2005 Cadillac DEVILLE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
95 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
75,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 78 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 32 of 95 complaints (33.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 28 | 29.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 17 | 17.9% |
| Braking behavior | 14 | 14.7% |
| Engine operation | 11 | 11.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 2.1% |
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 | 32 |
| Steering | 28 |
| Air Bags | 17 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 5 |
| Seats | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 2 |
Electrical System: 32; Steering: 28; Air Bags: 17; Engine: 10; Service Brakes: 5; Seats: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 13 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 11
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 17 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 |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 43 |
| 2015 | 10 |
| 2016 | 3 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2005: 3; 2006: 2; 2007: 4; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 5; 2011: 4; 2012: 5; 2013: 6; 2014: 43; 2015: 10; 2016: 3; 2017: 4; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 17 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 14 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 10202816 · 2007-09-12 (September 12, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER STEERING FAILS WHEN DRIVING THROUGH ANY AMOUNT OF WATER, INCLUDING SMALL PUDDLES. THE VEHICLE BECOMES HARD TO CONTROL AND THE FAILURE ONLY OCCURS WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THROUGH WATER. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT SEVERAL OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE REPORTED THE SAME FAILURE, HOWEVER, THE DEALER DID NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE OR REPAIR THE CONTACTS VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 45,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. UPDATED 10/0…
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10202816 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10233813 · 2008-07-10 (July 10, 2008)
2005 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE POWER STEERING HAS GONE OUT THREE TIMES IN THE LAST TWO DAYS. THE WEATHER WAS RAIN OR THE DAY AFTER RAIN. I WENT TO THE CADILLAC DEALER SHIP ON JULY 8 AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED. AFTER THE CAR WAS CHECKED BY THE DEALER I WAS TOLD THE BELT MAY HAVE BEEN WET FROM THE RAIN. I HAVE DRIVEN THIS CAR FOR THREE YEARS AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10233813 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10626071 · 2014-08-18 (August 18, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING, BUT THE RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 52,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10626071 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10626651 · 2014-08-20 (August 20, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH DRIVING OVER SPEED BUMP, THE ENGINE STALLED. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE POWER TRAIN, THE BATTERY AND STARTER ASSEMBLY NEEDED BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE STARTER ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED AGAIN BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTI…
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10626651 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138493 · 2005-10-04 (October 4, 2005)
WITHIN THE LAST TWO MONTHS, WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ON A SOMEWHAT CROWDED INTERSTATE, I FOUND MYSELF DRIVING BEHIND A NEWER MODEL OF CADILLAC WITH A NEW TYPE OF TAIL LIGHT/BRAKE LIGHT (POSSIBLY LEDS). MY FOLLOWING DISTANCE WAS ABOUT 30 FEET AT TIMES. THIS NEW TYPE OF LIGHT PROVED TO BE VERY DISTRACTING -- NOT BECAUSE OF ITS NOVELTY BUT BECAUSE OF A "STREAKING" OPTICAL EFFECT CREATED BY THE LIGHTS. I HAVE EXCELLENT NIGHT VISION AND USE GLASSES WHEN I DRIVE. I NEVER HAVE LIGHT-ASSOCIATED VISION PROBLEMS WHEN DRIVING. BUT THE EFFECT CREATED BY THE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10138493 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144008 · 2005-11-30 (November 30, 2005)
DT: CONTACT STATES WHEN HE MOVES HIS FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL TO THE BRAKE PEDAL, HIS FOOT HITS THE CONSOLE PANEL, CAUSING A DELAY IN BRAKING FOR A FRACTION OF A SECOND. THE DEALER OFFERED TO ADJUST THE PLACEMENT OF THE CONSOLE PANEL. *AK UPDATED 12/27/05. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 18,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144008 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10408876 · 2011-06-25 (June 25, 2011)
TEMPORARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING WHEN DRIVING THROUGH STANDING WATER PUDDLES. NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER FOR ABOUT 10 SECONDS, THEN RETURNS TO NORMAL. DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE. REPORTS SPLASH SHIELD INTACT, DRIVE BELT IS NOT DEGRADED AND HAS PROPER TENSION TO POWER STEERING PUMP. BUT PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND IS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 48,280 miles reported. Look up ODI 10408876 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10572845 · 2014-03-17 (March 17, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION SEVERAL TIMES, RE-INSERTED THE KEY AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES FOR DIAGNOSIS, HOWEVER THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO GENERATE A FAILURE CODE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 25,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10572845 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10153005 · 2006-03-06 (March 6, 2006)
2005 CADILLAC TRANSMISSION HAS A DELAY WHEN SHIFTING IN REVERSE. *TS ***NAR*** THE DEALER STATED THAT GM SPECS ALLOWED THAT DELAY TO BE AS MUCH AS 8 SECONDS LONG. THE CONSUMER INDICATED THAT THIS SITUATION IS EXACERBATED WHEN HE FORWARD STOPS IN A DOWN HILL DIRECTION AND SHIFTS INTO REVERSE TO BACK UP A HILL. THE VEHICLE ROLLS FORWARD WHILE THE ENGINE RACES. WHEN THE TIME DELAY ENDS THE TRANSMISSION ENGAGES WITH A VIOLENT JERK. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10153005 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10219192 · 2008-02-26 (February 26, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION INTERMITTENTLY FAILS TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE BRAKE LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATES INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALER TESTED THE COMPUTER THE FIRST TIME. THE SECOND TIME, THEY CLEANED THE TRANSMISSION VALVE BODY AND REPLACED IT THE THIRD TIME. THE FOURTH TIME, THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER. THE FIFTH TIME, THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND FOUND NO FAILURE. THE SIXTH AND FINAL TIME, THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE DEALER NOT TO TAKE ANY ACTION. THE FAILURE MILEA…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10219192 at NHTSA ↗