VehicleVerdict

2003 Cadillac Deville airbags problems

The 2003 Cadillac Deville has 26 airbags complaints filed with NHTSA — 13% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

26

Airbags complaints

13%

Share of year

9

Crash-involved

2

Related recalls

Airbags complaints by year

Deville airbags complaints by model year53 complaints1990: 6 complaints1991: 4 complaints1992: 10 complaints1993: 4 complaints1994: 14 complaints1995: 17 complaints1996: 14 complaints1997: 10 complaints1998: 39 complaints1999: 53 complaints2000: 26 complaints2001: 19 complaints2002: 26 complaints2003: 26 complaints2004: 25 complaints2005: 18 complaints
Deville airbags complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Related recalls

03V051000AirbagsFebruary 14, 2003 · 130 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG THAT MAY NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG INFLATOR COULD RUPTURE.

Consequence

THIS COULD RESULT IN REDUCED CAPABILITY OF THE AIR BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER. ALSO IF THE AIR BAG INFLATOR RUPTURED, PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND IF NECESSARY, INSTALL A NEW DRIVER'S AIR BAG. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MARCH 11, 2003. 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, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.

02V222000AirbagsAugust 9, 2002 · 133,221 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

PIECES OF THE INFLATOR COULD STRIKE AND INJURE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS AND THE AIR BAG CUSHION WOULD NOT INFLATE FULLY, REDUCING THE CAPABILITY OF THE BAG TO PROTECT THE DRIVER.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT, AND REPLACE, IF NECESSARY, THE AIR BAG MODULE ASSEMBLY ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 15, 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, CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537, OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-762-2737.

What owners report

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · December 30, 2014 · crash

Common questions

How many airbags complaints does the 2003 Cadillac Deville have?

NHTSA has 26 complaints about the 2003 Cadillac Deville airbags — 13% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 2003 Cadillac Deville airbags?

Yes — 2 NHTSA recall campaigns for this model year are tied to the airbags: 02V222000, 03V051000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.