The Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph spans 1999–2002 with 5 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.5/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 1999, 2002, 2001 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 2000, 2001, 2002. It delivers up to 13 mpg combined and NHTSA-rated safety.
Is the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph a good car?
Short answer: yes — this one scores near the top of what we track. Our score for the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph is 4.5 out of 5, built from NHTSA crash-test results, how often it gets recalled and what owners actually complain about — not from reviews.
The complaint that comes up most is the hydraulic — 1 of the 2 reports owners filed with NHTSA. If you're choosing a year, 2000, 2001, 2002 score best in our data, and 1999, 2002 worst.
This page describes the model. It can't tell you whether that car has an open recall, a rolled-back odometer or a branded title — for that, run its number through our free VIN check.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 1999 to 2002 across multiple generations.
How to read a Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph VIN — every digit explained
Every Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. Tells you it's a Rolls-Royce and the country it was built in.
- VDS (4–8) — model, body style, engine, trim & restraints. The 8th digit is the engine code.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built (e.g. R = 2024, S = 2025).
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this Silver Seraph.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
Digits 4–17 — the engine code (8th), model-year letter (10th) and plant — follow the universal SAE standard, identical on every car. Our VIN lookup reads every position for you — engine code, model year, assembly plant and country of build.
How many recalls does the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph have?
The Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph has 5 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1999–2002. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2002 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph recalls 1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
What's wrong. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND LIMOUSINES, THE LOW PRESSURE BRAKE FLUID FEED PIPE BETWEEN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND REMOTE RESERVOIR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO TRAP OR RETAIN AIR.
Risk. THIS AIR COULD ENTER THE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSING EXCESSIVE PEDAL TRAVEL AND PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE PRIMARY CIRCUIT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH HOSES AND BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 19, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT ROLLS-ROYCE AT 1-800-777-6923.
2001 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph recalls 1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
What's wrong. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND LIMOUSINES, THE LOW PRESSURE BRAKE FLUID FEED PIPE BETWEEN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND REMOTE RESERVOIR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO TRAP OR RETAIN AIR.
Risk. THIS AIR COULD ENTER THE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSING EXCESSIVE PEDAL TRAVEL AND PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE PRIMARY CIRCUIT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH HOSES AND BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 19, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT ROLLS-ROYCE AT 1-800-777-6923.
2000 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph recalls 1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
What's wrong. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND LIMOUSINES, THE LOW PRESSURE BRAKE FLUID FEED PIPE BETWEEN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND REMOTE RESERVOIR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO TRAP OR RETAIN AIR.
Risk. THIS AIR COULD ENTER THE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSING EXCESSIVE PEDAL TRAVEL AND PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE PRIMARY CIRCUIT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH HOSES AND BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 19, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT ROLLS-ROYCE AT 1-800-777-6923.
1999 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph recalls 2
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
What's wrong. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND LIMOUSINES, THE LOW PRESSURE BRAKE FLUID FEED PIPE BETWEEN THE MASTER CYLINDER AND REMOTE RESERVOIR HAS THE POTENTIAL TO TRAP OR RETAIN AIR.
Risk. THIS AIR COULD ENTER THE MASTER CYLINDER CAUSING EXCESSIVE PEDAL TRAVEL AND PARTIAL FAILURE OF THE PRIMARY CIRCUIT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix. DEALERS WILL REPLACE BOTH HOSES AND BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 19, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT ROLLS-ROYCE AT 1-800-777-6923.
Seats:front Assembly:seat Heater/cooler
What's wrong. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE THERMOSTAT REGULATING THE TEMPERATURE OF THE HEATED SEATS WAS INCORRECTLY POSITIONED DURING ASSEMBLY. THIS INCORRECT POSITIONING CREATES THE POTENTIAL THAT THE SURFACE OF THE HEATED SEAT CAN REACH AN UNACCEPTABLY HIGH TEMPERATURE.
Risk. IN EXTREME CASES, THIS COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO ANY OBJECT IN CONTACT WITH THE SEAT CUSHION.
Fix. DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN ADDITIONAL TEMPERATURE CONTROL WITH EACH SEAT EQUIPPED WITH HEATING ELEMENTS.
Best and worst years for the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 4 tracked years, the worst years are 1999, 2002, 2001 and the best (fewest complaints) are 2000, 2001, 2002.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 Silver Seraph | Suspension | Avoid | |
| 2000 Silver Seraph | — | Best | |
| 2001 Silver Seraph | — | Avoid | |
| 2002 Silver Seraph | — | Avoid |
What are the most common Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph problems?
The most-reported Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph problems are Hydraulic (1 reports), Suspension (1 reports) and Service Brakes (1 reports) — out of 2 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph specifications & dimensions
The 1999–2002 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph measures 212″ long on a 123″ wheelbase, with a curb weight near 5,060 lb. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN. For the original factory build — MSRP, trim and standard equipment — rebuild the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph window sticker.
| Years | Length | Width | Height | Wheelbase | Curb weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999–2002 | 212″ | 76″ | 59″ | 123″ | 5,060 lb |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the Silver Seraph holds — passengers and cargo. EPA measures its interior at 106 cu ft of passenger volume and 12 cu ft of cargo. Seating capacity and legroom vary by trim.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim — the original factory equipment & options list shows what each trim included.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph get?
The Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph returns up to 13 combined MPG (EPA), which works out to roughly $5,950/yr in fuel. Pick an engine to see MPG, annual running cost and CO₂ by year:
The 2002 Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph (5.4L 12-cyl) gets 13 mpg combined and costs about $5,950/yr to fuel, emitting 684 g/mi CO₂ — about $18,750 more than the average new vehicle over 5 years.
| Year | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel/yr | CO₂ g/mi | Smog | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Silver Seraph | 11 | 15 | $5,950 | 684 | — | 5.4L 12-cyl | |
| 2001 Silver Seraph | 11 | 15 | $5,950 | 684 | — | 5.4L 12-cyl | |
| 2000 Silver Seraph | 10 | 15 | $6,400 | 741 | — | 6.7L 8-cyl | |
| 1999 Silver Seraph | 11 | 15 | $5,950 | 684 | — | 5.4L 12-cyl |
Source: EPA fuel-economy database (ForCar-hosted, 1986–2027) — best combined rating per engine & year, with EPA annual fuel cost and tailpipe CO₂. Trim & drivetrain vary slightly; decode your VIN for the exact figure.
See how the Silver Seraph stacks up against the most fuel-efficient sedans, or calculate this Silver Seraph's real yearly fuel cost.
What engines does the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph have? Power & range
The Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph is offered with 1 powertrain — 5.4L 12-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V8 | 5.4L · 12-cyl | Automatic 5-spd | RWD | Premium |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
How much does a Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph cost to own?
A Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph depreciates at about an average rate. A typical example keeps roughly 46% of its value after five years — losing about 54% to depreciation. Check what a used Silver Seraph is worth today or browse current used-market prices before you buy or sell. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 80% | $24,000 | −$6,000 |
| Year 2 | 70% | $21,000 | −$9,000 |
| Year 3 | 61% | $18,300 | −$11,700 |
| Year 4 | 53% | $15,900 | −$14,100 |
| Year 5 | 46% | $13,800 | −$16,200 |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this Silver Seraph loses about 54% of its value over five years. See the full depreciation curve by age.
- Fuel — ≈ $29,750 over five years at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the Silver Seraph ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the Silver Seraph yet — see the top-rated safest cars instead.
Compare model years like a dealer does.
- Full research report on any model year
- Market chart: how this model holds value
- Exact values with mileage adjustment
- Price-drop alerts on the trims you're watching
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
How many miles does a Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph last?
A well-maintained Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.5/5.
Check your Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph’s VIN — history, recalls & specs
Title records, open recalls, build details and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Check this Silver Seraph’s VIN free →All Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 Silver Seraph | 1 recall | — | |
| 2001 Silver Seraph | 1 recall | — | |
| 2000 Silver Seraph | 1 recall | — | |
| 1999 Silver Seraph | 2 recalls | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the Silver Seraph?
By owner-complaint volume, 1999, 2002, 2001 drew the most reports. 2000, 2001, 2002 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the Silver Seraph have?
5 recorded NHTSA recalls across 1999–2002. Always check open recalls by your VIN. See all Rolls-Royce recalls and reliability across every model.
What MPG does the Silver Seraph get?
Up to 13 combined MPG (EPA), depending on engine — from the base 4-cylinder to the hybrid.
How many miles does a Silver Seraph last?
A well-maintained Silver Seraph typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the Silver Seraph reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the Silver Seraph is 4.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph warranty?
New Rolls-Royce models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Rolls-Royce dealer.
Where is the Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your Silver Seraph's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Rolls-Royce may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much does a Silver Seraph weigh?
The Silver Seraph's curb weight is around 5,060 lb. Its GVWR — the maximum loaded weight — decodes from the VIN.
How much ground clearance does the Silver Seraph have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.