IllustrationWE HAVE WORK ON THIS TYPE OF CARS BEFORE AND IT SEEMS TO BE THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE TAIL LIGHTS. I BELIEVE THEY WERE MADE TO WEAK. *TR
2003 Cadillac Cts
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Cts years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Cadillac Cts are substantially higher than the model-year median of 101.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cts years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
400–25K
3025–50K
4750–75K
4275–100K
52100–150K
8150K+
219 reports with mileage · 94 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
29 crash reports12 fire reports17 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
37 reportsHEADLIGHT COVER ON CADILLAC CTS 2003 DEVELOPS CRACKING AND SPIDER WEBS, SUCH THAT VISIBILITY IS DIMINISHED. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ON ALL OLDER CTS VEHICLES IN THE PHOENIX AREA. IT MAY BE DUE TO THE SUN. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT APPEAR ON OTHER OLDER VEHICLE HEADLAMPS. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR DESPITE EXTENDED WARRANTY.…
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HEADLIGHT COVER ON CADILLAC CTS 2003 DEVELOPS CRACKING AND SPIDER WEBS, SUCH THAT VISIBILITY IS DIMINISHED. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ON ALL OLDER CTS VEHICLES IN THE PHOENIX AREA. IT MAY BE DUE TO THE SUN. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT APPEAR ON OTHER OLDER VEHICLE HEADLAMPS. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR DESPITE EXTENDED WARRANTY. REPAIR CAN ONLY BE DONE VIA REPLACEMENT ON THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WHICH COSTS IN EXCESS OF $1,300 PLUS LABOR BY A GM DEALER. *TR
LOW BEAMS ON THE HEADLIGHTS HAS A BLACK BAR IN MY LINE OF VISION. CREATES A "BLIND" SPOT AND MAKES NIGHT DRIVING ON THE COUNTRY ROADS NEAR MY HOME DANGEROUS. IT ALSO CREATES AN AREA OF DARKNESS THAT DOESN'T LIGHT UP STOP SIGNS OR INTERSECTIONS ALONG THESE ROADS . I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE CORRECTED!! I DR…
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LOW BEAMS ON THE HEADLIGHTS HAS A BLACK BAR IN MY LINE OF VISION. CREATES A "BLIND" SPOT AND MAKES NIGHT DRIVING ON THE COUNTRY ROADS NEAR MY HOME DANGEROUS. IT ALSO CREATES AN AREA OF DARKNESS THAT DOESN'T LIGHT UP STOP SIGNS OR INTERSECTIONS ALONG THESE ROADS . I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE CORRECTED!! I DRIVE ALONG THESE ROADWAYS WHILE IT IS DARK TWICE A DAY 4 TIMES A WEEK ON MY WAY TO AND FROM WORK. I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IF MY ENTIRE LINE OF VISION WAS LIT UP. THANKFULLY I HAVE THE USE OF THE HIGH BEAMS THAT DO NOT HAVE THIS DARK BAR. *TR
HEADLIGHTS PROJECT A BLACK BAR AT NIGHT ACROSS ROADWAY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AND OBSTRUCTS STREET SIGNS. TALKED TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. *NM
DT: 2003 CADILLAC CTS. SAFETY DEFECT INCLUDED THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS. A SHADOW IS PRESENT WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON LOW BEAM. CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM FOR 50% OF THE COST. WHILE GOING AROUND CURVES OR ON A HILL ONE CAN SEE A SHADOW. INCIDENT DATE WAS JULY 26, 2005. …
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DT: 2003 CADILLAC CTS. SAFETY DEFECT INCLUDED THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS. A SHADOW IS PRESENT WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON LOW BEAM. CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM FOR 50% OF THE COST. WHILE GOING AROUND CURVES OR ON A HILL ONE CAN SEE A SHADOW. INCIDENT DATE WAS JULY 26, 2005. NO CRASHES, NO POLICE REPORTS, NO INJURIES.*AK UPDATED 11/2/2005. *NM
THE CLEAR BACK LENS OF THE 2003 CTS IS FULL OF CONDENSATION AND WATER. TOOK IT TO THE CAR DEALER IN NEW ROCHELL . THEY DRILL PILOT HOLES TO ALLOW FOR THE WATER TO DRAIN, THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I STILL HAVE PLENTY OF CONDENSATION IN THE BACK CLEAR WHITE LENS IN THE BACK TRUNK. WHAT SHOULD I DO. *AK
DARK BAR OBSTRUCTING NIGHT LUMINATION. HAVE HAD THE LIGHTS ADJUSTED THREE TIMES. CADILLAC WILL NOT CORRECT. UNABLE TO DRIVE CAR SAFELY AT NIGHT. LIGHT SHINES AS FAR AS THE TOP OF TREES AND UNDERPASSES. ON COMING DRIVERS FLASH THEIR LIGHTS AS IF I HAVE MY HIGH BEAMS ON. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. *AK THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, ROUGH JERKS AT SHIFTS, VIBRATION AT MID TO HIGH SPEEDS, LOUD NOISE FROM BACK TIRES WHEN RIDING OVER BUMPS, BURNING SMELL FROM UNDER THE HOOD ALONG WITH SMOKING, WATER IN THE TAIL LIGHT, BLA…
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WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. *AK THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, ROUGH JERKS AT SHIFTS, VIBRATION AT MID TO HIGH SPEEDS, LOUD NOISE FROM BACK TIRES WHEN RIDING OVER BUMPS, BURNING SMELL FROM UNDER THE HOOD ALONG WITH SMOKING, WATER IN THE TAIL LIGHT, BLACK EXHAUST DUST/DIRT IN THE TAIL PIPE, THE ENGINE WOULD SHAKE. THE JERKING WAS AS IF THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WHILE IN DRIVE. *SC *JB
HID HEADLIGHTS S.U.C.K., IN ALMOST ALL INSTANCES WHERE I HAVE HAD THE MISFORUNE OF HAVING A VEHICLE SO EQUIPED COMING AT ME I HAVE HAD TO SHIELD MY EYES BECAUSE OF THE GLARE AND EYE STRAIN. KNOWING THAT DOT AND ASSOCIATED AGENCIES SEEM TO HAVE A REGULATION FOR EVERYTHING AUTOMOTIVE. I THOUGHT MAYBE A USEFUL REGULATION COULD BE E…
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HID HEADLIGHTS S.U.C.K., IN ALMOST ALL INSTANCES WHERE I HAVE HAD THE MISFORUNE OF HAVING A VEHICLE SO EQUIPED COMING AT ME I HAVE HAD TO SHIELD MY EYES BECAUSE OF THE GLARE AND EYE STRAIN. KNOWING THAT DOT AND ASSOCIATED AGENCIES SEEM TO HAVE A REGULATION FOR EVERYTHING AUTOMOTIVE. I THOUGHT MAYBE A USEFUL REGULATION COULD BE ENACTED REGARDING THESE SAFETY HAZARDS THAT THE "BIG 3" ARE TRYING TO PASS OFF AS HEADLIGHTS. I AM NOW LIVING IN EUROPE AND HERE HEADLIGHTS DON'T GLARE DRIVERS LIKE US SPEC LIGHTS DO. WHY DOES THE REST OF THE WORLD HAVE REAL HEADLIGHS AND IN THE US WE HAVE TO HAVE THESE POORLY AIMED "FLOOD LIGHTS". CURRENT US HEADLIGHTS ARE IN SERIOUS NEED OF A NEW STANDARD THAT MATCHES THE REST OF THE WORLD. THAT WAY I, AND THE REST OF THE MOTORING PUBLIC, WON'T HAVE TO DRIVE WITH SUNGLASSES ON AT NIGHT.*AK
WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE ON LOW BEAM THEY PRODUCED A DARK SPOT. AS A RESULT, VISION IS IMPAIRED. *AK *SC
Official recalls
414V394000 · Electrical System:ignition
Jul 2, 2014
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) notified the agency on July 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured August 16, 2001, to April 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured March 20, 2003, to August 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
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 15, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14172.
10V105000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Mar 17, 2010
GENERAL MOTORS HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003-2007 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE FRONT BRAKE HOSE FITTING AT THE CALIPER MAY CORRODE DUE TO SNOW OR WATER, CONTAINING ROAD SALT OR OTHER CONTAMINANTS, ENTERING AND BEING RETAINED IN THE ROUTING SLEEVE. IF THE FITTING CORRODES SIGNIFICANTLY, THE BRAKE HOSE-TUBE INTERFACE MAY DEVELOP A LEAK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BRAKE HOSE-TUBE INTERFACE MAY RUPTURE SUDDENLY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AND INCREASE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE MAY OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
03V250000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual
Jul 15, 2003
CERTAIN MINIVANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER UNIVERSAL ANCHORAGE SYSTEM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL. THIS SUPPLEMENT DESCRIBES AND SHOWS THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORS THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE VEHICLE AND ON THE CHILD RESTRAINT OR BOOSTER CUSHION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 18, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.
03V115000 · Steering
Mar 24, 2003
SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLT MAY BE LOOSE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: AN IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED BOLT COULD LOOSEN, RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE UPPER AND LOWER STEERING SHAFTS CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, A CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLT AND ENSURE THAT IT IS TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 20, 2003. 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 CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.