2005 Cadillac SRX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
122 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
75,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 100 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 20 of 122 complaints (16.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 21 | 17.2% |
| Braking behavior | 15 | 12.3% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 6.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 5.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 2.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.8% |
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 | 20 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 16 |
| Engine | 16 |
| Steering | 15 |
| Unknown Or Other | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8 |
| Air Bags | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 5 |
Electrical System: 20; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 16; Engine: 16; Steering: 15; Unknown Or Other: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling: 8; Air Bags: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 17 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 12 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 20 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 16 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 26 |
| 150,000 and above | 9 |
Under 25,000: 17; 25,000 to 49,999: 12; 50,000 to 74,999: 20; 75,000 to 99,999: 16; 100,000 to 149,999: 26; 150,000 and above: 9
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (26). 22 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 7 |
| 2007 | 2 |
| 2008 | 6 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 11 |
| 2011 | 14 |
| 2012 | 8 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 3 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2004: 1; 2005: 6; 2006: 7; 2007: 2; 2008: 6; 2009: 7; 2010: 11; 2011: 14; 2012: 8; 2013: 5; 2014: 18; 2015: 7; 2016: 8; 2017: 4; 2018: 8; 2019: 4; 2020: 3; 2022: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 21 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 8 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 10082599 · 2004-07-25 (July 25, 2004)
POWER STEERING WENT OUT THREE TIMES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 13,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082599 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10132536 · 2005-08-11 (August 11, 2005)
DT:THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC SRX. HLS HIS WIFE PARKED THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED. SHE COULD NOT GET IT UNLOCKED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CADILLAC DEALERSHIP, AND THEY HAD TO UNHOOK THE LINKAGE ON THE TRANSMISSION IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO TOW THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP ORDERED A NEW KEY ASSEMBLY, AND THEY HAD TO REMOVE TUMBLER NUMBER 3. IN ORDER TO GET THE LOCK TO OPEN THEY HAD TO DRILL THE LOCK CYLINDER AND REMOVE THE CYLINDER. DEALERSHIP RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE CONTACT, CLAIMING IT WAS FIXED . HOWEVER, WHILE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10132536 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149551 · 2006-02-06 (February 6, 2006)
WE WERE TRAVELING DOWN A THREE LANE HIGHWAY IN OUR 2005 CADILLAC SRX WHICH WEIGH APPROX 4,302 LBS. WHEN WE WERE STRUCK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BY A 2002 HONDA ACCORD, WHICH WEIGH APPROX 3,300 LBS. THIS VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY STARTED FLIPPING IT FLIPPED OVER 6 TIMES BEFORE IT STOPPED. THE DRIVERS SEAT BROKE AND FLIPPED OVER TO THE BACK OF THE CAR, NO AIR BAGS CAME OUT EXCEPT FOR THE LEFT CURTAIN. THE TOP AND SUNROOF WAS CRASHED IN AND WE HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF THE CAR. BOTH PASSENGERS HAD ON SEAT BELTS AND THE DRIVER SUFFERED BODILY AND HEAD DAMAGE. …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149551 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10261298 · 2009-03-09 (March 9, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC SRX. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 25-50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV EXCESSIVELY HIGH. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY AND THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH GREATER FORCE IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE STOPPING DISTANCE WAS INCREASED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING AND INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTHORIZED DEALERS FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING ON SIX OCCASIONS. THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED; HOWEVER, REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED UNDER THE EXT…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10261298 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172182 · 2006-10-30 (October 30, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND MAKING A LANE CHANGE. THERE WAS NO WARNING SIGNAL PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO COULD NOT INITIALLY DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. LATER ON AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION. *AK THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER TURNING THE STEERING QUICKLY. THE SENSOR IN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS REPLACED AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO FURTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE STALLING. UPDATED 11/30/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 19,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172182 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10426443 · 2011-09-20 (September 20, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AND ATTEMPTING A U-TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 102,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 102,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10426443 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10432419 · 2011-10-21 (October 21, 2011)
MY WIFE WAS BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVE WAY WHEN SHE SAW SMOKE COMING OFF THE CRACKS OF THE DRIVERS SIDE IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE HOOD WAS CLOSED AND HAD LOTS OF BLACK SMOKE GUSHING OUT OF THE CRACKS AND IT SMELLED LIKE BURNING PLASTIC. I TRIED STARTING THE VEHICLE AND TO MY SURPRISE THE VEHICLE STARTED BUT MOST OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROLS WERE SHOWING ERRORS IN THE DASH. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT CAREFULLY TO THE NEAREST CADILLAC DEALER (LAVERY AUTO) IN ALLIANCE, OH. WHEN I STOPPED THE CAR I WAS UNABLE TO TAKE OFF THE KEYS FROM THE IGNITI…
Owner-reported narrative. 87,840 miles reported. Look up ODI 10432419 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10628725 · 2014-08-27 (August 27, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL) BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10628725 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10433512 · 2011-10-29 (October 29, 2011)
WHEN STOPPING, THEN STARTING UP (WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, LIKE AT A STOP SIGN) THE 2005 CADILLAC SRX WILL OFTEN FAIL TO MOVE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS PRESSED AND THE +TRACTION CONTROL+ INDICATION LIGHTS UP ON THE RADIO. THIS ALSO HAPPENS SOMETIMES WHEN TURNING WITHOUT STOPPING. IT HAPPENS ON LEVEL GROUND AND WHEN GOING UP INCLINES. IT MAKES A GRINDING SOUND (LIKE WHEN GEARS ARE RAKED IN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION.) BY LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR, THEN RE-APPLYING IT, THE CAR WILL MOVE, BUT THE HESITATION IS VERY DANGEROUS. IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT LET …
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10433512 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10439968 · 2011-12-14 (December 14, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TEST RESULTS SHOWED DETERMINED THAT THE FUEL TANK CAP AND THE TIRE TRACTION SENSORS ON THE REAR TIRES NEEDED REPLACING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL TANK CAP AND TIRE TRACTION SENSORS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE REPAIRS, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TIRE TRACTION WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CATA…
Owner-reported narrative. 148,665 miles reported. Look up ODI 10439968 at NHTSA ↗