Is the 2004 Cadillac Deville a bad year?
167 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Deville years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2004 Cadillac Deville are in line with other Deville years.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2004 Deville owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 72,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 47 (28%) | 42k–88k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Steering | 36 (22%) | 49k–80k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Air bags | 25 (15%) | 41k–115k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 20 (12%) | 50k–116k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Brakes | 7 (4%) | 24k–117k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 6 (4%) | 57k–94k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Visibility and wipers | 31 (19%) | 42k–71k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 72,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 167 complaints: 13 mention a crash · 4 mention a fire · 12 report an injury.
1 complaint was filed in the last 12 months, the newest in May 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2004 Cadillac Deville: 1
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Cadillac: 131
Repair instructions Cadillac sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2004 Cadillac Deville. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
Neighbouring years
2003 Deville: 145 complaints, keep it · 2005 Deville: 95 complaints, keep it.
Every Cadillac Deville year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · All Deville years side by side
Other Cadillac models: Cadillac ATS · Cadillac CTS · Cadillac DTS · Cadillac Escalade · Cadillac Escalade ESV · Cadillac Lyriq · Cadillac SRX · Cadillac STS · Cadillac Seville · Cadillac XT5 · Cadillac XTS. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2004 Cadillac Deville a bad year?
167 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Deville years. At 72,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Cadillac Deville?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: electrical system (47), steering (36), air bags (25), engine (20), brakes (7).
How many recalls does the 2004 Cadillac Deville have?
1 recall campaign list this model year: Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-355). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.