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U.S. public vehicle records

Cadillac CTS problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2,216 owner complaints analyzed

27 distinct recall campaigns

60,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 to 2019 model years. Data snapshot: . 1,623 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 355 of 2,216 complaints (16.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior43219.5%
Electrical and battery issues22510.2%
Steering behavior1757.9%
Transmission and shifting1446.5%
Engine operation1135.1%
Fuel system concerns482.2%

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.

Electrical System
355
Air Bags
330
Power Train
291
Engine
236
Service Brakes
194
Steering
146
Unknown Or Other
119
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit
109
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System355
Air Bags330
Power Train291
Engine236
Service Brakes194
Steering146
Unknown Or Other119
Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit109

Electrical System: 355; Air Bags: 330; Power Train: 291; Engine: 236; Service Brakes: 194; Steering: 146; Unknown Or Other: 119; Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit: 109

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
396
25,000 to 49,999
283
50,000 to 74,999
328
75,000 to 99,999
273
100,000 to 149,999
273
150,000 and above
70
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000396
25,000 to 49,999283
50,000 to 74,999328
75,000 to 99,999273
100,000 to 149,999273
150,000 and above70

Under 25,000: 396; 25,000 to 49,999: 283; 50,000 to 74,999: 328; 75,000 to 99,999: 273; 100,000 to 149,999: 273; 150,000 and above: 70

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (396). 593 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.

2002
14
2003
36
2004
52
2005
49
2006
86
2007
47
2008
90
2009
58
2010
137
2011
114
2012
95
2013
92
2014
313
2015
208
2016
132
2017
109
2018
111
2019
117
2020
89
2021
57
2022
70
2023
44
2024
39
2025
43
2026
14
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200214
200336
200452
200549
200686
200747
200890
200958
2010137
2011114
201295
201392
2014313
2015208
2016132
2017109
2018111
2019117
202089
202157
202270
202344
202439
202543
202614

2002: 14; 2003: 36; 2004: 52; 2005: 49; 2006: 86; 2007: 47; 2008: 90; 2009: 58; 2010: 137; 2011: 114; 2012: 95; 2013: 92; 2014: 313; 2015: 208; 2016: 132; 2017: 109; 2018: 111; 2019: 117; 2020: 89; 2021: 57; 2022: 70; 2023: 44; 2024: 39; 2025: 43; 2026: 14

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 432 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 225 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 175 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 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 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 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 ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2003
4
2004
6
2005
6
2006
6
2007
6
2008
2
2009
5
2010
3
2011
2
2012
2
2013
2
2014
6
2015
3
2016
4
2017
2
2018
2
2019
0
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
20034
20046
20056
20066
20076
20082
20095
20103
20112
20122
20132
20146
20153
20164
20172
20182
20190

2003: 4; 2004: 6; 2005: 6; 2006: 6; 2007: 6; 2008: 2; 2009: 5; 2010: 3; 2011: 2; 2012: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 6; 2015: 3; 2016: 4; 2017: 2; 2018: 2; 2019: 0

Year-by-year records

Cadillac CTS model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
20033134Not available
20042246+2
200527760
200626960
200721760
20081752-4
20091675+3
2010673-2
20111012-1
20126520
20137220
20141466+4
2015473-3
2016314+1
2017272-2
2018820
2019100-2