2003 Cadillac STS: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
17,626 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 6 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 8 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 4 | 50.0% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 25.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 25.0% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 12.5% |
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 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 1 |
| Electrical System:Horn | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices | 1 |
Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 1; Electrical System:Horn: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.: 1; Exterior Lighting:Headlights:Concealment Devices: 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 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 2 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 | 3 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2003: 3; 2005: 1; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 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 10011133 · 2003-03-07 (March 7, 2003)
THE HEADLIGHT LENSES WERE DIM, WHICH CAUSED LESS LIGHT.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011133 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012342 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING THE BOLT CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. *NLM THERE WERE ENGINE PROBLEMS/STALLING, AIR BAG LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE RADIO CUTS ON BY ITSELF, HORN WAS INOPERATIVE, ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. RECALL #0311500 IN RE: CADILLAC CTS. SCC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10044754 · 2003-10-27 (October 27, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD STALL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 14,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044754 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127675 · 2005-07-06 (July 6, 2005)
ON JUNE 30, 2005, I BROUGHT MY 2003 CADILLAC SEVILLE TO CREST CADILLAC IN SYRACUSE NY COMPLAINING OF BRAKE PULSATION AND RUMBLING. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE DISK BRAKE PAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM ITS BACKING PLATE, AND A SECOND SET OF PAD AND BACKING PLATE WAS ABOUT TO SEPARATE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I THINK IT COMPROMISES THE BRAKING SYSTEM OF THE CAR. THE CAR ONLY HAS 12,350 MILES ON IT.
Owner-reported narrative. 12,350 miles reported. Look up ODI 10127675 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149199 · 2006-02-01 (February 1, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS BETWEEN 5 TO 50 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. THE DEALER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. UPDATED 02/21/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 19,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149199 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10185374 · 2007-03-17 (March 17, 2007)
CAR SCRAPES FRONT END GOING INTO OR OUT OF DRIVEWAYS EVEN AT SLOW SPEED 1 TO 2 MILES AN HOUR. ALSO HITS CURB PARKING STOPS. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER I PRUCHASED IT FROM AND THE WARRANTY SHOULD COVER IT. THE CAR IS APPROXIMATLY 7-8 INCHES FROM THE GROUND AND THE REAR END IS ABOUT 15-16 INCHES HIGH OFF THE GROUND.
Owner-reported narrative. 16,251 miles reported. Look up ODI 10185374 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10473982 · 2012-09-05 (September 5, 2012)
VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN DRIVEWAY DURING STRONG ELECTRICAL STORM. LIGHTNING APPEARED TO HIT A TREE NEARBY. SIMULTANEOUSLY, SEVERAL DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON, INCLUDING ANTI-LOCK BRAKE, TRACTION AND STABILITY CONTROL WARNINGS. CALL WAS MADE TO INSURANCE COMPANY AND VEHICLE TOWED TO CADILLAC DEALERSHIP. SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID CAUSE OF THE WARNING LIGHT WAS A BOLT NEAR WIRE TO ANTI-LOCK BRAKE POWER CONTROL MODULE HAD WORN INSULATION OFF, CAUSING FAILURE OF POWER CONTROL MODULE.IF INDEED LIGHTNING/POWER SURGE DID NOT CAUSE THIS PROBLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 112,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10473982 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10617211 · 2014-07-29 (July 29, 2014)
THE VEHICLE STALLS SOMETIMES WHEN STANDING AT A LIGHT OR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS & SOMETIMES INTO A TURN WITHOUT WARNING, THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. *JS
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10617211 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.