Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Cadillac Seville, and it carries 2 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 13% |
| Seat belts | 5 | 13% |
| Steering | 4 | 10% |
| Tires | 3 | 8% |
| Suspension | 3 | 8% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 3% |
| Air bags | 1 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
WHILE GOING 45 APPROACHING A RED LIGHT I CASUALLY HIT THE BRAKES. THE CAR DID NOT STOP. HITTING THE BRAKES TO THE FLOOR FOR A 2ND TIME, THE CAR DID NOT STOP. THUS, AFTER RUNNING THE RED LIGHT IN A NEAR DEATH EXPERIENCE A
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
ON 05/2014 I CAME TO A STOP SIGN THEN I MOVE ON TO GET ACROSS THE STREET WHEN MY CADILLAC SHUT DOWN ALL ELECTRICAL CONTROLS THE ENGINE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AS MY CAR LAYS DEAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET A VEHICLE GOI
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND OPERATED AS NORMAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OC
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS MY OLD 2000 GM CADILLAC STS STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS WAS NOT A MECHANICAL PROBLEM - IT WAS SOME SORT OF DEFECT. NOTE THAT IT WAS "REPAIRED" IN BETWEEN THE INCIDENTS, DO IT WA
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CADILLAC SEVILLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEH
NHTSA complaint: Engine
ON 04/15/2005 CAR WAS TAKEN IN TO DEALERSHIP FOR LEAKING TRUNK AND WATER IN TRUNK. GM HAD ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN 03-08-66-009, DATED JULY 30, 2003 FOR MODELS 1998-2003 CADILLAC SEVILLE TO REPLACE THE TRUNK SEAL WITH P
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CADILLAC DEVILLE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ABS, BRAKE AND TRANSMISSION CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME AND INSPECTED THE B
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
CAR WAS OVERHEATING KEPT SAYING CHECK COOLING LEVEL I WOULD CHECK AND HAD TO ADD COOLANT. TOOK TO MECHANIC FOUND MY RADIATOR CAP WAS WARPED. I REPLACED CAP BUT YET THE CAR CONTINUES TO HEAT UP. MAJOR OIL LEAKS FROM ENGIN
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 2000 Cadillac Seville. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE INTERNAL FLUID LEAKS IN THE BRAKE HYDRAULIC CONTROL UNIT.
Risk: WHEN THE REAR BRAKE PROPORTIONING, ANTILOCK BRAKE, TRACTION CONTROL, OR STABILITY CONTROL FEATURE IS ACTIVATED IN SOME DRIVING SITUATIONS, THE FEATURE MAY NOT PERFORM AS DESIGNED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE ABS HYDRAULIC MODULATOR UNIT AND IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC MODULATOR.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE INNER TIE ROD NUTS ARE LOOSE AND CAN RESULT IN SEPARATION OF A TIE ROD.
Risk: SEPARATION OF A TIE ROD CAN CAUSE UNEXPECTED STEERING INPUT INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL CHECK AND ADJUST THE VEHICLE TOE-IN AND TIGHTEN THE INNER TIE ROD NUTS TO THE SPECIFIED TORQUE.
| Reliability raw | 84 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | good |
| Maintenance | 64 | average |
| Depreciation | 52 | average |
| Performance | 63 | average |
| Efficiency | 34 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other midsize & large cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 40 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 5 of them (13%). There are 2 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.