2003 Cadillac CTS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
313 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
72,300 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 219 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 48 of 313 complaints (15.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 71 | 22.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 36 | 11.5% |
| Steering behavior | 31 | 9.9% |
| Engine operation | 30 | 9.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 11 | 3.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 1.6% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 48 |
| Air Bags | 30 |
| Engine | 29 |
| Steering | 22 |
| Service Brakes | 21 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 20 |
| Exterior Lighting | 19 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 19 |
Electrical System: 48; Air Bags: 30; Engine: 29; Steering: 22; Service Brakes: 21; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 20; Exterior Lighting: 19; Vehicle Speed Control: 19
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 40 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 30 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 47 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 42 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 52 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 40; 25,000 to 49,999: 30; 50,000 to 74,999: 47; 75,000 to 99,999: 42; 100,000 to 149,999: 52; 150,000 and above: 8
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (52). 94 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2003 | 33 |
| 2004 | 30 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2010 | 32 |
| 2011 | 21 |
| 2012 | 17 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 42 |
| 2015 | 23 |
| 2016 | 11 |
| 2017 | 6 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 |
2002: 14; 2003: 33; 2004: 30; 2005: 13; 2006: 9; 2007: 9; 2008: 10; 2009: 11; 2010: 32; 2011: 21; 2012: 17; 2013: 12; 2014: 42; 2015: 23; 2016: 11; 2017: 6; 2018: 8; 2019: 6; 2020: 3; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 71 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 36 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 31 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001721 · 2002-12-31 (December 31, 2002)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001721 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003812 · 2003-01-27 (January 27, 2003)
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 FROM SKID. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003812 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014471 · 2003-04-16 (April 16, 2003)
LOW COOLANT MESSAGE THREE TIMES IN MY CADILLAC CTS DIC. DEALER FOUND NOTHING WRONG, BUT ADDED ANTIFREEZE EVERY TIME. ANTIFREEZE UNDER THE CAR TOOK TO DEALER, ANTIFREEZE LEAKING FROM OIL COOLER PLATE. CAR WOULD NOT START EVEN AFTER A JUMP. NEEDED NEW IGNITION RELAY AND BATTERY. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014471 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062546 · 2004-03-18 (March 18, 2004)
2002 CADALLIC CTC HAS NOT TRUCK KEY LOCK. ADVERSE CONDITIONS OCCUR WHEN THE BATTERY FAILS AS ALL, AND I MEAN ALL SYSTEMS SHUT DOWN. ONE CANNOT GET INTO THE TRUNK,USE THE PHONE, OR EVEN GET THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION. BUT, NOT HAVING A KEY LOCK FOR THE TRUCK IS DANGEROUS AND UNSAFE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10062546 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004288 · 2003-01-21 (January 21, 2003)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004288 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012254 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER REGARDING THE STEERING BOLT, HOWEVER THE DEALERSHIP KNEW NOTHING ABOUT THE RECALL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012254 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10073577 · 2004-06-29 (June 29, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. *AK THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, ROUGH JERKS AT SHIFTS, VIBRATION AT MID TO HIGH SPEEDS, LOUD NOISE FROM BACK TIRES WHEN RIDING OVER BUMPS, BURNING SMELL FROM UNDER THE HOOD ALONG WITH SMOKING, WATER IN THE TAIL LIGHT, BLACK EXHAUST DUST/DIRT IN THE TAIL PIPE, THE ENGINE WOULD SHAKE. THE JERKING WAS AS IF THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WHILE IN DRIVE. *SC *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10073577 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10197323 · 2007-07-24 (July 24, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS (THE CONTACT WAS NOT SURE IF MODEL WAS CORRECT). WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. HE PULLED OVER AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE COMPUTER, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE COMPUTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 29,500. THE NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, ENGINE SIZE, VIN, AND POWERTRAIN INFORMATION WERE UNAVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10197323 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10101086 · 2004-11-05 (November 5, 2004)
THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BACK UP WHEN PLACED IN REVERSE. *NM WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED, THE VEHICLE WOULD ALL OF A SUDDEN COME TO A JOLTING HALT, THE ENGINE WOULD REV FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND STILL BE DEPRESSED. THE SOLENOID WOULD BE REPLACED WHICH DIDN'T FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEN THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS NEEDED. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10101086 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127580 · 2005-08-12 (August 12, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 20,170 miles reported. Look up ODI 10127580 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10000764 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000764 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10232303 · 2008-06-25 (June 25, 2008)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, IT EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER. WHILE PULLING OUT OF THE DEALER PARKING LOT AT 20 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE MORE HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE LESS POWER THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED. THE CONTACT LET UP OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND SOME POWER RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY GAINED POWER THE MORE HE RELEASED THE PEDAL. THE DEALER RESET THE FUEL INJECTOR SWITCH; HOWEVER,…
Owner-reported narrative. 49,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10232303 at NHTSA ↗