CADILLAC SEVILLE · model year

2003 CADILLAC SEVILLE

19 NHTSA complaints, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2003CADILLACSEVILLE carries 19 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. 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 2003 SEVILLE is exterior lighting with 2 filings, followed by steering (2) and power train (2). 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 1 active recall campaign, 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 2003 SEVILLE, 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.

19
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

19 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
EXTERIOR LIGHTING2
STEERING2
POWER TRAIN2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING1
STRUCTURE1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES1
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS1
SUSPENSION:FRONT1
SUSPENSION1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1

Recalls (1)

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

20210915POWER TRAIN

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 c

20210915UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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 c

20180407STRUCTURE:BODY

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.

Mileage: 145,000

20180407FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 145,000

20160330UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE FRAME BROKE. IT CAME APART - A FULL BREAK. I HAD DROPPED IT OFF AT MY GARAGE AND PARKED IT OUTSIDE. WHEN THEY MOVED IT INTO THE SHOP THEY FRAME CAME APART. I COULD HAVE BEEN DRIVING. I HOPE THE 5 PICTURES WERE UPLOADED.

Mileage: 112,000

20140625STEERING

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

Mileage: 81,000

20140408POWER TRAIN

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

Mileage: 49,254

20121119SUSPENSION

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

20120225EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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 MANUFACTU

20100218STEERING

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.

Mileage: 24,923

20081203EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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

Mileage: 50,000

20071203SUSPENSION:FRONT

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

Mileage: 47,322

20070825STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS

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

Mileage: 100

20070125ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL:AUTOMATIC (ASC)

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

Mileage: 60,000

20060414VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

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.

Mileage: 19,000

20060414SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

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.

Mileage: 19,000

20041108STRUCTURE

THE DISPLAY PANEL IS HARD TO SEE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. IT IS HARD TO SEE HOW FAST THE CONSUMER IS DRIVNG, HOW MUCH GAS IT HAS. *AK *ER

20040426ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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

Mileage: 4,000

20040130ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

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

Mileage: 1,500

Compare 2003CADILLACSEVILLE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2003 CADILLAC SEVILLE have?
The 2003 CADILLAC SEVILLE has 19 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2003 CADILLAC SEVILLE?
Yes, the 2003 CADILLAC SEVILLE has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 CADILLAC SEVILLE?
The most-complained component for the 2003 CADILLAC SEVILLE is EXTERIOR LIGHTING with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2003 CADILLAC SEVILLE 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.