2004 Cadillac XLR: complaints, problems and recalls

THE CAR STARTED EMITTING GASOLINE FUMES THROUGHOUT THE GARAGE AND HOUSE. THE DEALER REMOVED THE GASOLINE TANK AND DISCOVERED A LEAK AT THE MOLDED SECTION WHERE THE FILL TUBE ENTERS THE TANK. THE TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 779 miles reported. Look up ODI 10056298 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2004 CADILLAC XLR WITH 8031 MILES. THE CAR HAS MICHELIN PILOT ZEROPRESSURE TIRES. THE SIDEWALLS BUBBLE WHEN YOU HIT A POTHOLE, AND I DON'T MEAN A BIG POT HOLE. I HAVE WATCHED MANY CARS TRAVEL THROUGH THIS PART OF THE ROAD AND HIT THE SAME POT HOLE I HIT WITHOUT THEIR SIDEWALLS BUBBLING AND HAVING TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THIS HAPPENED ON THE FIRST AND ONLY POTHOLE I HIT. THESE TIRES SELL FOR $415.00 PLUS TAX. THEY SHOULD HOLD UP AT LEAST AS WELL AS THE 79.99 SPECIAL WHICH HAD NO DAMAGE TO THEIR TIRES.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 8,031 miles reported. Look up ODI 10090709 at NHTSA ↗

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC XLR. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN TO APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. ON NOVEMBER 6, 2006, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO NINE PARKED VEHICLES. ALL OF THE VEHICLES WERE DAMAGED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND WAS IN THE REPAIR SHOP FROM NOVEMBER 6, 2006 TO FEBRUARY 23, 2007. THE CONTACT CALLED ONSTAR OVER 50 TIMES DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE DOOR LOCKS HAVE ALSO FAILED AND, ON ONE OCCASIO…

Owner-reported narrative. 10,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10210589 at NHTSA ↗

A PRONOUNCED ODOR OF GASOLINE AND APPEARANCE OF AN ERROR MESSAGE STATING "CHECK GAS CAP" LED ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE, A 2004 CADILLAC XLR, TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE. THE DEALER DETERMINED THAT A CROSSOVER PIPE BETWEEN THE TWO GASOLINE TANKS WAS LEAKING. REPLACEMENT OF THE CROSSOVER PIPE (AT A COST OF $2295.14) DID NOT CURE THE PROBLEM. WHEN THE SAME ERROR MESSAGE RECURRED THE FOLLOWING DAY, I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FEED PIPE LEADING FROM THE GAS CAP TO THE GASOLINE TANK WAS LEAKING AT ITS INLET. REPLACE…

Owner-reported narrative. 19,112 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289939 at NHTSA ↗

I HAVE A 2004 CADILLAC XLR THAT HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS THE 2005-2009 CORVETTES HAVE. THE SERVICE STABILITRAK MESSAGE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CARS BRAKES LIGHT DO NOT WORK WHEN THIS COMES ON. YOUR CASE NUMBERS FOR THIS ARE PE08056 AND EA09-002 MY CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT SUDDENLY WHEN THIS MESSAGE CAME ON. ALSO ANOTHER RELATED PROBLEM TO THIS IN BOTH CORVETTES AND XLR'S IS AFTER THIS HAPPENS AND YOU TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND START THE CAR AGAIN IT GIVES A MESSAGE TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAUSE THE CAR HAS PUSH BUTTON …

Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342498 at NHTSA ↗

2004 CADILLAC XLR STRONG FUEL SMELL AFTER FILLING UP GAS TANK. MECHANIC SAID THERE IS A LEAK IN THE CROSSOVER TUBES LEADING TO THE FUEL TANK. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10343330 at NHTSA ↗

I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THE COMPLAINT BELOW REGARDING MY 2004 CADILLAC XLR. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS DESCRIBED BELOW. MAKE : CADILLAC MODEL : XLR YEAR : 2004 MANUFACTURER : GENERAL MOTORS CORP. CRASH : NO FIRE : NO NUMBER OF INJURIES: 0 ODI ID NUMBER : 10342498 NUMBER OF DEATHS: 0 DATE OF FAILURE: JULY 10, 2010 VIN : [XXX]... COMPONENT: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC SUMMARY: I HAVE A 2004 CADILLAC XLR THAT HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS THE 2005-2009 CORVETTES HAVE. THE SERVICE STABILITRAK MESSAGE AND TRACTION…

Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10345873 at NHTSA ↗

I BOUGHT THIS USED VEHICLE ON THE DATE SHOWN ABOVE AT THE "INCIDENT DATE". I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE ACTUAL PROBLEM BEGAN ON THIS CAR, BUT IT WAS PROBABLY YEARS EARLIER. THE SAFETY PROBLEM IS THAT THE LENSES OF BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT DRIVING/PARKING/DIRECTIONAL LAMPS HAVE APPARENTLY BEEN HEAT AFFECTED...THE PLASTIC LENSES HAVE BEGUN TO MELT. THE LAMPS ARE PART OF THE HEADLIGHT CLUSTER. THE OUTER OVERALL LENS OF THE CLUSTERS ARE FINE...IT'S JUST THE INTERNAL LENSES OVER THE DRIVING/PARKING/DIRECTIONAL LAMPS THAT HAVE THE PROBLEM. IT APPEARS TO ME …

Owner-reported narrative. 76,474 miles reported. Look up ODI 10510369 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2004-06-09 (June 9, 2004)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL STUD NUT/WASHER ASSEMBLIES WITH WASHERS WERE MADE OF THE WRONG MATERIAL. THE WASHERS MAY FRACTURE AND BECOME LOOSE OR FALL AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE, REDUCING CLAMP LOAD. SEPARATION OF THE CONTROL ARM BALL STUD AND STEERING KNUCKLE, DUE TO DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TAPERED ATTACHMENT AND RETAINING NUT, IS POSSIBLE.

Consequence: IF THE CONTROL ARM SEPARATES FROM THE KNUCKLE, THE AFFECTED CORNER OF THE VEHICLE WILL DROP AND THE CONTROL ARM WOULD BE FORCED DOWNWARD, CONTACTING THE WHEEL. THE AFFECTED WHEEL COULD TILT OUTWARD AND CREATE A DRAGGING ACTION THAT WOULD TEND TO SLOW THE VEHICLE AND CREATE A TENDENCY FOR THE VEHICLE TO TURN IN THE DIRECTION OF THE AFFECTED WHEEL. IN EXTREME SITUATIONS, THE AFFECTED WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WOULD ALSO SEVER THAT WHEEL;S HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE AND RESULT IN DIMINISHED BRAKING PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BALL STUD JOINTS AND MEASURE THE TORQUE OF THE NUT FOR ALL FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS IN ALL MODELS AFFECTED AS WELL AS THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON THE XLR AND CORVETTE. IF THE TORQUE IS NOT AT SPECIFICATION, THE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BALL STUD, THE KNUCKLE, AND THE NUT. IF THE TORQUE IS AT SPECIFICATION, THE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE NUT/WASHER ASSEMBLY ONLY. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON AUGUST 25, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 OR CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.

Reported: 2004-11-03 (November 3, 2004)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH ONE OR BOTH REAR BRAKE HYDRAULIC LINES THAT CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH OR BE AFFECTED BY HEAT FROM THE LEFT ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND THE LEFT EXHAUST PIPE. THE BRAKE FLUID COULD REACH ELEVATED TEMPERATURES AND BOIL.

Consequence: IF THE BRAKE FLUID BOILS IN A REAR BRAKE LINE, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD BE REDUCED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A BRAKE LINE LEAK AND LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. IF ENOUGH FLUID LEAKS FROM THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM SO THAT BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION CAN NO LONGER BUILD PRESSURE TO THE REAR BRAKES. THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE WILL EXPERIENCE LIMITED BRAKING WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL (1) INSPECT THE LEFT ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD CLIP FOR PROPER ALIGNMENT AND PLACEMENT ON THE BODY-MOUNTED STUD. IF INCORRECT, THEY WILL REPOSITION THE CLIP ON THE BRAKE LINES AND REINSTALL THE CLIP ON THE STUD; (2) THE DEALER WILL VERIFY THAT BOTH REAR BRAKE LINES HAVE THE PROPER CLEARANCE TO THE LEFT EXHAUST PIPE. THEY WILL REPOSITION THE LINES BY BENDING AS NECESSARY; (3) DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE MACHINING TAB FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING. ALSO, DEALERS ARE TO INSPECT THE BRAKE LINES FOR WEAR IN THESE RELATED AREAS AND REPAIR OR REPLACE IF THERE IS ANY SIGN OF WEAR-THROUGH ON THE NYLON OVERCOATING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 18, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2239 OR CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.

Reported: 2005-02-09 (February 9, 2005)

CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, 'ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS.' IF ONE OF THE TWO ACCELERATOR PEDAL RETURN SPRINGS FAILS AND THE TEMPERATURE IS -22 DEGREES F TO -40 DEGREES F, THE ENGINE MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE WITHIN THREE SECONDS, AS REQUIRED.

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, GREATER BRAKE PEDAL FORCE AND A LONGER DISTANCE MAY BE REQUIRED TO STOP THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY. THIS RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 8, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Reported: 2006-07-19 (July 19, 2006)

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE DAYLIGHT RUNNING LIGHTS (DRL), TURN SIGNAL, AND PARKING LAMPS USE THE SAME BULB. THE BULB MAY BECOME DAMAGED FROM VIBRATION WITHIN A LOOSE FITTING SOCKET OR AIR ENTERING THE BULB DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SEAL. BOTH OF THESE CONDITIONS WILL CAUSE THE BULB TO BURN OUT PREMATURELY.

Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE DRIVER WOULD NOTICE THAT THE ARROW IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD FLASH FASTER THAN NORMAL WHEN THE TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED. THE LOSS OF THE DRL AND TURN SIGNALS COULD FAIL TO WARN OTHERS OF THE DRIVER'S PRESENCE OR INTENTIONS AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SOCKET AND BULB IN BOTH LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.