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2004 Cadillac Cts

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Cts years

Owner complaints for the 2004 Cadillac Cts are substantially higher than the model-year median of 101.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

172 reports with mileage · 52 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

25 crash reports1 fire reports21 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

4 reports
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87,594 miles · Sep 22, 2015
Air BagsSeat Belts

SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT AND WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON WHEN CAR IS STARTED. TOOK TO GM CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. WAS ADVISED CODE B0058- RIGHT FRONT PRETENSIONER DEFECTIVE ON PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THIS PART IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM GM AND THEREFORE THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE REPAIR…

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SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT AND WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON WHEN CAR IS STARTED. TOOK TO GM CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. WAS ADVISED CODE B0058- RIGHT FRONT PRETENSIONER DEFECTIVE ON PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THIS PART IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM GM AND THEREFORE THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE REPAIRS. ALSO ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE DISABLED AND WILL NOT DEPLOY. WAS TOLD TO CONTACT GM CUSTOMER SERVICE. AFTER 3 WEEKS OF LENGTHY TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS, STILL NO HELP FROM GM. SEARCHED EVERY ONLINE WEBSITE AND THIS PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE WITH GM.

NHTSA ODI #10767487

69,500 miles · Aug 26, 2010
Seat Belts

THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT TWISTED ON THIS '04 CADDY CTS WITH 70K MILES. THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP TOLD US TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WANTED HRS OF LABOR GUESTIMATED AT $170 TO TAKE IT APART. ISN'T IT ESSENTIAL THAT A SAFETY FEATURE HOLDS UP. THE CAR IS MOSTLY DRIVEN BY A LIGHT WEIGHT WOMAN WHO IS VERY CAREFUL. I THOUGHT THE MA…

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THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT TWISTED ON THIS '04 CADDY CTS WITH 70K MILES. THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP TOLD US TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER WANTED HRS OF LABOR GUESTIMATED AT $170 TO TAKE IT APART. ISN'T IT ESSENTIAL THAT A SAFETY FEATURE HOLDS UP. THE CAR IS MOSTLY DRIVEN BY A LIGHT WEIGHT WOMAN WHO IS VERY CAREFUL. I THOUGHT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD WARRANTY THE SEATBELT DESIGN LONGER! THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THIS IS HAPPENED IN THE 20 CARS WE HAVE OWNED SINCE SEATBELTS WERE STANDARD. ARE THERE ANY OTHER SUCH COMPLAINTS?> THESE FRONT BELTS COME FROM THE TOP OF THE SEAT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10351912

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2005
Electrical SystemFuel System, OtherSeat Belts

SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE 2004 CADILLAC TO REPORT. #1 (MOST SIGNIFICANT) THE REAR SEAT CHILD SEAT LATCH MECHANISM DOES NOT WORK. I HAD THIS INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THEN ADMITTED THAT THE DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE AND WILL NOT PROPERLY LATCH AND HOLD THE BELT. ANY WIGGLING OF THE SEAT WILL LOOSEN THE BELT THROUGH THE LATCH. …

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SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE 2004 CADILLAC TO REPORT. #1 (MOST SIGNIFICANT) THE REAR SEAT CHILD SEAT LATCH MECHANISM DOES NOT WORK. I HAD THIS INSPECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND THEN ADMITTED THAT THE DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE AND WILL NOT PROPERLY LATCH AND HOLD THE BELT. ANY WIGGLING OF THE SEAT WILL LOOSEN THE BELT THROUGH THE LATCH. THE CADI DOES NOT HAVE A LOCK TYPE MECHANISM WHERE YOU PULL THE BELT ALL THE WAY OUT AND THEN IT WON'T GIVE. THEY CLAIM THE LATCH MECHANISM WILL HOLD. I DROVE AROUND FOR TWO WEEKS WITH A TWO YEAR OLD IN A FOUR INCH SLACKED CAR SEAT. #2 - REMAINING MILES DISPLAY IS DEFECTIVE. I RECENTLY RAN OUT OF GAS WHEN THE DISPLAY READ "41 MILES REMAINING". THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT ADMITTED THAT THIS IS THE SIXTH TIME THEY HAVE SEEN THIS AND THAT I SHOULD US THE GAUGE AND NOT THE DISPLAY. WHAT IS THE POINT OF THE DISPLAY? VERY DANGEROUS! I WAS STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD IN A SNOW STORM FOR OVER AN HOUR. #3 - BOSE CD PLAYER HAS ERRORED OVER 20 TIMES AND LOCKS UP WITH AN "INITIALIZING CD" ERROR. NOT COMMON TO ANY ONE CD. CD PLAYER WILL LOCK UP AND WILL BE UNUSABLE FOR FIVE MINUTES TO TWO DAYS. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10106339

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2004
Seat Belts

CONSUMER HAS CONCERN WITH THE SAFETY BELT. THE SAFETY BELT DOES NOT UTILIZE A RATCHETING STYLE SAFETY BELT HARNESS. THE CONSUMER HAD A PROFESSIONAL INSTALL HIS CHILD'S SAFETY SEAT BUT THE BELT WOULD ONLY HOLD TEMPORARILY. ANY WIGGLING OF THE SEAT CAUSED INCHES OF SLACK. *NM

NHTSA ODI #10094519

Official recalls

6

14V542000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Sep 9, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 Cadillac CTS-V vehicles manufactured October 6, 2003, to March 15, 2007, and 2006-2007 Cadillac STS-V vehicles manufactured June 23, 2005, to March 15, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the electrical terminals of the fuel pump module may overheat resulting in the melting of the flange material.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the flange melts, a hole may be created allowing the fuel pump to leak fuel, causing the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, leaking fuel in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel module and fuel tank jumper harness, free of charge. GM sent out interim notices in late October. The recall began on March 12, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14405.

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.

05V024000 · Air Bags

Jan 20, 2005

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, AN INTERACTION BETWEEN THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE AND VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG AND/OR ROOF-MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG TO DEPLOY WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED TO THE "ON" POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A PERSON POSITIONED FOR DRIVING MAY RECEIVE MINOR INJURIES, SUCH AS ABRASIONS, FROM CONTACT WITH A DEPLOYING AIR BAG.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 20, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.

04V273000 · Steering:linkages

Jun 9, 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL STUD NUT/WASHER ASSEMBLIES WITH WASHERS WERE MADE OF THE WRONG MATERIAL. THE WASHERS MAY FRACTURE AND BECOME LOOSE OR FALL AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE, REDUCING CLAMP LOAD. SEPARATION OF THE CONTROL ARM BALL STUD AND STEERING KNUCKLE, DUE TO DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TAPERED ATTACHMENT AND RETAINING NUT, IS POSSIBLE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE CONTROL ARM SEPARATES FROM THE KNUCKLE, THE AFFECTED CORNER OF THE VEHICLE WILL DROP AND THE CONTROL ARM WOULD BE FORCED DOWNWARD, CONTACTING THE WHEEL. THE AFFECTED WHEEL COULD TILT OUTWARD AND CREATE A DRAGGING ACTION THAT WOULD TEND TO SLOW THE VEHICLE AND CREATE A TENDENCY FOR THE VEHICLE TO TURN IN THE DIRECTION OF THE AFFECTED WHEEL. IN EXTREME SITUATIONS, THE AFFECTED WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WOULD ALSO SEVER THAT WHEEL;S HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE AND RESULT IN DIMINISHED BRAKING PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BALL STUD JOINTS AND MEASURE THE TORQUE OF THE NUT FOR ALL FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS IN ALL MODELS AFFECTED AS WELL AS THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON THE XLR AND CORVETTE. IF THE TORQUE IS NOT AT SPECIFICATION, THE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BALL STUD, THE KNUCKLE, AND THE NUT. IF THE TORQUE IS AT SPECIFICATION, THE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE NUT/WASHER ASSEMBLY ONLY. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON AUGUST 25, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 OR CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.

03V346000 · Seats

Sep 29, 2003

CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." ONE OR BOTH FRONT ANCHOR TABS FOR THE FRONT BUCKET SEATS ARE NOT ENGAGED IN THE FLOOR PAN REINFORCEMENT SLOTS. A SEAT WITH ONLY ONE TAB ENGAGED OR NEITHER ENGAGED WOULD NOT MEET THE STATIC REARWARD LOADING TEST REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN SOME CRASH CONDITIONS, THE SEAT COULD PIVOT REARWARD AND ITS OCCUPANT OR A REAR SEAT OCCUPANT COULD BE INJURED MORE SEVERELY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL ENSURE THAT BOTH FRONT ANCHOR TABS ARE FULLY SEATED IN THE FLOOR PAN REINFORCEMENT SLOTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT GM 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

2

EA07017 · Rear Drivetrain Component Failure

Opened Dec 7, 2007 · Closed Jul 16, 2008

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:driveline:differential Unit

IN JULY OF 2007 THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED PE07-037 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MAY FAIL CAUSING A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER, AND IN SOME INSTANCES A LOSS OF CONTROL, IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 THROUGH 2006 CADILLAC CTS, CTS-V, AND STS VEHICLES.AS A RESULT OF THAT INVESTIGATION GM ISSUED RECALL 07V-589 TO CORRECT A LEAKING PINION SEAL PROBLEM.EA07-017 WAS OPENED TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF FRACTURED REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSINGS OR REAR HALF SHAFTS IN HIGH PERFORMANCE CADILLAC CTS-V VEHICLES.ACCORDING TO GM, THESE FAILURES RESULTED FROM THE CUMULATIVE DAMAGE FROM MULTIPLE POWER HOP EVENTS THAT CAN OCCUR DURING VERY AGGRESSIVE DRIVING. IN FEBRUARY 2008 INVESTIGATORS FROM ODI MET WITH GM REPRESENTATIVES TO CONDUCT TESTING OF THE SUBJECT CTS-V VEHICLES.DURING THE TESTING THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE SUBJECTED TO CONSIDERABLE TORSIONAL FORCES FROM STANDING STARTS AND WHILE DRIVING.POWER HOP OCCURRED DURING SOME OF THE MOST AGGRESSIVE DRIVING MANEUVERS.THE TESTING DID NOT RESULT IN FAILURE OF ANY REAR DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS.THE ENGINEERING DESIGN AND TESTING DATA SUPPLIED TO ODI BY GM AND THE RESULTS OF THE TESTING CONDUCTED BY ODI TEND TO SUPPORT GM'S POSITION THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL DESIGN IS NOT DEFECTIVE. COMPLAINTS LISTED IN THE FAILURE REPORT DO NOT INCLUDE THOSE INDICATIVE OF FAILURE OF THE REAR PINION SEAL IN CTS-V VEHICLES COVERED BY RECALL 07V-589. FURTHER INVESTIGATION IN THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.SEE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT FOR FURTHER DETAILS.

PE07037 · Failure Of The Rear Differential

Opened Jul 17, 2007 · Closed Dec 27, 2007

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:driveline:differential Unit

ODI EVALUATED TWO DIFFERENT ALLEGED DEFECTS INVOLVING REAR DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS DURING THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL TO ADDRESS ONE OF THE DEFECT CONDITIONS AND ODI HAS OPENED AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO CONTINUE ITS INVESTIGATION OF THE OTHER ALLEGED DEFECT. ON DECEMBER 19, 2007, GM SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING DEFECTIVE REAR AXLE PINION SEALS IN APPROXIMATELY 275,936 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2005-07 CADILLAC CTS, STS AND SRX VEHICLES AS WELL AS MY 2006-07 PONTIAC SOLSTICE AND MY 2007 SATURN SKY VEHICLES (RECALL 07V-589).ON STS AND SRX VEHICLES WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE, THE FRONT AXLE PINION SEAL ALSO DOES NOT MEET ALL OF GM'S SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY EXPERIENCE A FLUID LEAK.GM INDICATED THAT THE SEAL SUPPLIER MADE AN UNAUTHORIZED CHANGE TO THE PINION SEAL MATERIAL.LEAKING PINION SEALS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL LUBRICATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN REAR WHEEL LOCK-UP AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. ON DECEMBER 7, 2007, ODI OPENED AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA07-017) TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF REAR DRIVETRAIN COMPONENT FAILURE (E.G., FRACTURED REAR DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER HOUSING OR REAR AXLE HALF SHAFTS) WHILE DRIVING IN APPROXIMATELY 7,600 MY 2004 THROUGH 2006 CADILLAC CTS-V VEHICLES.THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER AND VEHICLE DISABLEMENT AND IS NOT ADDRESSED BY RECALL 07V-589.ODI IDENTIFIED 35 COMPLAINTS (16 TO ODI AND 19 TO GM) AND 128 WARRANTY CLAIMS POTENTIALLY RELATED TO THIS CONDITION (SEE EA07-017 OPENING RESUME).THESE COMPLAINTS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY OF THIS CLOSING RESUME. THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY FIGURES GIVEN IN THIS RESUME ARE LIMITED TO THOSE THAT (A) ARE MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY A LEAKING REAR PINION SEAL; AND (B) RESULTED IN AN ALLEGATION OF A REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE WHILE DRIVING.THE DATA DO NOT INCLUDE ALL REPORTS OF SEAL LEAKAGE.