2002 Cadillac SLS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
10 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
87,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 10 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 20.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 20.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 10.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 10.0% |
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 | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc) | 1 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air:Antilock | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
| Structure:Body:Door | 1 |
Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Electronic Stability Control:Automatic (Asc): 1; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Service Brakes, Air:Antilock: 1; Structure: 1; Structure:Body:Door: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 3 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 |
2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2006: 1; 2008: 3; 2014: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10020334 · 2003-06-26 (June 26, 2003)
THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED AT TIMES WHEN THE DOORS WERE OPENED WITHOUT HIS KNOWLEDGE, AND THERE WAS NO ALARM SOUND TO NOTIFY HIM. *NLM *TT *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020334 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10050224 · 2003-11-28 (November 28, 2003)
INQUIRY REGARDING ENTITLEMENT OF $1,000.00 DISCOUNT.*MR *PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10050224 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149362 · 2006-02-03 (February 3, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANES INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 55 MPH OR MORE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE CONTACT FEELS THE HYDROPLANING IS RELATED TO THE VEHICLE'S STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM, ALTHOUGH THIS HAS NEVER BEEN CONFIRMED BY THE DEALER. UPDATED 3/3/2006 - *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 41,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10234219 · 2008-07-14 (July 14, 2008)
DEFECTIVE NORTHSTAR ENGINES, HEAD BOLTS PULLING OUT OF BLOCK. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234219 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10234414 · 2008-07-15 (July 15, 2008)
HEAD BOLTS PULLED OUT OF BLOCK ON A 2002 CADILLAC WITH A NORTHSTAR ENGINE. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED THE CAR HAD 74,000 MILE AND WAS FIXED UNDER THE VEHICLES EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE 2ND TIME IT HAPPENED THE CAR HAD 87,000 ON IT AND THE SAME HEAD BOLT THAT WAS FIXED FAILED. THE ENGINE WAS NOT REPAIRABLE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS WAS A PATCH JOB THAT GM KNEW WAS NOT PERMANENT AND THEY NOW DO NOT WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THEIR SHODDY REPAIR PROCEDURE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234414 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10252119 · 2008-12-17 (December 17, 2008)
A "LOW COOLANT" LIGHT APPEARED ON MY 2002 CADILLAC SLS (4.6L NORTHSTAR VIN-Y). WHILE PARKED STEAM/SMOKE (SMALL AMOUNT) BEGAN RISING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND A SMALL PUDDLE OF COOLANT WAS FOUND BELOW VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND A CRACK IN THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS DISCOVERED. MECHANIC STATED THIS WAS VERY ODD. VEHICLE HAS 103K MILES. WATER PUMP GASKET WAS REPLACED AT 65K MILES, HEAD GASKETS, THERMOSTAT & RADIATOR WERE REPLACED AT 78K MILES AND WATER PUMP CLAMP/HOSE REPLACED AT 83K MILES. ALL THESE REPAIRS WERE MADE BY THE DEALERSH…
Owner-reported narrative. 103,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10252119 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10574184 · 2014-03-22 (March 22, 2014)
ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS THIS YEAR, MOST RECENTLY TODAY (3/22/14), THE ENGINE ON MY 2003 (?) CADILLAC SLS ABRUPTLY CUT OFF, SIMILAR TO THE MUCH-PUBLICIZED RECENT FAILURES ON GM'S 2003-11 COMPACT CARS. MY CAR IS NO COMPACT, BUT I'M WONDERING IF IT USES THE SAME IGNITION COMPONENTS. IN ANY EVENT, WE WERE LUCKY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT, I REFERRED THE CAR TO MY TRUSTED MECHANIC, AND HE COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. ONE FURTHER NOTE: WHEN THE ENGINE CUT OFF TODAY, ONLY *ONE* KEY WAS IN THE IGNITION, SO IT WAS *NOT* A MATTE…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10574184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10575153 · 2014-03-27 (March 27, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC SLS.THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONCE HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC HOWEVER, THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,806 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,200.
Owner-reported narrative. 58,806 miles reported. Look up ODI 10575153 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.