U.S. public vehicle records

2004 Cadillac SRX problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

216 owner complaints analyzed

7 distinct recall campaigns

67,644 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 176 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electronic Stability Control (Esc) is the most frequently named component, appearing in 43 of 216 complaints (19.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	55	25.5%
Steering behavior	32	14.8%
Transmission and shifting	13	6.0%
Electrical and battery issues	13	6.0%
Engine operation	12	5.6%
Fuel system concerns	2	0.9%

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.

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

Electrical System

Power Train

Steering

Service Brakes

Engine

Unknown Or Other

Vehicle Speed Control

Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 43; Electrical System: 33; Power Train: 26; Steering: 21; Service Brakes: 16; Engine: 15; Unknown Or Other: 15; Vehicle Speed Control: 14

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 33; 25,000 to 49,999: 29; 50,000 to 74,999: 36; 75,000 to 99,999: 29; 100,000 to 149,999: 32; 150,000 and above: 17

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (36). 40 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.

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2026

2003: 1; 2004: 14; 2005: 20; 2006: 10; 2007: 10; 2008: 5; 2009: 8; 2010: 36; 2011: 17; 2012: 4; 2013: 8; 2014: 16; 2015: 17; 2016: 13; 2017: 10; 2018: 4; 2019: 7; 2020: 7; 2021: 4; 2022: 2; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Electronic Stability Control (Esc) leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 55 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 13 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 10057714 · 2004-03-17 (March 17, 2004)

BRAKE PEDAL IS ANGLED TOWARDS AND TOO CLOSE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. AT LEAST TWELVE TIMES CONSUMER STEPPED ON ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHILE BRAKING. *AK *MR

Owner-reported narrative. 84 miles reported. Look up ODI 10057714 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10068559 · 2004-04-20 (April 20, 2004)

VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN CONSUMER RELEASED THE BRAKE. VEHICLE ACCELERATED BACKWARDS, JUMPED THE CURB AND HIT A TREE. MR. HOWARD KAPLAN AND MR. ANTHONY MC CLAIN WERE BOTH ASSIGNED THE SAME ODI #$ 10064585. *PH VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN AN INCLINE WITH WHEELS TURNED TO THE LEFT. WHEN VEHICLE MOVED BACKWARDS, CONSUMER TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BUT FAILED. IN ADDITION, CONSUMER DOESN'T KNOW WHAT GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS IN UPON RELEASING THE PARKING BRAKE. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068559 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10050752 · 2003-12-19 (December 19, 2003)

WHILE TEST DRIVING A NEW CADILAC SRX EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC ALL WHEEL DRIVE, V-8 ENGINE AND 20" TIRES (OVERSIDED THE REG 18" STANDARD TIRES AND WHEELS) VEHICLE STEERING FROZE MAKING LEFT HAND TURN GOING APPROX 10-12 MPH....RIGHT FRONT TIRE AND WHEEL . FAILED...CAUSING SKID INTO CURB....PRELIMINARY INSPECTION SHOWED FAILURE OF ALL WHEEL DRIVE OR RIGHT WHEEL LUGS/TIRE FAILURE CAUSING LOSS OF TIRE/WHEEL.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050752 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10082289 · 2004-07-20 (July 20, 2004)

THE CAR DIES AFTER TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY. IT GOES FROM 65 MPH TO 0. THE BRAKES, STEERING, AND COMPLETE POWER DIES. YOU HAVE NO CONTROL OVER THE CAR AT THIS POINT. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT 5 TIMES NOW. ALSO, WHEN THE CARS DOES TURN BACK ON IT WILL ONLY GO 10 MPH AND SOMETIMES WHEN YOU TURN IT BACK ON THE RPM'S WILL GO TO THE MAX. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE CAR IS GOING TO EXPLODE. THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP. *LA

Owner-reported narrative. 416 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082289 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10065433 · 2004-04-01 (April 1, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH TRANSMISSION FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE LOST POWER. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10065433 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10149361 · 2006-02-03 (February 3, 2006)

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN INTO A PARKING LOT, THE STEERING COLUMN COMPLETELY LOCKED. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO MANUALLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL FOR TWENTY MINUTES THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATIONS ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SERVICE DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY WHILE TURNING TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE POWER STEERING HOSES WERE REVERSED WHEN THE VEHICLE WA…

Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149361 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10184895 · 2007-03-12 (March 12, 2007)

RECURRING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. FIRST PROBLEM I HAD, THE MOTOR IN THE WINDOW WENT OUT, THEN THE NEXT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM I HAD WAS THE WIRING FOR THE BLINKERS KEPT GOING OUT, THE NEXT AND MOST MAJOR ELECTRICAL PROBLEM I'M STILL HAVING IS THAT WHEN THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND SECURED THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND RADIO COMES BACK ON WITHIN TEN SECONDS AFTER I'VE TURNED OFF AND SECURED THE CAR. THE MIDDLE ARMREST KEEPS DETACHING AT THE BACK WHERE THE CELL PHONE PLUG IS LOCATED. THE DOOR LOCKS (INDICATING LATCH BY WINDOW) DOESN'T LIFT UP. THESE ELECTRICAL …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10184895 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10187326 · 2007-04-09 (April 9, 2007)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN A SAFETY RISK SINCE THE TIME OF PURCHASE. THE VEHICLE STALLS AND SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATES AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS. THE CONTACT CAN PREDICT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS ABOUT TO STALL BECAUSE THE RPMS INCREASE. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER ON FIVE OCCASIONS FOR THE STALLING, BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE SPEEDOMETER AND AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT FAILED . INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRI…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10187326 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10111060 · 2005-02-08 (February 8, 2005)

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 53,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10111060 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10071990 · 2004-07-06 (July 6, 2004)

THE CONSUMER HAS RUN OUT OF GAS ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A LIGHT THAT ILLUMINATES WHEN THE FUEL LEVEL IS LOW. THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER DID BEEP ONCE ALERTING THE CONSUMER OF LOW FUEL BUT IT DID NOT BEEP AGAIN. THE GAS TANK HOLD 20 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE TRIP COMPUTER CALCULATES THE AMOUNT OF MILES LEFT BASED ON THE VOLUME IN THE TANK. WHEN THE TRIP COMPUTER INDICATED THERE WAS 5 GALLON THERE WAS ONLY 3.25 GALLONS. *AK *NM

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071990 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10365691 · 2010-11-15 (November 15, 2010)

MY 2004 CADILLAC SRX HAS 98000 MILES ON IT. THE SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM LIGHT COMES ON AFTER DRIVING FOR 20 MINUTES, EACH TIME I START THE CAR. I CLEAR THE SYSTEM AND JUST DRIVE. THE CAR SHAKES WHILE DRIVING A BIT AND DOES PULL TO THE RIGHT. I AM NOT EXPERIENCING SOME OF THE PROBLEMS MANY OTHERS ARE FACING WITH THIS SAME WARNING, BUT FEEL I TOO WILL SOON, IT IS GETTING WORSE. I ALSO WAS FORCED TO PUT IN 89 OCTANE GAS AT A STATION THAT DIDNT HAVE SUPER, I HAD A LOW FUEL LIGHT. AFTER 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING STABILITY LIGHT CAME ON ALONG WITH…

Owner-reported narrative. 97,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10365691 at NHTSA ↗