2004 Cadillac Cts-V Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2004 Cadillac Cts-V, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Brakes440.0%
- Steering220.0%
- Suspension220.0%
- Driver assistance110.0%
- Electrical110.0%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, AND WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAKE FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS. THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS FAILED, THE BALL JOINT WAS CRACKED AND BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO CENTRAL HOUSTON CADILLAC DEALER (2520 MAIN ST, HOUSTON, TX 77002, (832) 431-5697) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 84781603741. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
KEY GOT STUCK IN IGNITION IN THE START POSITION. CAR WON'T START NEITHER TURN OFF COMPLETELY WON'T TURN OFF LEAVING LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD ON THUS CAUSING THE BATTERY TO RUN DEAD. MY TRACTION AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE WITH A WARN SIGNAL SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE SYSTEM.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, AND WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAKE FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS. THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS FAILED, THE BALL JOINT WAS CRACKED AND BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO CENTRAL HOUSTON CADILLAC DEALER (2520 MAIN ST, HOUSTON, TX 77002, (832) 431-5697) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 84781603741. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
I WAS TRAVELING AT NIGHT ON I-95 IN FLORIDA AT 70MPH W/CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. VEHICLE SUDDENLY FELL OUT OF 6TH GEAR AND ENGINE OVER-REVVED TO RED-LINE CAUSING ENGINE TO SHUT OFF COMPLETELY (AS IT IS DESIGNED TO DO) - RESULTING IN SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE SPEED, TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. I MANAGED TO GUIDE VEHICLE SAFELY TO SHOULDER OF ROAD (ONLY BECAUSE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT). I COLLECTED MY THOUGHTS AND GOT VEHICLE RE-STARTED AS NORMAL. I CONTINUED ON MY TRIP BUT WITHOUT USING CRUISE CONTROL. VEHICLE FELL OUT OF 6TH GEAR SEVERAL MORE TIMES (AND A COUNTLESS NUMBER OF TIMES SINCE THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT), BUT I WAS ABLE TO PREVENT ENGINE OVER-REV & SHUT-DOWN BY NOT USING THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE. THERE IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE (SEE NUMEROUS INTERNET COMPLAINTS) AND, GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED ABOVE, I FEEL THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE A LONG TIME AGO. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A TREMEC T-56 MANUAL TRANSMISSION. SINCE FIRST INCIDENT, I HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO CADILLAC DEALERSHIPS. SOME REPAIRS WERE MADE, BUT NONE HAVE SOLVED THE PROBLEM. HAVE ALSO TAKEN VEHICLE TO AUTHORIZED TREMEC SERVICE DEALER - MORE REPAIRS MADE. PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. HAVE SCHEDULED ANOTHER SERVICE REPAIR VISIT TO TREMEC DEALER. VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 99,000 MILES ON IT. SINCE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, I HAVE SPENT APPROXIMATELY $3,500 ON THIS PROBLEM TO DATE WITH NO RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. *TR
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, AND WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAKE FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS. THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS FAILED, THE BALL JOINT WAS CRACKED AND BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO CENTRAL HOUSTON CADILLAC DEALER (2520 MAIN ST, HOUSTON, TX 77002, (832) 431-5697) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 84781603741. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
I HAVE OR HAD A 2004 CADILLAC CTS-V. IT HAD GIVEN ME SOME PROBLEMS WITH TURNING. SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I MADE TURNS ONTO ANOTHER STREET OR EVEN WHEN I TOOK AN ON RAMP ONTO AN INTERSTATE, I HAVE LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR. IT SEEMS TO LOOSE TRACTION, LIKE THE TRACTION CONTROL GOT TURNED OFF (WHICH IT HADN'T) AND BEGAN DRIFTING/SWERVING ON THE ROAD WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES, UNTIL FINALLY IT DID. THANKSGIVING OF 2017 IT FINALLY DID CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND A DEATH OF ONE OF MY FRIENDS. I WAS TAKING A LEFT TURN ONE NIGHT ON THE WAY TO DROP OFF SOME FRIENDS WHEN MY VEHICLE KEPT TURNING, LIKE IT SWUNG OUT, AND HIT A POLE, CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND TAKING THE LIFE OF ONE OF MY PASSENGERS THAT NIGHT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
KEY GOT STUCK IN IGNITION IN THE START POSITION. CAR WON'T START NEITHER TURN OFF COMPLETELY WON'T TURN OFF LEAVING LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD ON THUS CAUSING THE BATTERY TO RUN DEAD. MY TRACTION AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE WITH A WARN SIGNAL SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE SYSTEM.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
KEY GOT STUCK IN IGNITION IN THE START POSITION. CAR WON'T START NEITHER TURN OFF COMPLETELY WON'T TURN OFF LEAVING LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD ON THUS CAUSING THE BATTERY TO RUN DEAD. MY TRACTION AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE WITH A WARN SIGNAL SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE SYSTEM.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .