Cadillac SRX problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
3,261 owner complaints analyzed
24 distinct recall campaigns
65,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 to 2019 model years. Data snapshot: . 2,141 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1,431 of 3,261 complaints (43.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 308 | 9.4% |
| Steering behavior | 160 | 4.9% |
| Transmission and shifting | 137 | 4.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 134 | 4.1% |
| Engine operation | 72 | 2.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 11 | 0.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Exterior Lighting | 1431 |
| Electrical System | 358 |
| Unknown Or Other | 258 |
| Suspension | 237 |
| Power Train | 203 |
| Engine | 185 |
| Service Brakes | 172 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 129 |
Exterior Lighting: 1,431; Electrical System: 358; Unknown Or Other: 258; Suspension: 237; Power Train: 203; Engine: 185; Service Brakes: 172; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 129
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 336 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 381 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 555 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 425 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 368 |
| 150,000 and above | 76 |
Under 25,000: 336; 25,000 to 49,999: 381; 50,000 to 74,999: 555; 75,000 to 99,999: 425; 100,000 to 149,999: 368; 150,000 and above: 76
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (555). 1,120 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 26 |
| 2006 | 21 |
| 2007 | 18 |
| 2008 | 21 |
| 2009 | 28 |
| 2010 | 82 |
| 2011 | 70 |
| 2012 | 38 |
| 2013 | 56 |
| 2014 | 162 |
| 2015 | 149 |
| 2016 | 177 |
| 2017 | 209 |
| 2018 | 380 |
| 2019 | 509 |
| 2020 | 388 |
| 2021 | 365 |
| 2022 | 204 |
| 2023 | 127 |
| 2024 | 97 |
| 2025 | 83 |
| 2026 | 35 |
2003: 1; 2004: 15; 2005: 26; 2006: 21; 2007: 18; 2008: 21; 2009: 28; 2010: 82; 2011: 70; 2012: 38; 2013: 56; 2014: 162; 2015: 149; 2016: 177; 2017: 209; 2018: 380; 2019: 509; 2020: 388; 2021: 365; 2022: 204; 2023: 127; 2024: 97; 2025: 83; 2026: 35
Pattern summary
Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 308 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 160 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 137 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 ↗
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 7 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2011 | 7 |
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 5 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2019 | 0 |
2004: 7; 2005: 3; 2006: 3; 2007: 1; 2008: 0; 2009: 0; 2010: 6; 2011: 7; 2012: 3; 2013: 5; 2014: 2; 2015: 4; 2016: 2; 2019: 0