IllustrationDT*: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED; ALONG WITH THE 'SERVICE AIR BAG' MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE PROBLEM.
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
What owners actually said
313 reportsWE OWN A 2003 CTS CADILLAC WITH 40,000 MILES AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME REASON. THE CAR SHAKES AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. EG. 47, 59,65,69, AND 75 MILES PER HOUR. THE WHEEL ACTUALLY SHAKES IN MY HANDS. IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. CADILLAC STATED IT WAS CHARACTER…
Read full complaint
WE OWN A 2003 CTS CADILLAC WITH 40,000 MILES AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME REASON. THE CAR SHAKES AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. EG. 47, 59,65,69, AND 75 MILES PER HOUR. THE WHEEL ACTUALLY SHAKES IN MY HANDS. IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. CADILLAC STATED IT WAS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE 2003 CTS. MAYBE AN ESCORT BUT NOT A CADILLAC. THEY OFFERED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION TO 100,000 MILES. WHOOPIE. I NOW MUST DRIVE A CAR THAT I FEEL IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I REALLY BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION WILL TOTALLY FAIL AND SOON. IT GETS WORSE AND WORSE. THANKS FOR VIEWING THIS LETTER. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE OPENING THE TRUNK LID, THE HINGES THAT HOLD THE TRUNK LID OPEN FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE TRUNK LID WOULD NOT STAY OPEN. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED AND NEW HINGES WERE ORDERED.
MY BRAKES AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER ONLY 20,000 MILES. WITHIN 6 MONTHS MY BRAKE PADS AGAIN NEEDED REPLACEMENT. I NOW HAVE 34,000 MILES ON MY CAR. THIS NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. THESE BRAKES AND ROTORS SHOULD NOT WEAR OUT THIS FAST. *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. …
Read full complaint
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
DT: THE CONSUMER STATES THAT ON 2003 CADILLAC CTS IT IS VERY HARD TO GET THE CAR SEAT IN AND OUT OF THE CAR. THERE SHOULD BE SOME WAY THAT THE CAR SEAT COULD BE PUT IN EASIER. *AK
DT: VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN THE CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKES. THE TRANSMISSION JOLTS AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 6 TIMES SINCE JANUARY. THE DEALER TRIED SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVERY TIME SHE TOOK IT IN. MANUFACTURER SAID SHE COULD HAVE A NEW VEHICLE IF SHE PAID FOR IT. SHE WANTED TO GET RID OF THE VEHICL…
Read full complaint
DT: VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN THE CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKES. THE TRANSMISSION JOLTS AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 6 TIMES SINCE JANUARY. THE DEALER TRIED SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVERY TIME SHE TOOK IT IN. MANUFACTURER SAID SHE COULD HAVE A NEW VEHICLE IF SHE PAID FOR IT. SHE WANTED TO GET RID OF THE VEHICLE.*AK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB
2003 CADILLAC AND IN THE FIRST WEEK THE AIR COMPRESSOR BURNED OUT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO GET FIXED AND THEY SAID THEY FIXED BUT WHEN I WENT TO RUN THE AIR ALL IT WAS DOING WAS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS BLOWING OUT 55 DEGREE AIR. YES AT NIGHT THE AIR BLOWS OUT COOL AIR…
Read full complaint
2003 CADILLAC AND IN THE FIRST WEEK THE AIR COMPRESSOR BURNED OUT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER TO GET FIXED AND THEY SAID THEY FIXED BUT WHEN I WENT TO RUN THE AIR ALL IT WAS DOING WAS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR. TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS BLOWING OUT 55 DEGREE AIR. YES AT NIGHT THE AIR BLOWS OUT COOL AIR BUT WHEN I AM IN 100 DEGREE WEATHER THE AIR THAT IS BLOWN OUT IS HOT. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER A TOTAL OF 5 TIMES AND THEY TELL ME THE SAME THING. TO THIS DAY IT DON'T WORK UNTIL NIGHTTIME. SOME GOOD THAT DOES ME. *JB
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE GAS PEDAL BECAME STUCK WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO HIT A MAIL BOX. *AK *JB
DASHBOARD WENT OUT INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM KEPT COMING BACK. ON ONE OCCASION THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED FOR UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION. *AK DASHBOARD PROBLEMS AND VEHICLE HAS DIED 3 TIMES. ENCLOSED HERE WITH THE CUSTOMER CLAIM FORM FOR DETA…
Read full complaint
DASHBOARD WENT OUT INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM KEPT COMING BACK. ON ONE OCCASION THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED FOR UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION. *AK DASHBOARD PROBLEMS AND VEHICLE HAS DIED 3 TIMES. ENCLOSED HERE WITH THE CUSTOMER CLAIM FORM FOR DETAILS AND THE TOWED TRUCK REPORT AND SERVICE DOCUMENTS FROM CAR DEALER. *BF
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.