IllustrationAIRBAG DEFECT ON GOING FOR 2 YEARS. I HAVE BEEN TAKING THIS CAR TO THE DEALER OVER AND OVER AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO FIX THE PROBLEM. NOT TO MENTION THE OTHER DEFECTS I HAVE HAD TO GO TO THE DEALER FOR. *AK
2003 Cadillac Cts
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Cts years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Cadillac Cts are substantially higher than the model-year median of 101.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Cts years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
400–25K
3025–50K
4750–75K
4275–100K
52100–150K
8150K+
219 reports with mileage · 94 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
29 crash reports12 fire reports17 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
36 reportsWHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TRIED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN TO SWERVE. WHILE TRYING TO KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL, VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE STEERING SHAFT BOLT BECAME LOOSE AND CAUSED TH…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TRIED TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN TO SWERVE. WHILE TRYING TO KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL, VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER, AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE STEERING SHAFT BOLT BECAME LOOSE AND CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. *NM
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN CONSUMER'S VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH AN 18 WHEELER. UPON IMPACT NONE OF THE 6 AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERAL BRUISES.*AK
MY CADILLAC CTS (2003) WAS HIT DIRECTLY IN THE DRIVERS DOOR AT APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH AND THE SIDE IMPACT OR CURTAIN AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED SO HARD, THE WITNESS THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO FLIP OVER. CADILLAC INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY BECAUSE THE SENSOR DID NOT RE…
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MY CADILLAC CTS (2003) WAS HIT DIRECTLY IN THE DRIVERS DOOR AT APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH AND THE SIDE IMPACT OR CURTAIN AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS PUSHED SO HARD, THE WITNESS THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO FLIP OVER. CADILLAC INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM, AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY BECAUSE THE SENSOR DID NOT RECEIVE A DIRECT HIT. THE SENSOR IS LOCATED ON THE DOOR FRAME BETWEEN THE DRIVER AND REAR LEFT PASSENGER DOOR. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THE DOOR WAS TOTALLY SMASHED IN TO THE DRIVERS SEAT, THE VEHICLE FRAME DAMAGED, THE WINDOW BLEW OUT AND AIR BAGS DIDN'T GO OFF, BECAUSE THE SENSOR WAS NOT HIT.*AK
THE VEHICLE HAD THE OLD AIR BAG SENSOR. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE THE NEW SENSOR THAT WAS PLACED IN OTHER VEHICLES DUE TO A RECALL. THE DEALER HAS STATED NO REPAIRS WILL BE DONE UNTIL THERE IS A RECALL ISSUED FOR THAT VEHICLE. *NLM
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 F…
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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
Official recalls
414V394000 · Electrical System:ignition
Jul 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 & remedy
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.
10V105000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Mar 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 & remedy
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.
03V250000 · Equipment:other:owners/service/other Manual
Jul 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 & remedy
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.
03V115000 · Steering
Mar 24, 2003
SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLT MAY BE LOOSE.
Consequence & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.