Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
10–25K
525–50K
750–75K
575–100K
4100–150K
0150K+
22 reports with mileage · 9 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.
Structure. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
31 reports
100,000 miles · Jun 13, 2018
Structure
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC XLR. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ROOF PANEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER (FIELDS CADILLAC JACKSONVILLE, 7999 BLANDING BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32244) INFORMED THE CONTACT TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CASE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC XLR. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE ROOF PANEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER (FIELDS CADILLAC JACKSONVILLE, 7999 BLANDING BLVD, JACKSONVILLE, FL 32244) INFORMED THE CONTACT TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING AND REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND CASE NUMBER: 8-42070007824 WAS OPENED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
NHTSA ODI #11101657
75,000 miles · Feb 23, 2018
Structure
ROOF PANEL IS SEPARATING FROM TOP, FAILURE OF THE GLUE USED TO HOLD THE TOP PANEL ON PANEL MAY FLY OFF AT ANY SPEED
NHTSA ODI #11074433
Mileage unknown · Oct 31, 2017
Air Bags
TAKATA RECALL. MYSELF, MY FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND ASSOCIATES HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO THE TAKATA INFLATOR WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS PHYSICAL INJURY OR DEATH. IT IS A TICKING TIME BOMB AS I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE AND GM WILL NOT REPLACE IT.
NHTSA ODI #11041591
79,000 miles · Aug 1, 2017
Structure
XLR ROOF FLEW OFF - VERY DANGEROUS SINCE THE ROOF COULD KILL SOMEONE
NHTSA ODI #11012176
78,000 miles · Aug 1, 2017
Structure
ROOF FLYING OFF WHILE DRIVING
NHTSA ODI #11012166
75,000 miles · Apr 28, 2017
Fuel/propulsion System
FUEL GAUGE IS PROBLEMATIC, FUEL GAUGE REPORTS 3/4 WHEN FULL AND NEEDLE POINTS HALFWAY BETWEEN 1/4 AND 1/2 WHEN EMPTY. THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR LIGHT DOES NOT ENGAGE IN THIS CONDITION AND THE DISTANCE TO EMPTY STILL SHOWS ABOUT 200 MILES IN WHICH THE DRIVER WILL HAVE NO IDEA HE IS LOW ON FUEL. MY CAR STALLED DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFF…
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FUEL GAUGE IS PROBLEMATIC, FUEL GAUGE REPORTS 3/4 WHEN FULL AND NEEDLE POINTS HALFWAY BETWEEN 1/4 AND 1/2 WHEN EMPTY. THE LOW FUEL INDICATOR LIGHT DOES NOT ENGAGE IN THIS CONDITION AND THE DISTANCE TO EMPTY STILL SHOWS ABOUT 200 MILES IN WHICH THE DRIVER WILL HAVE NO IDEA HE IS LOW ON FUEL. MY CAR STALLED DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC ON A EXPRESSWAY AND WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON 2 OCCASIONS AND HAD TO CALL ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE TO BRING ME FUEL BEFORE I REALIZED WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I RESEARCHED SEVERAL BLOG WEB SITES(XLR.NET) AND FOUND THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL OF CAR LISTED UNDER GAS GAUGE ERROR. GM/CADILLAC IS AWARE OF THIS BUT INSTEAD OF RECALLING THEY ARE CHARGING CONSUMERS 1800 TO 2500 TO REPLACE A TANK SENDING UNIT.
NHTSA ODI #10981251
60,000 miles · Mar 22, 2017
Exterior Lighting
THE TURN SIGNAL IN THE LEFT REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY WHICH IS A SEALED LED BASED SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING. I REACHED OUT TO CADILLAC DEALERS AND THE PART HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. THIS RENDERS THE VEHICLE UNSAFE AS IT CANNOT BE LEGALLY DRIVEN AND NEITHER CAN IT BE REPAIRED OR RESOLD AS THERE IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE PART. GM USED A SUPP…
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THE TURN SIGNAL IN THE LEFT REAR TAIL LAMP ASSEMBLY WHICH IS A SEALED LED BASED SYSTEM IS NOT WORKING. I REACHED OUT TO CADILLAC DEALERS AND THE PART HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. THIS RENDERS THE VEHICLE UNSAFE AS IT CANNOT BE LEGALLY DRIVEN AND NEITHER CAN IT BE REPAIRED OR RESOLD AS THERE IS NOT A SUBSTITUTE PART. GM USED A SUPPLIER CALLED GUIDE CORPORATION, WHICH HAS WENT OUT OF BUSINESS. I BELIEVE GM SHOULD RECOVER THEIR TOOLS AND MOVE THEM TO ANOTHER SUPPLIER IN ORDER TO RESUME MANUFACTURING OF THIS KEY SAFETY COMPONENT.
NHTSA ODI #10967721
63,000 miles · Sep 13, 2016
Fuel/propulsion System
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC XLR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11E009000 (F…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC XLR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL PUMP MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11E009000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10906105
74,000 miles · May 11, 2016
Power Train
BROKEN SHIFT CABLE PARKED THE VEHICLE AS NORMAL. RETURNED TO THE CAR AND STARTED IT. SHIFTED INTO REVERSE TO LEAVE A PARKING SPACE AND THEN TO DRIVE. THE CAR REMAINED IN REVERSE ONLY CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN A PARKING LOT. WHEN I THEN SHUT IT OFF, IT WOULD NOT START AS IT BELIEVED IT WAS IN REVERSE. CAR HAD TO BE …
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BROKEN SHIFT CABLE PARKED THE VEHICLE AS NORMAL. RETURNED TO THE CAR AND STARTED IT. SHIFTED INTO REVERSE TO LEAVE A PARKING SPACE AND THEN TO DRIVE. THE CAR REMAINED IN REVERSE ONLY CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION IN A PARKING LOT. WHEN I THEN SHUT IT OFF, IT WOULD NOT START AS IT BELIEVED IT WAS IN REVERSE. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AND DEALER CHARGE $600 TO REPLACE THE SHIFTER CABLE. I WENT ONLINE TO THE XLR FORUM AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS OVER THIS PART FAILING - LEAVING PEOPLE STRANDED IN HARM'S WAY.
NHTSA ODI #10864446
68,000 miles · Aug 13, 2015
Unknown Or Other
MY CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST TIME WAS THREE YEARS AGO I END UP PAYING $2294.25 TO GET IT FIX, AT THE TIME I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE UNDER RECALL, BUT IT WASN'T . NOW THAT IT HAPPEN AGAIN , WHY SHOULD I PAY TO GET IT FIXED. THATS PRETTY BAD TO BE DRIVING AND YOUR FUEL GA…
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MY CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITHOUT ANY WARNINGS, THIS IS THE SECOND TIME. THE FIRST TIME WAS THREE YEARS AGO I END UP PAYING $2294.25 TO GET IT FIX, AT THE TIME I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE UNDER RECALL, BUT IT WASN'T . NOW THAT IT HAPPEN AGAIN , WHY SHOULD I PAY TO GET IT FIXED. THATS PRETTY BAD TO BE DRIVING AND YOUR FUEL GAUGE IS ON HALF A TANK AND YOUR CAR STALLS IN TRAFFIC. WHY IS IT A RECALL BUT NOT ON MY CAR.?
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL), TURN SIGNAL, AND PARKING LAMPS USE THE SAME BULB. THE BULB MAY BECOME DAMAGED FROM VIBRATION WITHIN A LOOSE FITTING SOCKET OR AIR ENTERING THE BULB DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SEAL. BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS WILL CAUSE THE BULB TO BURN OUT PREMATURELY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE DRIVER WOULD NOTICE THAT THE ARROW IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD FLASH FASTER THAN NORMAL WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED. THE LOSS OF THE DRL AND TURN SIGNALS COULD FAIL TO WARN OTHERS OF THE DRIVER'S PRESENCE OR INTENTIONS AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SOCKET AND BULB IN BOTH LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH ONE OR BOTH REAR BRAKE HYDRAULIC LINES THAT CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH OR BE AFFECTED BY HEAT FROM THE LEFT ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND THE LEFT EXHAUST PIPE. THE BRAKE FLUID COULD REACH ELEVATED TEMPERATURES AND BOIL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THE BRAKE FLUID BOILS IN A REAR BRAKE LINE, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD BE REDUCED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A BRAKE LINE LEAK AND LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. IF ENOUGH FLUID LEAKS FROM THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM SO THAT BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION CAN NO LONGER BUILD PRESSURE TO THE REAR BRAKES. THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE WILL EXPERIENCE LIMITED BRAKING WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL (1) INSPECT THE LEFT ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CLIP FOR PROPER ALIGNMENT AND PLACEMENT ON THE BODY-MOUNTED STUD. IF INCORRECT, THEY WILL REPOSITION THE CLIP ON THE BRAKE LINES AND REINSTALL THE CLIP ON THE STUD; (2) THE DEALER WILL VERIFY THAT BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES HAVE THE PROPER CLEARANCE TO THE LEFT EXHAUST PIPE. THEY WILL REPOSITION THE LINES BY BENDING AS NECESSARY; (3) DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE MACHINING TAB FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING. ALSO, DEALERS ARE TO INSPECT THE BRAKE LINES FOR WEAR IN THESE RELATED AREAS AND REPAIR OR REPLACE IF THERE IS ANY SIGN OF WEAR-THROUGH ON THE NYLON OVERCOATING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 18, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2239 OR CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.
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
1
PE19001 · Roof Skin Separation While Driving
Opened Feb 1, 2019 · Closed Dec 12, 2019
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:body:roof And Pillars
On August 23rd, 2018 - the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a media inquiry pertaining to a motorist experiencing separation of the roof skin from their Cadillac XLR while driving.Based on the data in-hand at that time and a subsequent (December) consumer complaint, ODI opened PE19-001 on February 1, 2019 to evaluate the scope of this condition in the 2004 - 2005 XLR population.The subject vehicle model is a two-seat roadster equipped with an electrically powered retractable roof system. The outer roof skin is a Sheet Molded Composite (SMC) which is adhered to the magnesium alloy roof frame.ODI's February 7, 2019 Information Request (IR) letter to General Motors (GM) covered the entirety of XLR production: MY 2004 - 2009. GM's March 21, 2019 IR response attributed the separations to an unexpected oxide layer on the magnesium framework. A total of eight separations were identified, six of which coincided with consumer complaints to NHTSA. Separations occurred at two per calendar year with the most recent taking place in late 2018.An additional twenty-one noise, fit/finish/ functionality claims were identified that did not lead to separations.ODI compared the separation rate in the subject vehicles to those in to two roof skin separation safety recalls involving the Corvette (06V181: 2005 - 2006 Corvette; 09V491: 2005 - 2007 Corvette) to find that the subject vehicles took over ten years of exposure to reach the failure rate that triggered the 06V181.Since PE19-001 opened, ODI has received only one additional consumer complaint which reported wind noise symptoms. The complainant has not responded to outreach efforts by ODI or GM.Based on a low failure rate, sporadic occurrence, and high detectability of the alleged defect in the subject vehicles, this investigation is closed. Further use of agency resources on this matter is not warranted. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist in the subject vehicles.The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances. The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.nhtsa.gov under the following ODI identification numbers: Separations: 11155574, 11101657, 11012176, 11012166, 10970736, 10970383, 10653304Note: ODI 11012176 & 11012166 pertain to the same incidentNot Separated: 11243947, 11194359, 11176647, 11173362, 11074433, 10985013 Note: 11176647 & 10985013 pertain to the same incident
2005 Cadillac Xlr Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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