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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 →

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.

29 crash reports12 fire reports17 injury reports

What owners actually said

313 reports
107,000 miles · Mar 23, 2013
Air Bags

BOUGHT CAR FOR TEENAGE DAUGHTER AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON. FOUND OUT 2005-2007 HAD A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. CADILLAC REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIRS. I AM CONCERNED THAT UNTIL PARTS COME IN MY NEW DRIVER IS UNPROTECTED IF IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504224

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineService Brakes

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE BRAKES SEEMED TO JERK A LITTLE AND THE CAR LOST MOST OF IT'S POWER. I HAD A MECHANIC TEST IT, AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A REASON FOR IT. THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT STAYED ON, BUT I DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE THE PROBLEM AGAIN UNTIL ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS…

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AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE BRAKES SEEMED TO JERK A LITTLE AND THE CAR LOST MOST OF IT'S POWER. I HAD A MECHANIC TEST IT, AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A REASON FOR IT. THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT STAYED ON, BUT I DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE THE PROBLEM AGAIN UNTIL ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS LATER WHEN I WAS GOING 70 DOWN THE HIGHWAY, LOST ALL POWER AND THE MOTOR SHUT DOWN. CADILLAC WOULD NOT RESTART, HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED OVER 2 HOURS BACK HOME, ONLY TO FIND THAT THIS TIME THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN AND THE MOTOR IS BLOWN SINCE THESE CARS HAVE INTERFERENCE MOTORS WHICH CAUSES THE VALVES TO GET BENT WHEN THE TIMING BELT BREAKS. I AM NOW WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND WAS ALMOST IN 2 ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS. ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE LIGHT COVER FROM THE LIGHTS ON THE TRUNK CAME OFF IN THE CAR WASH AND BROKE. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE YET CADILLAC REFUSES TO FIX IT. THEIR ADHESIVE WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD ON THE PLASTIC. THIS WAS MY FIRST CADILLAC, AND WILL BE MY LAST. THEY ARE DANGEROUS AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX THEIR FAILURES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503607

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2013
Engine

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY THE CARS BEHIND ME. THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN, AND THE MOTOR IS NOW BLOWN DUE TO THE VALVES BEING BENT. THIS WAS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND MY FAMILY, BUT IS VERY VERY COSTLY. I HAD PREVIOUS ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE LOSING POWER …

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY THE CARS BEHIND ME. THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN, AND THE MOTOR IS NOW BLOWN DUE TO THE VALVES BEING BENT. THIS WAS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND MY FAMILY, BUT IS VERY VERY COSTLY. I HAD PREVIOUS ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE LOSING POWER ONCE WHILE DRIVING, ALSO ALMOST GOT INTO ACCIDENT, BUT THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. THIS WAS ABOUT 3 MONTHS EARLIER. IT ONLY HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY GOING BETWEEN 60 - 70 MPH. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS! I WAS OVER 2 HOURS FROM HOME, AND HAD TO PAY A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK HOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10503571

72,000 miles · Feb 15, 2013
EngineFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT EMITTED SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAIL…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT EMITTED SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA ODI #10498272

140,000 miles · Dec 28, 2012
Exterior Lighting

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DROVE OVER A ROAD BUMP AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOOKED IN HER REAR VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED THAT THE LENS COVER OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DROVE OVER A ROAD BUMP AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOOKED IN HER REAR VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED THAT THE LENS COVER OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ODI #10490352

73,000 miles · Oct 22, 2012
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE CONTACT WAS AD…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY BOTH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE PART WAS NOT BEING MANUFACTURED BY THEM ANY LONGER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

NHTSA ODI #10481407

125,000 miles · Sep 6, 2012
Exterior Lighting

DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND THE REVERSE BEZEL FELL OFF, BROKE AND THE PART IS TOO EXPENSIVE! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10474172

116,000 miles · Aug 18, 2012
Air Bags

WHILE STARTING TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG IN HEADLINER DEPLOYED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10471358

108,000 miles · Jul 30, 2012
Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed Control

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

NHTSA ODI #10468366

96,000 miles · Jul 17, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

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

NHTSA ODI #10466278

Official recalls

4

14V394000 · 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.