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Cadillac SevilleModel year report

2003 Cadillac Seville Problems

Complaints
16filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
48,288miles, 12 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
19 mpgcombined, 4.6L 8-cyl FWD · 16 city / 25 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Cadillac Seville (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 2003 Cadillac Seville. The part named most often is body and structure, with 3 complaints (19% of the total), followed by engine cooling (2) and exterior lighting (2). 12 of the complaints include a mileage, and 58% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 48,288 miles. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 374 technical service bulletins for this model year. Body and structure complaints overlap with 14 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 45 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Body and structure: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #11083751, filed 2018-04, 145,000 miles

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.”

NHTSA complaint #10071596, filed 2004-04, 4,000 miles

Exterior lighting: “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. Updated 01/05/09.”

NHTSA complaint #10250607, filed 2008-12, 50,000 miles

Other or unknown: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10852572, filed 2016-03, 112,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

58% of the 12 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 19,000 and 60,000 miles.

25%0–1017%10–2517%25–5017%50–758%75–10017%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (12 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 48,288 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

2004200632008201220162021
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2003 Cadillac Seville version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Seville FWD4.6L 8-cyl4-speed automatic162519$3,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2003 Cadillac Seville → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 374 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 374 bulletins →

Other model years of the Cadillac Seville

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2004931,5000—19—Not enough data
20031648,2881—19—Falling
20024589,0002—19Not compared (before 2008)Falling
20015351,0101—18Not compared (before 2008)Rising
20003850,0002—19Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19997351,8021—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
19986579,5002—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19979591,2042—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199612294,0002—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199574103,0002—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199450101,1902—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199342118,0002—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19922763,0001—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199121—0—18—Stable
19901945,0002—17—Stable
19895156,0001—18—Not enough data
198811—0—17—Not enough data
198711—1—18—Not enough data
198611—2—18—Not enough data
19856—1—17—Not enough data

All Cadillac Seville model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Cadillac Seville have?

NHTSA recorded 16 consumer complaints for the 2003 Cadillac Seville as of Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2003 Cadillac Seville is reported most often?

Body and structure is named most often, in 3 complaints (19% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 2.

Has the 2003 Cadillac Seville been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2003 Cadillac Seville get?

The EPA rates the 2003 Cadillac Seville (Seville, 4.6L 8-cyl) at 19 mpg combined, 16 city and 25 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,550 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Cadillac Seville reported?

Among the 12 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 48,288 miles and the middle half falls between 19,000 and 60,000 miles; 58% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.