YearToAvoid

2005 Cadillac Deville Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

No verdict

Complaint Index

—/100

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2005 Cadillac Deville has 95 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. The most reported problem area is electrical system (37 complaints, 39% of the total). Complaints report 10 crashes, 1 fire, and 12 injuries.

Complaints
95
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
10 / 1
Injuries / deaths
12 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18.5
15.5 city / 23 hwy

Top 2005 Cadillac Deville problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Electrical System37 (39%)
  2. Steering29 (31%)
  3. Airbags18 (19%)
  4. Engine14 (15%)
  5. Brakes10 (11%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (6%)
  7. Structure & Body5 (5%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain4 (4%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers4 (4%)
  10. Fuel System2 (2%)
2005 Cadillac Deville complaints: complaints filed per quarter332005 Q42008 Q12010 Q22012 Q12013 Q42015 Q12016 Q32019 Q1
129 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2005 Q4 to 2019 Q1; peak 2014 Q4 (33).

2005 Cadillac Deville recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 14V355000Jun 23, 2014Electrical System3,141,731 vehicles

    Electrical system:ignition

    This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2005-2009 Buick LaCrosse, 2006-2011 Buick Lucerne, 2000-2005 Cadillac DeVille, 2006-2011 Cadillac DTS, 2006-2014 Chevrolet Impala, and 2006-2007 Chevrolet Monte Carlo vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

    Risk: 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. Additionally, a key knocked out of the run position will cause loss of engine power, power steering, and power braking, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 23, 2014. Owners may contact General Motors customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), and 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet). GM's number for this recall is 14299.

2005 Cadillac Deville fuel economy and fuel cost

City
15.5 MPG
Highway
23 MPG
Combined
18.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,500
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2005 compared with other Deville years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002005
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005No verdict—95118.5

All Cadillac Deville years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Cadillac Deville a reliable year?
NHTSA has 95 owner complaints and 1 recalls on file for the 2005 Cadillac Deville. There are not enough model years to rank it against other years.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Cadillac Deville?
The most reported problem areas are electrical system (37 complaints), steering (29 complaints), and airbags (18 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 75,500 miles.
Does the 2005 Cadillac Deville have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2005 Cadillac Deville, most recently reported 2014, covering electrical system.
What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Cadillac Deville?
EPA rates the 2005 Cadillac Deville at 18.5 MPG combined (15.5 city / 23 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,500. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.