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2004 Cadillac Xlr

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

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There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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Owner complaints by model year

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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

29 reports with mileage · 5 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.

  • 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

What owners actually said

34 reports
17,000 miles · Jun 16, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

MY 2004 CADILLAC XLR APPLIED THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE ONLY AND ILLUMINATED THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAUSING A BRIEF AND SEVERE SWERVE FOR ABOUT 1 SECOND. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED. EVERYTHING WAS FINE FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS WHEN IT DID IT AGAIN, LUCKILY NO ONE IN MY PATH OF TRAVEL. MOST RECENTLY IT DID IT AGAIN…

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MY 2004 CADILLAC XLR APPLIED THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE ONLY AND ILLUMINATED THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAUSING A BRIEF AND SEVERE SWERVE FOR ABOUT 1 SECOND. I PULLED OVER AND SHUT THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED. EVERYTHING WAS FINE FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS WHEN IT DID IT AGAIN, LUCKILY NO ONE IN MY PATH OF TRAVEL. MOST RECENTLY IT DID IT AGAIN ABOUT ONE MONTH AGO , SAME WHEEL, SAME SPEED. I AM VERY MECHANICALLY INCLINED AND PERFORMED A THOROUGH INSPECTION AND I CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS VERY UNSAFE PROBLEM WITH A PRETTY EXPENSIVE CAR! MY CAR NOW HAS JUST ABOUT 18,500 MILES AND I'M WONDERING WHEN IT'LL HAPPEN AGAIN! I WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR AND ENJOY IT BUT, I'M NERVOUS AND I FIND MYSELF GRIPPING THE STEERING WHEEL TIGHTER EVERYTIME I DRIVE IT NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10598697

47,000 miles · May 12, 2014
Visibility/wiper

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC XLR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT LENSES BECAME FROSTED AND CAUSED THE COLOR TO CHANGE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE LENSES TO CHANGE COLOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT A…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC XLR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHT LENSES BECAME FROSTED AND CAUSED THE COLOR TO CHANGE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE LENSES TO CHANGE COLOR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ODI #10587852

110,000 miles · Mar 24, 2014
Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed ControlCrash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC XLR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD EMIT AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION. ALSO, THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES FOR A TRAFFIC STOP AND THE BRAKES SEIZED, CA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC XLR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD EMIT AN ABNORMAL NOISE WHEN TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION. ALSO, THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHEN THE STABILITY CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES FOR A TRAFFIC STOP AND THE BRAKES SEIZED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE ABS TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ALSO ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V046000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE OR REPAIR THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 05/28/14 MA THE CONSUMER STATED THE AXEL WAS REPLACED AND REPAIRED. UPDATED 05/30/2014 *JS

NHTSA ODI #10574399

12,000 miles · Feb 18, 2014
Exterior Lighting

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 DA…

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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

42,500 miles · Dec 31, 2013
Electrical SystemPower Train

PARKED IN A PARKING LOT & PLACED IT IN PARK. UPON RETURNING I STARTED THE CAR & PLACED IT IN DRIVE. I TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE & CAR MOVED REARWARD. PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL & CAR MOVED REARWARD. I TRIED ALL GEARS INCLUDING PARK & CAR MOVED REARWARD, TURNED CAR OFF. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART BECAUSE IT WAS NOT IN PARK. BECAUSE CAR WAS NOT IN P…

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PARKED IN A PARKING LOT & PLACED IT IN PARK. UPON RETURNING I STARTED THE CAR & PLACED IT IN DRIVE. I TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE & CAR MOVED REARWARD. PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL & CAR MOVED REARWARD. I TRIED ALL GEARS INCLUDING PARK & CAR MOVED REARWARD, TURNED CAR OFF. CAR WOULD NOT RESTART BECAUSE IT WAS NOT IN PARK. BECAUSE CAR WAS NOT IN PARK ALL ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES WOULD NOT TURN OFF & BATTERY WENT DEAD, DOORS OR WINDOWS WOULD NOT OPEN BECAUSE ALL ARE OPERATED ELECTRICALLY. FORTUNATELY THE BATTERY DIED ON ROUTE TO DEALERSHIP ON TOW TRUCK. THE SHIFT CABLE WAS FOUND TO BE BROKE. I LOOKED ON THE WEB SITE XLR NET & THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM AND APPEARS IN SEVERAL FORUMS. IF THERE HAD BEEN A CAR BEHIND ME I CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE HIT IT. ONE GUY ON THE FORUM PARKED HIS CAR PUT IN PARK & WHEN HE TURNED BACK THE CAR WAS ROLLING DOWN A HILL. SINCE THERE WAS LITTLE CHANGE IN XLR DESIGN OVER THE YEARS I WOULD SUSPECT ALL MODEL YEARS THROUGH 2009 ARE AFFECTED.A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION! THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED ON A LOW MILEAGE WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10557973

60,599 miles · Sep 25, 2013
Power Train

8/24/11 - VEHICLE STUCK IN REVERSE. WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY OTHER GEAR. DEALER FOUND SHIFT CABLE BROKEN. - 09/19/13-PARKED WAITING ON A FAMILY MEMBER. HAD THE VECHILE IN PARK (SO I THOUGHT). WHEN I WAS READY TO LEAVE THE CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO ANY GEAR. DEALER FOUND SHIFT CABLE BROKE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10545438

76,474 miles · May 2, 2013
Exterior Lighting

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 …

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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

78,000 miles · Jul 28, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THE COMPLAINT BELOW REGARDING MY 2004 CADILLAC XLR. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS DESCRIBED BELOW. MAKE : CADILLAC MODEL : XLR YEAR : 2004 MANUFACTURER : GENERAL MOTORS CORP. CRASH : NO FIRE : NO NUMBER OF INJURIES: 0 ODI ID NUMBER : 10342498 NUMBER OF DEATHS: 0 DATE OF FAILURE: J…

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I WOULD LIKE TO SECOND THE COMPLAINT BELOW REGARDING MY 2004 CADILLAC XLR. I AM ALSO EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS DESCRIBED BELOW. MAKE : CADILLAC MODEL : XLR YEAR : 2004 MANUFACTURER : GENERAL MOTORS CORP. CRASH : NO FIRE : NO NUMBER OF INJURIES: 0 ODI ID NUMBER : 10342498 NUMBER OF DEATHS: 0 DATE OF FAILURE: JULY 10, 2010 VIN : [XXX]... COMPONENT: SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC SUMMARY: I HAVE A 2004 CADILLAC XLR THAT HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS THE 2005-2009 CORVETTES HAVE. THE SERVICE STABILITRAK MESSAGE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CARS BRAKES LIGHT DO NOT WORK WHEN THIS COMES ON. YOUR CASE NUMBERS FOR THIS ARE PE08056 AND EA09-002 MY CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT SUDDENLY WHEN THIS MESSAGE CAME ON. ALSO ANOTHER RELATED PROBLEM TO THIS IN BOTH CORVETTES AND XLR'S IS AFTER THIS HAPPENS AND YOU TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND START THE CAR AGAIN IT GIVES A MESSAGE TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAUSE THE CAR HAS PUSH BUTTON START. THE CAR WILL NOT START SOMETIMES AND WHEN IT DOES IT WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK WITHOUT FORCING THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS YOU CAN. THE XLR IS PART CORVETTE AND WAS BUILT IN THE CORVETTE PLANT I THINK GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO INCLUDE THEM IN THIS RECALL. I HAVE HAD OTHER MOTORISTS FLAG ME DOWN ABOUT MY BRAKE LIGHTS NOT COMING ON WHEN COMING TO A STOP. I SURE WOULD THINK THAT FOR $76,000 CAR GM COULD AT LEAST MAKE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK. CHECK TO REQUEST RESEARCH. SUBMIT BELOW. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10345873

39,000 miles · Jul 14, 2010
Fuel System, Gasoline

2004 CADILLAC XLR STRONG FUEL SMELL AFTER FILLING UP GAS TANK. MECHANIC SAID THERE IS A LEAK IN THE CROSSOVER TUBES LEADING TO THE FUEL TANK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10343330

26,000 miles · Jul 11, 2010
Service Brakes, Electric

I HAVE A 2004 CADILLAC XLR THAT HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS THE 2005-2009 CORVETTES HAVE. THE SERVICE STABILITRAK MESSAGE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CARS BRAKES LIGHT DO NOT WORK WHEN THIS COMES ON. YOUR CASE NUMBERS FOR THIS ARE PE08056 AND EA09-002 MY CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT SUDDENLY WHEN THIS MESSAGE CAME …

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I HAVE A 2004 CADILLAC XLR THAT HAS THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS THE 2005-2009 CORVETTES HAVE. THE SERVICE STABILITRAK MESSAGE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CARS BRAKES LIGHT DO NOT WORK WHEN THIS COMES ON. YOUR CASE NUMBERS FOR THIS ARE PE08056 AND EA09-002 MY CAR PULLED TO THE RIGHT SUDDENLY WHEN THIS MESSAGE CAME ON. ALSO ANOTHER RELATED PROBLEM TO THIS IN BOTH CORVETTES AND XLR'S IS AFTER THIS HAPPENS AND YOU TURN THE ENGINE OFF AND START THE CAR AGAIN IT GIVES A MESSAGE TO PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAUSE THE CAR HAS PUSH BUTTON START. THE CAR WILL NOT START SOMETIMES AND WHEN IT DOES IT WILL NOT COME OUT OF PARK WITHOUT FORCING THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS YOU CAN. THE XLR IS PART CORVETTE AND WAS BUILT IN THE CORVETTE PLANT I THINK GM SHOULD BE FORCED TO INCLUDE THEM IN THIS RECALL. I HAVE HAD OTHER MOTORISTS FLAG ME DOWN ABOUT MY BRAKE LIGHTS NOT COMING ON WHEN COMING TO A STOP. I SURE WOULD THINK THAT FOR $76,000 CAR GM COULD AT LEAST MAKE SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10342498

Official recalls

4

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

1

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