Total Complaints
237 filings
CADILLAC DEVILLE · model year
2002 CADILLAC DEVILLE
237 NHTSA complaints, 30 crash reports, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2002CADILLACDEVILLE carries 237 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 30 crashes, 2 fires, 22 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 DEVILLE is electrical system with 35 filings, followed by air bags (20) and engine (17). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 10 investigation files overlapping the 2002 DEVILLE, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
237
Complaints
30
Crashes
2
Fires
22
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
30 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 35 |
| AIR BAGS | 20 |
| ENGINE | 17 |
| STEERING | 14 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 10 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 7 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 7 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 6 |
| VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS | 6 |
| POWER TRAIN | 6 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 6 |
| TIRES | 5 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 4 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 4 |
Recalls (5)
14V35500023/06/2014
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
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 certai
02V22200009/08/2002
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.
02V06700006/03/2002
STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)
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.
02V22700005/09/2002
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES CONTAIN DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER LAP AND/OR SHOULDER BELT RETRACTORS THAT MAY NOT REMAIN LOCKED UP AS DESIGNED DURING A CRASH IN WHICH THE BELT PRETENSIONERS DEPLOY.
03V23800001/07/2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
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
Recent Complaints
20250407CrashAIR BAGS
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 bag had deployed. No injuries were reported, and no police report was taken. The vehicle was later towed to a local dealer, who diagnosed that the ignition switch had failed. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Mileage: 80,000
20250407CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
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 bag had deployed. No injuries were reported, and no police report was taken. The vehicle was later towed to a local dealer, who diagnosed that the ignition switch had failed. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 80,000.
Mileage: 80,000
20210202AIR BAGS
MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE WHEN THE HORN SOUNDED EXTREMELY LOUD AND WOULD NOT STOP I COULD NOT STOP IT SO I TOOK IT TO SHOP. THE DEALER SAYS THAT AIRBAG SHORTED OUT AND SHORTED OUT THE HORN. THEY WANT TO REPLACE AIRBAG AND HORN AT A COST OF $1109 WAS THIS AIRBAG RECALLED?
Mileage: 164,000
20210202UNKNOWN OR OTHER
MY CAR WAS PARKED IN MY GARAGE WHEN THE HORN SOUNDED EXTREMELY LOUD AND WOULD NOT STOP I COULD NOT STOP IT SO I TOOK IT TO SHOP. THE DEALER SAYS THAT AIRBAG SHORTED OUT AND SHORTED OUT THE HORN. THEY WANT TO REPLACE AIRBAG AND HORN AT A COST OF $1109 WAS THIS AIRBAG RECALLED?
Mileage: 164,000
20200526ENGINE
I WAS GOING TO DROP OFF SOME TRASH BAGS IN DUMPSTER AROUND THE BLOCK FROM MY HOUSE.AND WAS PARKED NEXT TO IT AT APTMENTS STREET.I PUT THE CAR IN PARK TURNED OFF ENGINE AND REMOVED THE KEYS POPPED THE TRUNK REMOVED TRASH BAGS CLOSED TRUNK AND GOT BACK IN DRIVER SEAT PLACED KEY IN JUST AS ALWAYS REAL EASY GOING AND TRIED TO TURN IT FOR HOUR IN HOT SUN THEN WALKED HOME CALLED TOW TRUCK WERE WE BROUGHT IT HOME WERE I LIVE MY HOUSE AND COST $164.00 DOLLARS AND IS IN SAME CONDITION AS OF NOW. *TR
Mileage: 10,000
20200526STEERING
I WAS GOING TO DROP OFF SOME TRASH BAGS IN DUMPSTER AROUND THE BLOCK FROM MY HOUSE.AND WAS PARKED NEXT TO IT AT APTMENTS STREET.I PUT THE CAR IN PARK TURNED OFF ENGINE AND REMOVED THE KEYS POPPED THE TRUNK REMOVED TRASH BAGS CLOSED TRUNK AND GOT BACK IN DRIVER SEAT PLACED KEY IN JUST AS ALWAYS REAL EASY GOING AND TRIED TO TURN IT FOR HOUR IN HOT SUN THEN WALKED HOME CALLED TOW TRUCK WERE WE BROUGHT IT HOME WERE I LIVE MY HOUSE AND COST $164.00 DOLLARS AND IS IN SAME CONDITION AS OF NOW. *TR
Mileage: 10,000
20200411CrashSERVICE BRAKES
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN AND I WILL LOSE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES AND I'M PRETTY SURE MY AIR BAGS ARE NOT WORKING EITHER
Mileage: 180,000
20200411CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN AND I WILL LOSE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES AND I'M PRETTY SURE MY AIR BAGS ARE NOT WORKING EITHER
Mileage: 180,000
20200411CrashSTEERING
WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL SHUT DOWN AND I WILL LOSE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES AND I'M PRETTY SURE MY AIR BAGS ARE NOT WORKING EITHER
Mileage: 180,000
20190809AIR BAGS
TAKATA AIR BAG, DO NOT KNOW IF THAT ITEM IS IN MY CAR BUT THEY SAY IT IS. ALSO LIKE SO MANY NORTHSTAR ENGINES THERE IS TROUBLE WITH THE HEAD GASKET, AND ACCORDING TO THE HYDROCARBON BLOCK TEST, MINE MUST BE REPLACED. IN ORDER TO REPLACE IT, THE ENGINE AND POWER TRAIN MUST BE REMOVED, AT MY EXPENSE. DUE TO THIS ISSUE, MY CAR CONTINUES TO TRY AND OVERHEAT AFTER ABOUT 29 MILES OF DRIVING. AFTER LISTENING TO THOSE FOLKS ON THE CADILLAC FORUM, I HAVE BEEN LEAD TO BELIEVE, THE OVERHEATING ISSUE MAY BE, PARTLY THE FAULT OF THE FINE THREAD HEAD BOLTS AND OR STUDS. MANY MECHANICS I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HAVE SAID THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE, ALTHOUGH THE FOLKS ON THE CADILLAC FOURM HAVE SAID THAT TIME-SERTS, OR THE LARGER STUDS/BOLTS MIGHT FIX THE ISSUE. NEVER THE LESS, WITH EACH CADILLAC DEVILLE DHS WITH THE NORTHSTAR ENGINE I READ ABOUT, THE SAME ISSUE EXISTS FOR ALMOST ALL OF THEM, WHICH INDICATES TO ME THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF POSSIBLY NOT USING A LARGE ENOUGH BOLT/STUD T
Mileage: 100,000
20190809ENGINE
TAKATA AIR BAG, DO NOT KNOW IF THAT ITEM IS IN MY CAR BUT THEY SAY IT IS. ALSO LIKE SO MANY NORTHSTAR ENGINES THERE IS TROUBLE WITH THE HEAD GASKET, AND ACCORDING TO THE HYDROCARBON BLOCK TEST, MINE MUST BE REPLACED. IN ORDER TO REPLACE IT, THE ENGINE AND POWER TRAIN MUST BE REMOVED, AT MY EXPENSE. DUE TO THIS ISSUE, MY CAR CONTINUES TO TRY AND OVERHEAT AFTER ABOUT 29 MILES OF DRIVING. AFTER LISTENING TO THOSE FOLKS ON THE CADILLAC FORUM, I HAVE BEEN LEAD TO BELIEVE, THE OVERHEATING ISSUE MAY BE, PARTLY THE FAULT OF THE FINE THREAD HEAD BOLTS AND OR STUDS. MANY MECHANICS I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HAVE SAID THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE, ALTHOUGH THE FOLKS ON THE CADILLAC FOURM HAVE SAID THAT TIME-SERTS, OR THE LARGER STUDS/BOLTS MIGHT FIX THE ISSUE. NEVER THE LESS, WITH EACH CADILLAC DEVILLE DHS WITH THE NORTHSTAR ENGINE I READ ABOUT, THE SAME ISSUE EXISTS FOR ALMOST ALL OF THEM, WHICH INDICATES TO ME THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF POSSIBLY NOT USING A LARGE ENOUGH BOLT/STUD T
Mileage: 100,000
20190809POWER TRAIN
TAKATA AIR BAG, DO NOT KNOW IF THAT ITEM IS IN MY CAR BUT THEY SAY IT IS. ALSO LIKE SO MANY NORTHSTAR ENGINES THERE IS TROUBLE WITH THE HEAD GASKET, AND ACCORDING TO THE HYDROCARBON BLOCK TEST, MINE MUST BE REPLACED. IN ORDER TO REPLACE IT, THE ENGINE AND POWER TRAIN MUST BE REMOVED, AT MY EXPENSE. DUE TO THIS ISSUE, MY CAR CONTINUES TO TRY AND OVERHEAT AFTER ABOUT 29 MILES OF DRIVING. AFTER LISTENING TO THOSE FOLKS ON THE CADILLAC FORUM, I HAVE BEEN LEAD TO BELIEVE, THE OVERHEATING ISSUE MAY BE, PARTLY THE FAULT OF THE FINE THREAD HEAD BOLTS AND OR STUDS. MANY MECHANICS I HAVE SPOKEN WITH HAVE SAID THAT I NEED A NEW ENGINE, ALTHOUGH THE FOLKS ON THE CADILLAC FOURM HAVE SAID THAT TIME-SERTS, OR THE LARGER STUDS/BOLTS MIGHT FIX THE ISSUE. NEVER THE LESS, WITH EACH CADILLAC DEVILLE DHS WITH THE NORTHSTAR ENGINE I READ ABOUT, THE SAME ISSUE EXISTS FOR ALMOST ALL OF THEM, WHICH INDICATES TO ME THAT THERE WAS AN ISSUE IN THE ORIGINAL DESIGN OF POSSIBLY NOT USING A LARGE ENOUGH BOLT/STUD T
Mileage: 100,000
20190213ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE THE LIGHT ON DASHBOARD OF AIRBAGS THE LIGHT NEVER TURNS ON PLUS BLUETOOTH DOESNT WORK AND SOME TIME IT DOESNT WANT TO TURN ON THIS HAPPEN LIKE 3 TIMES 1 IN THE GAS STATION 2 AT WALMART PARKING AND 3 AT HOME THIS HAPPEN DIFFERENT DAYS AND MONTHS FROM OCT ,2018, NOV ,2018 , AND JAN OF THIS YEAR 2019
20190107AIR BAGS
WELL I NOTICE THAT SOME TIME THE KEY WORKS AND SOME TIME IT DONT. THE SEAT BELT GET STUCK SOME TIME AND I JUST FOYND OUT THE CAR HAD RECALLS
Mileage: 192,000
20190107ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WELL I NOTICE THAT SOME TIME THE KEY WORKS AND SOME TIME IT DONT. THE SEAT BELT GET STUCK SOME TIME AND I JUST FOYND OUT THE CAR HAD RECALLS
Mileage: 192,000
20190107SEAT BELTS
WELL I NOTICE THAT SOME TIME THE KEY WORKS AND SOME TIME IT DONT. THE SEAT BELT GET STUCK SOME TIME AND I JUST FOYND OUT THE CAR HAD RECALLS
Mileage: 192,000
20180417ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
ENGINE STALLS SUDDENLY WHILE DRIVING/IN MOTION. RESTARTS WITH IGNITION SWITCH RESTART. APPEARS TO BE IGNITION SWITCH FAILURE.
Mileage: 51,000
20170127AIR BAGS
WARNING LIGHTS,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON,STERING BAD.AIRBAG LIGHT ON OFF.CHECK RECALL THERE ARE 5.THE CAR WAS IN MOTION,HIGHWAY
Mileage: 99,000
20170127ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
WARNING LIGHTS,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON,STERING BAD.AIRBAG LIGHT ON OFF.CHECK RECALL THERE ARE 5.THE CAR WAS IN MOTION,HIGHWAY
Mileage: 99,000
20170127FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
WARNING LIGHTS,CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON,STERING BAD.AIRBAG LIGHT ON OFF.CHECK RECALL THERE ARE 5.THE CAR WAS IN MOTION,HIGHWAY
Mileage: 99,000
Compare 2002CADILLACDEVILLE to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
PE24011Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Electronic Brake Module Component Failure
PE22006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Rear-View Camera Failure
PE19001Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Roof Skin Separation While Driving
EQ11001EQClosed
IEE Passenger Sensing System Mats
EA07017Engineering AnalysisClosed
REAR DRIVETRAIN COMPONENT FAILURE
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2002 CADILLAC DEVILLE have?▼
The 2002 CADILLAC DEVILLE has 237 NHTSA complaints, 30 crashes, 2 fires, 22 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 CADILLAC DEVILLE?▼
Yes, the 2002 CADILLAC DEVILLE has 5 recall(s). The most common affected component is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 CADILLAC DEVILLE?▼
The most-complained component for the 2002 CADILLAC DEVILLE is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 35 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and ENGINE.
Is the 2002 CADILLAC DEVILLE safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.