DRIVING 70+MPH ON FREEWAY IN FAST LANE. CAR STOP ACCERLATING AND NO RPM THE STEELING WHEEL THEN LOCKED ON ME WHILE IN THE FAST LANE ON FREEWAY. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER RESTARTED THE CAR AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE SAFELY OFF FREEWAY.
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
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.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
24 reportsWHEN THE CAR IS DRIVING AT 50 MPH OR HIGHER A MESSAGE IS SENT ACROSS THE DASHBOARD SAYING TO "SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM" I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC SO SENSORS WERE BAD AND HE COULD NOT FIND THE ISSUE, WHEN THIS MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD AT HIGH SPEEDS IT FEELS LIKE ABS KICKS IN WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THE BRAKES AT ALL, SO THE CA…
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WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVING AT 50 MPH OR HIGHER A MESSAGE IS SENT ACROSS THE DASHBOARD SAYING TO "SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM" I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC SO SENSORS WERE BAD AND HE COULD NOT FIND THE ISSUE, WHEN THIS MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE DASHBOARD AT HIGH SPEEDS IT FEELS LIKE ABS KICKS IN WITHOUT ME TOUCHING THE BRAKES AT ALL, SO THE CAR WILL BRAKE ON ITS OWN AND ALMOST CAUSED A MULTI-CAR PILE UP BECAUSE MY CAR STARTED BRAKING ON ITS OWN OUT OF MY CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A DUMPSTER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A DUMPSTER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
WHILE DRIVING TURNING LEFT ONTO AN EXPRESSWAY ENTRANCE MY ENGINE SHUT DOWN I BELIEVE IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. I'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIND A SOLUTION. I AM IN FEAR THAT ONE DAY THIS CAR WILL LOSE POWER AT THE WRONG TIME AND CAUSE A SERIOUS IF NOT FATAL ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE …
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WHILE DRIVING TURNING LEFT ONTO AN EXPRESSWAY ENTRANCE MY ENGINE SHUT DOWN I BELIEVE IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. I'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIND A SOLUTION. I AM IN FEAR THAT ONE DAY THIS CAR WILL LOSE POWER AT THE WRONG TIME AND CAUSE A SERIOUS IF NOT FATAL ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM FIXED OR A REIMBURSEMENT TO INVEST IN A NEW VEHICLE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. *TR
WHEN DRIVING IT WOULD ENGAGE TO STABILITY MODE AND ALSO SERVICE STABILITY.. HOWEVER THE CAR WOULD GET OUT OF CONTROL AND IT WOULD BE AS IF YOU PUT YOU BRAKES ON WHEN YOU WERE IN WATER... BUT NO WATER AND I HADN'T PUT THE BRAKE UNTIL I HAD TO.. BECAUSE IT WENT OUT OF CONTROL FOR A QUICK (BUT MORE FREQUENT) TIME...I TOOK IT IN F…
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WHEN DRIVING IT WOULD ENGAGE TO STABILITY MODE AND ALSO SERVICE STABILITY.. HOWEVER THE CAR WOULD GET OUT OF CONTROL AND IT WOULD BE AS IF YOU PUT YOU BRAKES ON WHEN YOU WERE IN WATER... BUT NO WATER AND I HADN'T PUT THE BRAKE UNTIL I HAD TO.. BECAUSE IT WENT OUT OF CONTROL FOR A QUICK (BUT MORE FREQUENT) TIME...I TOOK IT IN FINALLY AND ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS BECAUSEWHEN I PURCHASED IT IN 2003 NEW. I HAD TO HAVE THE SHAFT BOLT FIXED ... THEN I HAD TO HAVE THE AIR BAG SERVICED AND THEY CHARGED ME FOR THAT ANOTHER TIME. THEN MY SEAT MOTOR WENT OUT. ETC. ALL WITHIN THE 1ST 5 YEARS WITH LOW MILEAGE TOO. SO I'VE BEE WAITING TO FIX THIS SINCE I AM A WIDOW AND DON'T WHO TO TRUST ANYMORE... I WAS TOLD THIS TIME IT IS LEAKING IN THE DIFFERENTIAL AND THAT'S WHY IT RUNS ROUGH AND JOLTS WHEN I PUT IN GEAR...AND THE THERMOSTAT AND 2 CAPS IN FRONT LEAKING ... WHO KNOWS.. BUT TOMORROW THEY WILL CALL ME WITH THE AMOUNT IT IS GOING TO COST... APPROX. 13 HOURS OF WORK.... *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A RECURRING STALLING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WHERE SEVERAL UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,730 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 06/30/14…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A RECURRING STALLING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WHERE SEVERAL UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,730 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 06/30/14 MA UPDATED 07/3/2014 *JS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE REDUCED POWER WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE LED SCREEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO THROTTLE RESPONSE AND BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF. …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE REDUCED POWER WARNING MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE LED SCREEN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NO THROTTLE RESPONSE AND BEGAN TO DECELERATE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF. ONCE RESTARTED, THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE DEFECT HAD RECENTLY RECURRED BUT HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000.
WE OWN A 2003 CADILLAC CTS THAT WE BOUGHT NEW BACK IN LATE 2002. IT CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 85,000 LIGHTLY DRIVEN MILES. ABOUT 1 1/2 YEARS AGO, THE ENGINE BECOME STUCK AT HIGH REVOLUTIONS. IN OTHER WORDS, THE CAR ACCELERATED TO HIGH SPEED AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE TO REGAIN CONTROL. WE REFERRED TO THIS AS A…
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WE OWN A 2003 CADILLAC CTS THAT WE BOUGHT NEW BACK IN LATE 2002. IT CURRENTLY HAS ABOUT 85,000 LIGHTLY DRIVEN MILES. ABOUT 1 1/2 YEARS AGO, THE ENGINE BECOME STUCK AT HIGH REVOLUTIONS. IN OTHER WORDS, THE CAR ACCELERATED TO HIGH SPEED AND WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE TO REGAIN CONTROL. WE REFERRED TO THIS AS A "THROTTLE CONTROL" PROBLEM--ALTHOUGH THAT MAY NOT BE THE CORRECT TERMINOLOGY. IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE CADILLAC DEALER AT THAT TIME (AT CONSIDERABLE COST). SINCE THEN, THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWO MORE TIMES. IT WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOW RETURNED FOR A THIRD TIME.THE CAR IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AS UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION MAY OCCUR AT ANY MOMENT. MOST RECENTLY, THE DEALER CLAIMS THAT THE PROBLEM IS DUE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (COMPUTER)--BUT IT REMAINS TO BE SEEN IF THAT WILL INDEED REPAIR THE PROBLEM. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE ON A SHORT TRIP ABOUT 9 MONTHS AGO, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN EXTREMELY UNEVENLY--BARELY FUNCTIONING. WE LIMPED INTO A CADILLAC DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS TWO FAULTY COILS. THEY REPLACED THOSE (AGAIN AS CONSIDERABLE COST) AND THE CAR RAN WELL AGAIN--UNTIL THIS LATEST EPISODE OF UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION WHERE THE ENGINE BECOMES STUCK AT EXTREMELY HIGH REVOLUTIONS. *TR
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED. ALL OF A SUDDEN A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP IN TIME. I HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO WORK. I TOOK MY CAR TO CADILLAC IN ARIZONA AND THEY HAD IT FOR 2 DAYS AND COULD NOT FIND AN ISSUE. I DROVE HOME THAT DAY WITH IT AND SURE ENOUGH IT DID IT WHILE I WAS H…
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I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN THIS FIRST HAPPENED. ALL OF A SUDDEN A LOUD SCREECHING NOISE AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP IN TIME. I HAD TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO WORK. I TOOK MY CAR TO CADILLAC IN ARIZONA AND THEY HAD IT FOR 2 DAYS AND COULD NOT FIND AN ISSUE. I DROVE HOME THAT DAY WITH IT AND SURE ENOUGH IT DID IT WHILE I WAS HOME. IT HAD NOW BEGAN TO JERK ME TO THE RIGHT AND LEFT WHEN I PRESS ON THE BRAKES, SCARING ME THINKING I AM GOING TO HIT THE CAR NEXT TO ME. I TOOK IT TO MIDAS THIS TIME AND THEY NOTICED A PROBLEM AND SAID MAYBE ITS A WHEEL BARRING. THEY REPLACED ISSUE DUPLICATED ITSELF SHORTLY AFTER. SINCE I DID NOT HAVE A SECOND CAR OR PAY FOR A RENTAL I HAD TO TAKE MY CAR HOME TO GO BACK TO WORK THE NEXT DAY. THIS PROBLEM IS A SAFETY HAZARD AND I HAVE EVEN BEEN PULLED OVER BECAUSE THE COP ASKED WHY I WAS SWERVING WHILE DRIVING. I TOLD THE OFFICE ITS THE CODE THAT COMES UP ON MY SCREEN AND IT MAKES MY CAR HALT WHILE DRIVING AND I CAN NOT CONTROL IT. HE STATED THAT ITS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND IF ANOTHER OFFICER WAS ON DUTY THEY MIGHT IMPOUND MY CAR DUE TO A SAFETY HAZARD BUT HE WOULD GIVE ME A CHANCE TO TAKE IT HOME TO GO TO THE SHOP. I AM ALMOST CLOSE TO TRADING IN MY VEHICLE AND BUYING A NEW ONE, BUT NOT A CTS. IF CADILLAC CAN'T SOLVE THIS, THE CREATOR, WHO CAN? I AM SCARED I'M GOING TO VEER OFF THE FREEWAY OR HIT A CAR ON THE WAY TO WORK. I DRIVE AN HOUR TO AND FROM WORK EVERYDAY AND MY SAFETY IS THE UTMOST CONCERN TO ME AND MY FAMILY. *TR
I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER 2011 WITH APPROX. 97,000 MILES SHOWING ON THE ODOMETER. DURING A THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY TRIP OF SOME 1600 MILES, CONSISTING MOSTLY OF HIGHWAY DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE ASC (AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL) WOULD DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, "TUG" TH…
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I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER 2011 WITH APPROX. 97,000 MILES SHOWING ON THE ODOMETER. DURING A THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY TRIP OF SOME 1600 MILES, CONSISTING MOSTLY OF HIGHWAY DRIVING WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE ASC (AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL) WOULD DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL, "TUG" THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT SLIGHTLY, SEEMED TO HAVE A SLIGHT BRAKING EFFECT (ALTHOUGH IT MAY HAVE BEEN THE SUDDEN DECELERATION THAT CAUSED THE SENSE OF BRAKING) AND WOULD DISPLAY " STABILITY CONTROL ENGAGED". THIS OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. ALSO, ON THIS SAME TRIP, THE "TRACTION CONTROL" WOULD ENGAGE, WITHOUT WARNING OR NEED, AND DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL CAUSING SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED, DECELERATION. THIS TOO HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. ALTHOUGH I DID NOTICE THAT THE "TRACTION CONTROL" SEEMED TO ENGAGE WHEN IN A CURVE ON ROUGH OR BUMPY ROADS. I CONCLUDED THAT THIS WAS THE RESULT OF A SUDDEN "WHEEL HOP" OR "SPIN" AS A RESULT OF LOSING TRACTION FROM THE "BOUNCE" WHEN HITTING A BUMP OR ROUGH SPOT. I'VE RUN THE "ONBOARD DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM" SEVERAL TIMES AND NO CODES PERTAINING TO THESE EVENTS ARE DISPLAYED. *TR
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.
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