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 reports

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2003

Vehicle Speed Control

PULLING TO A PARKING PLACE, SLOWLY, FOOT ON BRAKE, HALF WAY INTO THE PARKING SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE HITTING A CEMENT POLE. NO INJURIES. EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT. HAD TO EXIT THE PASSENGER SIDE CAR. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10010600

17,500 miles · Mar 11, 2003

Power Train

THE DIFFERENTIAL IN MY 03 CADILLAC CTS DEVELOPED A SERIOUS LEAK. THE DEFECT REQUIRED (3) TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR. THE LAST REPAIR, (APPEARS TO BE THE RIGHT ONE) WAS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DIFFERENTIAL. THIS TYPE OF DEFECT CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF DIFFERENTIAL FLUID RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THE UNIT AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. I HAVE …

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NHTSA ODI #10010289

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2003

Exterior Lighting

THERE WAS A SPOT IN THE HEADLIGHTS WHICH CAUSED LOW VISIBILITY AT NIGHT.*JB

NHTSA ODI #10006894

Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2003

Unknown Or OtherCrashFire

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I WISH TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A TV AD THAT CADILLAC IS CURRENTLY RUNNING FOR THEIR CTS MODEL, IT DEPICTS THE CAR DRIVING BLINDLY AT HIGH SPEED THROUGH THICK FOG. I BELIEVE THE AD IS CRIMINALLY IRRESPONSIBLE, GIVEN THE HIGH COST IN LIVES, INJURIES AND PROPERTY DAMAGE THAT OCCURS EVERY YEAR WHEN VEHICLES DRIVEN AT HIGH SPEED IN FOG COLLIDE WITH OTHER VEHICLES. I HAVE REQUESTED CADILLAC TO IMMEDATELY WITHDRAW THIS AD AND IN THE FUTURE MAKE SOME MINIMAL EFFORT TO APPEAL TO RESPONSIBLE DRIVING BEHAVIOR. WHAT ACTION CAN I EXPECT YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE? JOSEPH A. FINN

NHTSA ODI #10005574

Mileage unknown · Jan 27, 2003

Air BagsEquipmentService Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury

THE CONSUMER STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN HE PROCEEDED AND BEGAN TO SKID ON UNSEEN ICE AND HIT A UTILITY POLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT NONE OF THE SAFETY FEATURES WORKED, AND THEY ARE AS FOLLOWED: AIR BAGS, ABS BRAKES, TRACTION CONTROL, AND THE ADDITIONAL WINTER DRIVING MODE F…

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NHTSA ODI #10003812

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2003

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED,THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES VERY STIFF. CONSUMER FEELS ITS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ODI #10004288

Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 2003

Fuel System, Other

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2003 CADILLAC CTS. CAR FUEL GAUGE WENT TO EMPTY RESULTING IN CAR TO DIE. SPEEDOMETER AND TACTOMETER SPIKED THEN FUEL GAUGE WENT TO EMPTY. FUEL GAUGE WAS EITHER FULL OR HALF FULL EACH OF THE TIMES. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED 6 TIMES. TAKEN TO THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS WITH NONE BEING ABLE TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED, COMPUTER GAUGES RESET BUT WITH NO SOLUTION TO PROBLEM. SERIOUS ISSUE, AS 4 OF THE TIMES THE CAR DIED, THE CAR WAS ON FREEWAY. PROBLEM HAS OCCURED 3 TIMES SINCE STATED INCIDENT DATE

NHTSA ODI #10000764

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2003

Unknown Or Other

NAVIGATION SYSTEM ON 2003 CADILLAC CTS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. SOME MAJOR CITIES CAN NOT BE LOCATED, CAN'T SET SOME DESTINATIONS, MILEAGE FROM LOCATION TO DESTINATION IS INCORRECT PLUS OTHER PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #10000730

200 miles · Jan 2, 2003

Exterior Lighting

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HEAD LIGHT HAS A PURPLE LINE THROUGH HEAD LIGHT LENS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *TS

NHTSA ODI #10001814

Mileage unknown · Dec 31, 2002

Service Brakes, Air

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE SAMS CLUB PARKING LOT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE WAS ON. THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS INTO ANOTHER PARKED VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

NHTSA ODI #10001721

Official recalls

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.