← New search

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 →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Tires complaints

8 reports
Clear category filter
23,000 miles · Oct 25, 2004
Tires

VEHICLE COMMENCED TO FISH TAIL WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10097599

21,000 miles · Aug 19, 2004
Tires

GOODYEAR EAGLE 225/55R16 DOT#M6T4LNDR1203 THE CONSUMER HAD THE TIRES ROTATED ON HIS VEHICLE EVERY 4 MONTHS. THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WERE BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS ONLY 23,000MI ON THE TIRES. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS PUT A HOLD ON THE PRODUCTION OF …

Read full complaint

GOODYEAR EAGLE 225/55R16 DOT#M6T4LNDR1203 THE CONSUMER HAD THE TIRES ROTATED ON HIS VEHICLE EVERY 4 MONTHS. THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIRES WERE BAD AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS ONLY 23,000MI ON THE TIRES. THE CONSUMER WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS PUT A HOLD ON THE PRODUCTION OF THESE TIRES. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10089311

Mileage unknown · May 31, 2004
Tires

TIRES ARE CUPPING AT 15,000 MILES. IT'S CAUSING VIBRATION AND NOISE. I ROTATED THEM AT 10,000. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10074529

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2004
Tires

TIRES NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT 30,000 MILES DUE TO WEAR AND POOR CONDITION. THE TIRES CAME WITH THE NEW VEHICLE. I HAD PREVIOUS;LY REQUESTED THE DEALER AT ABOUT 24,000 MILES TO CHECK THE TIRES BECAUSE OF STEERING VIBRATION AND ABERRENT SOUNDS FROM THE WHEELS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10060159

Mileage unknown · Oct 1, 2003
Tires

PROBLEMS WITH PSI FOR VEHICLE TIRE EQUIPMENT.*MR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE OUTDOOR STICKER ON THE VEHICLE STATED FOR 17 INCH TIRES, THEY SHOULD BE INFLATED TO 30 PSI, HOWEVER THE GM SHOP MANUAL STATED THE TIRES SHOULD BE INFLATED TO 35 PSI. GM INFORMED THE CONSUMER TO CHECK WITH HIS LOCAL DEALER TO FIND OUT THE CORRECT TIRE PR…

Read full complaint

PROBLEMS WITH PSI FOR VEHICLE TIRE EQUIPMENT.*MR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE OUTDOOR STICKER ON THE VEHICLE STATED FOR 17 INCH TIRES, THEY SHOULD BE INFLATED TO 30 PSI, HOWEVER THE GM SHOP MANUAL STATED THE TIRES SHOULD BE INFLATED TO 35 PSI. GM INFORMED THE CONSUMER TO CHECK WITH HIS LOCAL DEALER TO FIND OUT THE CORRECT TIRE PRESSURE. *JB *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10042640

1,200 miles · Aug 6, 2003
Tires

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 40 MPH, THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE TIRE, THERE WAS NO HOLE OR DAMAGE TO THE TREAD AREA BUT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE OUTER SIDE WALL. IT DID NOT APPEAR THAT THE SIDE WALL HIT ANYTHING. THE CONSUMER DID NOT REMEMBER HITTING ANYTHING. THE CONSUMER DID NOT LOS…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 40 MPH, THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. UPON INSPECTION OF THE TIRE, THERE WAS NO HOLE OR DAMAGE TO THE TREAD AREA BUT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE OUTER SIDE WALL. IT DID NOT APPEAR THAT THE SIDE WALL HIT ANYTHING. THE CONSUMER DID NOT REMEMBER HITTING ANYTHING. THE CONSUMER DID NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED STABLE. THE ONLY INDICATION THE TIRE BLEW OUT WAS A VIBRATION. *AK *CB *JB

NHTSA ODI #10028748

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 2003
Tires

OWNER FELT VIBRATION THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL, AND TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP. TO HIS SURPRISE, CADILLAC WAS REPLACING ALL FOUR OF THE TIRES DUE TO SIDEWALLS COMING APART ON THE INSIDE. THEY WERE A LITTLE VAGUE WITH THEIR RESPONSE, SO THE OWNER HAS CONCERNS REGARDING THIS ISSUE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10031469

17,481 miles · Jul 3, 2003
Tires

THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE HAD A HUGE BULGE IN THE SIDEWALL. ORIGINAL TIRES WITH 17,481 MILES ON THEM (GOODYEAR, EAGLE P225/55R16, DOT # M6T4LNDR1502). *AK *CB *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10022584

Official recalls

4

14V394000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.