Structure. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Exterior Lighting complaints

4 reports

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42,000 miles · Jun 4, 2019

Exterior Lighting

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC XLR. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING PULLED INTO THE GARAGE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS MELTED AND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE CONTACT TO SEE CLEARLY. THE CONTACT CALLED SEVERAL DEALERS, INCLUDING WALLACE CADILLAC (772-286-3555, LOCATED AT 3555 SE FEDERAL HWY, STUART, FL 34997). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY NO LONGER MADE THOSE TYPE OF HEADLIGHTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH SEVERAL WEBSITES TO SEARCH FOR USED HEADLIGHTS. THE CONTACT FOUND A COMPANY IN CHICAGO THAT HAD THE HEADLIGHTS, BUT THE COST WAS TOO EXPENSIVE. THE CONTACT MADE AN OFFER THAT WAS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THE SELLER. THE CONTACT CALLED SEVERAL OTHER COMPANIES, INCLUDING EBAY, BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION AND THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND BOTH REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.

NHTSA ODI #11217732

42,000 miles · May 7, 2019

Exterior Lighting

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC XLR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE INTERIOR DRL HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES MELTED AND CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE DIMLY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. WALLACE CADILLAC(3555 SE FEDERAL HWY, STUART, FL) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FRONT HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

NHTSA ODI #11206015

12,000 miles · Feb 18, 2014

Exterior Lighting

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC XLR. THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AROUND THE TURN SIGNAL AND INFORMED AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOCKET WAS MELTING AND THE PLASTIC HOUSING WAS WARPED. THE FAILURES WERE RELATED TO NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 06V263000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING; THE DAY TIME RUNNING LAMP/TURN SIGNAL AND PARKING LAMP BECAME INOPERATIVE. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ALSO REPLACED THE SOCKETS INSIDE THE HEADLIGHTS FOR THE ENTIRE UNIT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120000 UPDATED 4/9/14 MA *TR

NHTSA ODI #10564877

76,474 miles · May 2, 2013

Exterior Lighting

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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 THAT WITH THESE HEAT AFFECTED LENSES THAT THE OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS OF THE LAMPS IS REDUCED. I'M AWARE THAT CADILLAC HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BULBS FOR THESE LAMPS AND ISSUED A RECALL IN '06. MY CAR HAS HAD THE RECALL WORK (BUT DID NOT INCLUDE LENS REPLACEMENT) PERFORMED, ACCORDING TO THE WARRANTY WORK HISTORY. MY LOCAL CADILLAC DEALER, AFTER EXAMINING THE PROBLEM, HAS REFERRED ME TO THE 800 NUMBER FOR A CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. I DO PLAN TO TALK TO CADILLAC ABOUT THIS, BUT I THOUGHT I SHOULD REGISTER THIS WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION ALSO. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510369

Official recalls

06V263000 · Exterior Lighting:turn Signal

Jul 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 & remedy

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.

05V046000 · Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal

Feb 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 & remedy

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.

04V525000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Nov 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 & remedy

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.

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.

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

PE19001 · Roof Skin Separation While Driving

Opened Feb 1, 2019 · Closed Dec 12, 2019

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure:body:roof And Pillars

On August 23rd, 2018 - the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a media inquiry pertaining to a motorist experiencing separation of the roof skin from their Cadillac XLR while driving.Based on the data in-hand at that time and a subsequent (December) consumer complaint, ODI opened PE19-001 on February 1, 2019 to evaluate the scope of this condition in the 2004 - 2005 XLR population.The subject vehicle model is a two-seat roadster equipped with an electrically powered retractable roof system. The outer roof skin is a Sheet Molded Composite (SMC) which is adhered to the magnesium alloy roof frame.ODI's February 7, 2019 Information Request (IR) letter to General Motors (GM) covered the entirety of XLR production: MY 2004 - 2009. GM's March 21, 2019 IR response attributed the separations to an unexpected oxide layer on the magnesium framework. A total of eight separations were identified, six of which coincided with consumer complaints to NHTSA. Separations occurred at two per calendar year with the most recent taking place in late 2018.An additional twenty-one noise, fit/finish/ functionality claims were identified that did not lead to separations.ODI compared the separation rate in the subject vehicles to those in to two roof skin separation safety recalls involving the Corvette (06V181: 2005 - 2006 Corvette; 09V491: 2005 - 2007 Corvette) to find that the subject vehicles took over ten years of exposure to reach the failure rate that triggered the 06V181.Since PE19-001 opened, ODI has received only one additional consumer complaint which reported wind noise symptoms. The complainant has not responded to outreach efforts by ODI or GM.Based on a low failure rate, sporadic occurrence, and high detectability of the alleged defect in the subject vehicles, this investigation is closed. Further use of agency resources on this matter is not warranted. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exist in the subject vehicles.The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances. The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.nhtsa.gov under the following ODI identification numbers: Separations: 11155574, 11101657, 11012176, 11012166, 10970736, 10970383, 10653304Note: ODI 11012176 & 11012166 pertain to the same incidentNot Separated: 11243947, 11194359, 11176647, 11173362, 11074433, 10985013 Note: 11176647 & 10985013 pertain to the same incident