2003 Cadillac CTS: complaints, problems and recalls

NAVIGATION SYSTEM ON 2003 CADILLAC CTS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. SOME MAJOR CITIES CAN NOT BE LOCATED, CAN'T SET SOME DESTINATIONS, MILEAGE FROM LOCATION TO DESTINATION IS INCORRECT PLUS OTHER PROBLEMS.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10000730 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE HEAD LIGHT HAS A PURPLE LINE THROUGH HEAD LIGHT LENS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *TS

Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001814 at NHTSA ↗

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 ↗

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 ↗

I WISH TO COMPLAIN ABOUT A TV AD THAT CADILLAC IS CURRENTLY RUNNING FOR THEIR CTS MODEL, IT DEPICTS THE CAR DRIVING BLINDLY AT HIGH SPEED THROUGH THICK FOG. I BELIEVE THE AD IS CRIMINALLY IRRESPONSIBLE, GIVEN THE HIGH COST IN LIVES, INJURIES AND PROPERTY DAMAGE THAT OCCURS EVERY YEAR WHEN VEHICLES DRIVEN AT HIGH SPEED IN FOG COLLIDE WITH OTHER VEHICLES. I HAVE REQUESTED CADILLAC TO IMMEDATELY WITHDRAW THIS AD AND IN THE FUTURE MAKE SOME MINIMAL EFFORT TO APPEAL TO RESPONSIBLE DRIVING BEHAVIOR. WHAT ACTION CAN I EXPECT YOUR AGENCY TO TAKE? J…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10005574 at NHTSA ↗

THERE WAS A SPOT IN THE HEADLIGHTS WHICH CAUSED LOW VISIBILITY AT NIGHT.*JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006894 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)

SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLT MAY BE LOOSE.

Consequence: AN IMPROPERLY TIGHTENED BOLT COULD LOOSEN, RESULTING IN SEPARATION OF THE UPPER AND LOWER STEERING SHAFTS CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. IF THIS HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING, A CRASH COULD RESULT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLT AND ENSURE THAT IT IS TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 20, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006.

Reported: 2003-07-15 (July 15, 2003)

CERTAIN MINIVANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER UNIVERSAL ANCHORAGE SYSTEM.

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A SUPPLEMENT FOR THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL. THIS SUPPLEMENT DESCRIBES AND SHOWS THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORS THAT ARE LOCATED IN THE VEHICLE AND ON THE CHILD RESTRAINT OR BOOSTER CUSHION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 18, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463, PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-630-6537.

Reported: 2010-03-17 (March 17, 2010)

GENERAL MOTORS HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003-2007 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE FRONT BRAKE HOSE FITTING AT THE CALIPER MAY CORRODE DUE TO SNOW OR WATER, CONTAINING ROAD SALT OR OTHER CONTAMINANTS, ENTERING AND BEING RETAINED IN THE ROUTING SLEEVE. IF THE FITTING CORRODES SIGNIFICANTLY, THE BRAKE HOSE-TUBE INTERFACE MAY DEVELOP A LEAK.

Consequence: THE BRAKE HOSE-TUBE INTERFACE MAY RUPTURE SUDDENLY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AND INCREASE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE MAY OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Reported: 2014-07-02 (July 2, 2014)

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured August 16, 2001, to April 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured March 20, 2003, to August 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14172.