTIL THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURY TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE BODY AND HEAD AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN WITH CAUTION TO A SAFE LOCATION. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.

Suspension
Filed Sep 3, 2011MI

DIAGNOSTIC CHECK RESULTS: RANDOM MIX-FIRE (TUNE UP) SECONDARY AIR INJECTION EVAPORATIVE EMISSION SENSOR (PRESSURE IN TANK) TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH SOLENOID (INSIDE TRANSMISSION) ENGINE METAL OVER TEMP. STRUT & MAINTENANCE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT REMAINS ON. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Jun 15, 2011FL

2002 CADILLAC SEVILLE. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO GM VEHICLES AND A SOFT BUSHING PROBLEM IN THE TRANSMISSION AT THE THIRD CLUTCH HOUSING THAT WEARS OUT PREMATURELY AND TRANSMISSION OIL POURS OUT THE LEFT AXLE SEAL *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE THE OIL SEAL AND BUSHING IS IN ACCESS OF $2000. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE WRONG BUSHING MATERIAL WAS USED DURING THE MANUFACTURING OF THE VEHICLE. GM STATED THE BUSHING, BOLTED INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION WAS A STANDARD WEAR AND TEAR ITEM. *JB UPDATED 06/28/11. *JB

20 of 45 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1996
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20049000Routine
200316100Routine
2002 — this page45210Routine
200153100Routine
200038200Routine
199973120Routine
199865230Routine
199795262Fatalities reported
1996122271Fatalities reported
1995742100Routine
199450250Routine
199342230Routine
199227100Routine
199121011Fatalities reported
199019300Routine

Compare every Seville year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jul 1, 2003. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.