2001 Cadillac Seville Problems

What owners report

Owners of this 2001 Cadillac Seville most often describe vibration or shaking at highway speeds, and many say tire, rotor, and suspension work did not end it. Engine stalling or hard starting, and steering problems such as lost power assist or popping noises when turning, appear in fewer complaints. Reported mileage runs from very low to about 145,000 miles, and complaints for this model year are described as rising.

1. 1
   Suspension

   Vibration or shaking at highway speeds

   • 9 complaints (17%)
   • median 9,000 mi at 3.3 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2008

   Owners describe the whole car, the steering, or the front end vibrating or shaking at highway speeds, and some report it on smooth roads too. Repairs often included new tires, rotors, tie rods, ball joints, control arms, and alignments, but the complaints often say the shaking continued. In some cases the dealer reportedly could not duplicate the vibration, and some owners say the dealer considered the shaking normal. Reported mileage ranges from about 10 to 63,000 miles, and some reports describe it at highway speed or on smooth roads.

   What to check: Ask for repair records showing whether tie rods, ball joints, control arms, and alignment were checked, and whether the vibration was reproduced during diagnosis. In these complaints, tire and rotor replacements often did not end the shaking, so a highway test drive is useful.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought a Cadillac Seville from a used car dealer, it vibrate when I drive it. The whole car vibrates while driving it on a smooth road. The car dealer replace the tires, tie-rode, lower ball joints, and steering arm or something to that effect and done an alignment on all the wheels. It still is vibrating to this day. They say they can 't duplicate the vibration, and don't want to ride with me to show me what they are considering normal and I can show them what I am feel as abnormal. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10169700, filed 2006-10, 63,000 miles

   “Car was shaking while driving. They changed 9 tires to find the right match. Still shaking at while driving. I was never notified of the problem. Can u help me*ak (tiresize: dk)( DOT number: tire size: dk )”

   NHTSA complaint #742944, filed 2001-03
2. 2
   Engine cooling

   Engine stalling or hard starting

   • 17 complaints (32%)
   • median 46,020 mi at 7.6 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2002–2023

   Owners describe the engine stalling or shutting off while driving, including at highway speed on the interstate. Some complaints link the stalls to the crankshaft position sensor, and in some cases the dealer replaced that sensor. Other complaints describe a car that takes multiple turns of the key, sometimes up to two minutes, to start, and an owner reports the fuel pressure did not build until a relay in the rear fuse box was removed. Reported mileage ranges from about 20,000 to 145,000 miles, and some reports describe stalling at highway speed.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether crankshaft position sensor or other engine codes were recorded during past repairs, and whether the service bulletin for intake valve decarbonizing, which lists extended crank and no-start conditions, was carried out. A test start can show whether the engine starts promptly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Fuel/ign starting problems ________________________________________ I have a 2001 Cadillac Seville sls that has been having intermittent starting problems. Presently the vehicle will not build-up fuel pressure in order to start to 41-47 PSI unless I remove the rear fuse/relay box ign 1 micro relay. With this relay removed, I can hear the fuel pump build-up the required PSI and then I confirm the build-up of that PSI by looking at my test fuel PSI gauge under the hood, the car then starts no problem, and runs no problem with relay not installed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10324301, filed 2010-04, 145,000 miles

   “1. No warning before failure. Engine crank sensors fail without warning. 2. Engine stops, car decelerates, no ps, hard to control, near accident from lack of control or being hit from behind. 3. Cadillac northstar 2000-2001 Seville crank sensor (2 per engine) replaced repeatedly.”

   NHTSA complaint #10131101, filed 2005-08, 46,000 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Power steering assist fades or steering is lost

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • median 41,500 mi at 5.3 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2005–2008

   Owners describe power steering becoming hard or inoperable at low speed, and in some reports the assist failed alongside unusual noises. Some complaints describe a loud pop followed by total loss of steering control, and others describe the engine stopping, which left the car without power steering. According to complaints, the source of a steering lock-up was not determined, and an owner reports a near collision after the engine died. Reported mileage ranges from about 26,000 to 46,000 miles, and some reports describe it at low speed.

   What to check: Ask whether any engine or steering codes were recorded during past repairs, and whether the steering system was inspected after a loss of assist. On a test drive, check whether the steering feels heavy at low speed or makes popping noises when turning.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The power steering becomes inoperable at low speeds, causing significant risks in proper maneuvering. The safety of pedestrians is of particular concern, as one incident recently demonstrated, when I could not turn the wheel fast enough. I had to jerk the car to a stop, nearly scaring the life out of a middle aged woman. The car is virtually impossible to parallel park.”

   NHTSA complaint #10169029, filed 2006-09, 32,001 miles

   “The steering in the vehicle became more difficult with unusual noises. As the power assist started to fail. The steering started to make loud popping noises when turning right or left. The mechanic replaced most of the under carriage steering assembly and greased the steering shaft connected to the steering wheel.”

   NHTSA complaint #10111689, filed 2005-01, 26,000 miles
4. 4
   Steering

   Popping or clicking from the steering when turning

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • median 37,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2010

   Owners describe popping, clicking, or rubbing sounds from the steering when turning right or left. Some complaints say the dealer or a mechanic replaced steering parts, and the noise reportedly continued afterward in some cases, while others say the dealer could not tell where the noise came from. Another complaint says the manufacturer acknowledged that other owners had reported the same problem with no solution yet. Where mileage is listed, it ranges from about 26,000 to 37,000 miles, and some reports describe the noise on right turns.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the noise was recorded on video or a sound clip during diagnosis, since a bulletin for hard-to-pinpoint noises recommends that step. On a test drive, turn both ways at low speed and listen for popping or clicking from the steering column.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I traded my 97 lincoln town car for a 01 Cadillac Seville with the north star motor,upon leaving the car lot,I noticed the stereo was real static when I hit the slightest bump in the road..I then turned around and took it right back..it was the bose amp..(found out 3 weeks later)(dealer paid for repair,)the very next day ..I heard a clicking while turning right,,took back to the dealer ..it wouldn't do it then,,I was told to put power steering fluid in it..drove it to ky that weekend(I live in ga) noticed a humming noise in the left front …”

   NHTSA complaint #10367203, filed 2010-11

   “While making a right turn consumer noticed a loud popping noise, and then lost total steering control. Vehicle continued on, and hit a curb before stopping. Dealer and the manufacturer were notified. The cause of the steering lock up was not determined.”

   NHTSA complaint #10113158, filed 2005-02, 37,000 miles

Buying note. Buyers considering this model year may want to ask whether highway vibration was diagnosed beyond tire and rotor work, and whether the stalling and power steering complaints were checked. A test drive at highway speed, plus a few turns at low speed, can show whether these symptoms are present.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 43 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.