IllustrationMY CAR WAS IN MOTION ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR IS USED BUT EXCELLENT CONDITION AND RECENTLY PURCHASED. I FELT A JOLT GOT OFF THE NEXT EXIT AND CAR WILL NOT START, ALL BATTERIES COME ON, EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS
2004 Cadillac Cts
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Cts years
Owner complaints for the 2004 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
580–25K
2625–50K
2450–75K
3175–100K
24100–150K
9150K+
172 reports with mileage · 52 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.
- Power Train. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
25 crash reports1 fire reports21 injury reports
Exterior Lighting complaints
7 reportsTL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS WERE VERY DIM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000.
JANUARY 29, 2012, VEHICLE HEADLAMP WENT OUT. I OBSERVED CONDENSATION IN THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED WATER HAD ENTERED ASSEMBLY AND SHORTED OUT BALLAST AND BULB ON HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. REPAIR COST: $646. APPROXIMATELY MAY 5, 2012, DURING RAINY WEATHER, SAME HEADLAM…
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JANUARY 29, 2012, VEHICLE HEADLAMP WENT OUT. I OBSERVED CONDENSATION IN THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. IT WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED WATER HAD ENTERED ASSEMBLY AND SHORTED OUT BALLAST AND BULB ON HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. REPAIR COST: $646. APPROXIMATELY MAY 5, 2012, DURING RAINY WEATHER, SAME HEADLAMP WENT OUT. AGAIN, CONDENSATION IN HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY. BULB AND BALLAST SHORTED OUT DUE TO WATER. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY, REPAIR COST IN EXCESS OF $1200. COMPLAINED TO GM, AND THEY PROVIDED GOODWILL COST ADJUSTMENT, BUT STILL HAD TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $671. I'M AFRAID THE RIGHT SIDE HEADLAMP WILL DO THE SAME THING EVENTUALLY. GM NEEDS TO REPLACE FAULTY HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ON VEHICLES DUE TO CONDENSATION CAUSED BY MANUFACTURERS DEFECT IN SEALING THE ASSEMBLY DURING PRODUCTION. THERE APPEARS TO BE A LOT OF ISSUES WITH HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ON GM VEHICLES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, APPROACHING A STOP SIGN WHEN THE VEHICLE JERKED AND SURGED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS AT STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLIC…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, APPROACHING A STOP SIGN WHEN THE VEHICLE JERKED AND SURGED FORWARD UNEXPECTEDLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS AT STOP SIGN OR TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD SIGNIFICANT CONCERNS REGARDING THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,000. UPDATED 9/22/10 THE CONSUMER STATED HE EXPERIENCED A HESITATION AND SURGE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BY CLEANING THE AIR INTAKE THAT HAD AN OILY DIRTY FILM ON IT. UPDATED 09/24/10 UPDATED 04-14-14 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE LOW BEAMS ARE POORLY ILLUMINATED. *TR
ON MY 2004 CADILLAC CTS THE AREA WHERE THE BACKUP LIGHTS ARE LEAKS FROM RAIN, OR A CAR WASH. THIS CAUSES THE CONSTANT REPLACEMENT OF BULBS BECAUSE OF RAIN AND MOISTURE GETTING INTO THE AREA CAUSING THE SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE BULBS, AND CORROSION OF ELECTRICAL SOCKETS, LET ALONE THE RISK INVOLVED OF BACKING UP AND SOMEONE HITTING…
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ON MY 2004 CADILLAC CTS THE AREA WHERE THE BACKUP LIGHTS ARE LEAKS FROM RAIN, OR A CAR WASH. THIS CAUSES THE CONSTANT REPLACEMENT OF BULBS BECAUSE OF RAIN AND MOISTURE GETTING INTO THE AREA CAUSING THE SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE BULBS, AND CORROSION OF ELECTRICAL SOCKETS, LET ALONE THE RISK INVOLVED OF BACKING UP AND SOMEONE HITTING OUR CAR FROM THE REAR BECAUSE OF FAILURE OF THE BACK UP LIGHTS, (WE'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE BULBS FOUR TIMES IN 2 MONTHS). WE TOOK OUR CAR TODAY TO THE CADILLAC DEALERSHIP, ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM, THAT CADILLAC FOUND THE ERROR, AND THAT THE ENTIRE SECTION OF THE CAR HAS TO BE REPLACED. YET WE HAVE TO PAY BETWEEN 500.00 TO 700.00 FOR PARTS AND LABOR TO HAVE THE CORRECTION MADE. FOR THIS TO BE A 3 YEAR OLD VEHICLE, AND FOR THIS TO BE A PROBLEM, THAT CADILLAC KNOWS ABOUT, THIS SOUNDS MORE LIKE A RECALL ITEM THAT SHOULD BE COVERED BY CADILLAC AND GM. *TR
HEADLIGHTS FLICKER, ABOUT AS QUICKLY AS THE BLINK OF YOUR EYE. HAVE RETRUNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER THREE TIMES BUT THEY HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR REPAIR THE CONDITION.
THE DIMMER SWITCH STAYS ON, AND CONSUMER WOULD BE UNABLE TO SEE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DURING DAYTIME. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK
Official recalls
614V542000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump
Sep 9, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 Cadillac CTS-V vehicles manufactured October 6, 2003, to March 15, 2007, and 2006-2007 Cadillac STS-V vehicles manufactured June 23, 2005, to March 15, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the electrical terminals of the fuel pump module may overheat resulting in the melting of the flange material.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the flange melts, a hole may be created allowing the fuel pump to leak fuel, causing the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, leaking fuel in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel module and fuel tank jumper harness, free of charge. GM sent out interim notices in late October. The recall began on March 12, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14405.
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.
05V024000 · Air Bags
Jan 20, 2005
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, AN INTERACTION BETWEEN THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE AND VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG AND/OR ROOF-MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG TO DEPLOY WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED TO THE "ON" POSITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A PERSON POSITIONED FOR DRIVING MAY RECEIVE MINOR INJURIES, SUCH AS ABRASIONS, FROM CONTACT WITH A DEPLOYING AIR BAG.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 20, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.
04V273000 · Steering:linkages
Jun 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 & remedy
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.
03V346000 · Seats
Sep 29, 2003
CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." ONE OR BOTH FRONT ANCHOR TABS FOR THE FRONT BUCKET SEATS ARE NOT ENGAGED IN THE FLOOR PAN REINFORCEMENT SLOTS. A SEAT WITH ONLY ONE TAB ENGAGED OR NEITHER ENGAGED WOULD NOT MEET THE STATIC REARWARD LOADING TEST REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN SOME CRASH CONDITIONS, THE SEAT COULD PIVOT REARWARD AND ITS OCCUPANT OR A REAR SEAT OCCUPANT COULD BE INJURED MORE SEVERELY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ENSURE THAT BOTH FRONT ANCHOR TABS ARE FULLY SEATED IN THE FLOOR PAN REINFORCEMENT SLOTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT GM 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
2EA07017 · Rear Drivetrain Component Failure
Opened Dec 7, 2007 · Closed Jul 16, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:driveline:differential Unit
IN JULY OF 2007 THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION (ODI) OPENED PE07-037 TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL MAY FAIL CAUSING A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER, AND IN SOME INSTANCES A LOSS OF CONTROL, IN MODEL YEAR (MY) 2004 THROUGH 2006 CADILLAC CTS, CTS-V, AND STS VEHICLES.AS A RESULT OF THAT INVESTIGATION GM ISSUED RECALL 07V-589 TO CORRECT A LEAKING PINION SEAL PROBLEM.EA07-017 WAS OPENED TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF FRACTURED REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSINGS OR REAR HALF SHAFTS IN HIGH PERFORMANCE CADILLAC CTS-V VEHICLES.ACCORDING TO GM, THESE FAILURES RESULTED FROM THE CUMULATIVE DAMAGE FROM MULTIPLE POWER HOP EVENTS THAT CAN OCCUR DURING VERY AGGRESSIVE DRIVING. IN FEBRUARY 2008 INVESTIGATORS FROM ODI MET WITH GM REPRESENTATIVES TO CONDUCT TESTING OF THE SUBJECT CTS-V VEHICLES.DURING THE TESTING THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WERE SUBJECTED TO CONSIDERABLE TORSIONAL FORCES FROM STANDING STARTS AND WHILE DRIVING.POWER HOP OCCURRED DURING SOME OF THE MOST AGGRESSIVE DRIVING MANEUVERS.THE TESTING DID NOT RESULT IN FAILURE OF ANY REAR DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS.THE ENGINEERING DESIGN AND TESTING DATA SUPPLIED TO ODI BY GM AND THE RESULTS OF THE TESTING CONDUCTED BY ODI TEND TO SUPPORT GM'S POSITION THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL DESIGN IS NOT DEFECTIVE. COMPLAINTS LISTED IN THE FAILURE REPORT DO NOT INCLUDE THOSE INDICATIVE OF FAILURE OF THE REAR PINION SEAL IN CTS-V VEHICLES COVERED BY RECALL 07V-589. FURTHER INVESTIGATION IN THIS MATTER WOULD NOT BE AN EFFICIENT ALLOCATION OF AGENCY RESOURCES.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.SEE ATTACHED CLOSING REPORT FOR FURTHER DETAILS.
PE07037 · Failure Of The Rear Differential
Opened Jul 17, 2007 · Closed Dec 27, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:driveline:differential Unit
ODI EVALUATED TWO DIFFERENT ALLEGED DEFECTS INVOLVING REAR DRIVETRAIN COMPONENTS DURING THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION.GM IS CONDUCTING A RECALL TO ADDRESS ONE OF THE DEFECT CONDITIONS AND ODI HAS OPENED AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS TO CONTINUE ITS INVESTIGATION OF THE OTHER ALLEGED DEFECT. ON DECEMBER 19, 2007, GM SUBMITTED A DEFECT INFORMATION REPORT TO NHTSA CONCERNING DEFECTIVE REAR AXLE PINION SEALS IN APPROXIMATELY 275,936 MODEL YEAR (MY) 2005-07 CADILLAC CTS, STS AND SRX VEHICLES AS WELL AS MY 2006-07 PONTIAC SOLSTICE AND MY 2007 SATURN SKY VEHICLES (RECALL 07V-589).ON STS AND SRX VEHICLES WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE, THE FRONT AXLE PINION SEAL ALSO DOES NOT MEET ALL OF GM'S SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY EXPERIENCE A FLUID LEAK.GM INDICATED THAT THE SEAL SUPPLIER MADE AN UNAUTHORIZED CHANGE TO THE PINION SEAL MATERIAL.LEAKING PINION SEALS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF REAR DIFFERENTIAL LUBRICATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN REAR WHEEL LOCK-UP AND LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. ON DECEMBER 7, 2007, ODI OPENED AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA07-017) TO INVESTIGATE COMPLAINTS OF REAR DRIVETRAIN COMPONENT FAILURE (E.G., FRACTURED REAR DIFFERENTIAL CARRIER HOUSING OR REAR AXLE HALF SHAFTS) WHILE DRIVING IN APPROXIMATELY 7,600 MY 2004 THROUGH 2006 CADILLAC CTS-V VEHICLES.THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT IN A LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER AND VEHICLE DISABLEMENT AND IS NOT ADDRESSED BY RECALL 07V-589.ODI IDENTIFIED 35 COMPLAINTS (16 TO ODI AND 19 TO GM) AND 128 WARRANTY CLAIMS POTENTIALLY RELATED TO THIS CONDITION (SEE EA07-017 OPENING RESUME).THESE COMPLAINTS ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THE FAILURE REPORT SUMMARY OF THIS CLOSING RESUME. THE COMPLAINTS AND WARRANTY FIGURES GIVEN IN THIS RESUME ARE LIMITED TO THOSE THAT (A) ARE MOST LIKELY CAUSED BY A LEAKING REAR PINION SEAL; AND (B) RESULTED IN AN ALLEGATION OF A REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE WHILE DRIVING.THE DATA DO NOT INCLUDE ALL REPORTS OF SEAL LEAKAGE.