2002 Cadillac DEVILLE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
176 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
59,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 114 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 35 of 176 complaints (19.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 28 | 15.9% |
| Steering behavior | 27 | 15.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 26 | 14.8% |
| Braking behavior | 23 | 13.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 2.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | 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 | 6 |
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: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 21 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 27 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 22 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 17 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 21; 25,000 to 49,999: 27; 50,000 to 74,999: 22; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 17; 150,000 and above: 11
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (27). 62 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 16 |
| 2003 | 17 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 12 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 5 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 41 |
| 2015 | 11 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2001: 1; 2002: 16; 2003: 17; 2004: 15; 2005: 8; 2006: 12; 2007: 9; 2008: 9; 2009: 3; 2010: 7; 2011: 5; 2012: 5; 2013: 3; 2014: 41; 2015: 11; 2016: 5; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2021: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 28 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 26 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10031361 · 2003-09-04 (September 4, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING, THE VEHICLE STALLED, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. *AK. THIS ALMOST CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS IN WHICH THEY REPLACED THE CRACK SENSOR SEVERAL TIMES. *SCC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10034138 · 2003-08-18 (August 18, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE WOULD STALL AT LOW SPEEDS. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10034138 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10006970 · 2003-02-11 (February 11, 2003)
THE HEADLIGHTS AND STEERING DID NOT WORK PROPERLY.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006970 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10043011 · 2003-10-16 (October 16, 2003)
CAR STALLED OUT WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MILES PER HOUR. DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WITH NO POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. HAD I BEEN DRIVING AROUND A CORNER, ON THE HIGHWAY OR GOING DOWN A HILL, THIS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT. AUTO HAD TO BE TOWED, WOULD NOT START AGAIN. DEALER SAID PROBLEM WAS THE FUEL PUMP FAILURE. FUEL PUMP ALSO FAILED ON 08/04/2003. IN THAT INSTANCE, THE AUTO WAS STOPPED AND WOULD NOT START. APPEARS FUEL PUMP DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE AND VERY UNSAFE. I DID NOTICE OTHER COMPLAINTS ON YOUR WEB SITE FOR THIS MODEL/YEAR CAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 28,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10043011 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10156238 · 2006-04-17 (April 17, 2006)
LTR FM CONSUMER (FL) RE HIS 2002 DTS CADILLAC DEVILLE, BATTERY LEAKED AND ATE A HOLE IN THE FLOOR, FEEL LEAKING BATTERIES SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TS THE BATTERY IN THIS MODEL AND YEAR AUTOMOBILE IS LOCATED UNDER THE REAR SEAT AND IS NOT ACCESSIBLE FOR CHECKING BY THE OWNER. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10156238 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10360202 · 2010-10-13 (October 13, 2010)
ACIDIC ORDER WITHIN CAR. 2002 CADILLAC DEVILLE, BATTERY LEAKED AND ATE A HOLE IN THE FLOOR. SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BUT NO NOTICE SENT TO OWNERS. A RUBBER OR PLASTIC TRAY SHOULD HAVE BEEN INSTALLED THROUGH A RECALL. THE BATTERY IN THIS MODEL AND YEAR AUTOMOBILE IS LOCATED UNDER THE REAR SEAT AND IS NOT READILY ACCESSIBLE FOR CHECKING BY THE OWNER. COST TO REPAIR EXCEEDED $1800. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 27,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10360202 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10039694 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)
THE ABS BRAKING SYSTEM FAILED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE HAD A COLLISION WITH A PARKED VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO FATALITIES TO REPORT. THE DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOOR WHILE BRAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP AND REPAIRED. *PH *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 45,078 miles reported. Look up ODI 10039694 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10328806 · 2010-05-04 (May 4, 2010)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO GEAR, THE ENGINE STABILITY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FIVE TIMES AND THE ENGINE STABILITY LIGHT WAS RESET. THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. DURING THE MOST RECENT APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALER THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A MECHANICAL SWITCH WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328806 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10378020 · 2011-01-20 (January 20, 2011)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE GEARS WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,344 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 48,550.
Owner-reported narrative. 45,344 miles reported. Look up ODI 10378020 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10409357 · 2011-06-29 (June 29, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD MISREAD AFTER REFILLING THE FUEL TANK. THE FUEL GAUGE WOULD FLUCTUATE UP AND DOWN AFTER REFUELING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT THE FUEL SENSOR HAD FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS THEN CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 03V238000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 41,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10409357 at NHTSA ↗