RoadVitals

2003 Cadillac CTS Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
67
Latest Apr 9, 2023
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
21%
of 313 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
8
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Cadillac CTS submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 67 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

The 25 most recent of 67, in the owner's own words

BrakesEngineSteering
Filed Apr 9, 2023
Fire reported

Everything was really grate no problems. My brakes sounds like there is LOTS of AIR Coming from somewhere. My key ignition sometimes want turn over or easy to come out. Than the car started running hot. I've had it looked at Few times and can't seem to fix the problem. I've even brought a new coolant box or another name for it.. so now I can't drive it because my fluids keep coming out of the coolant tank please help me I don't know what to do. To complete this message I've even had a smog twice nonpassable. - Thank you any Questions [XXX] call/ text INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID
11516158
Incident
Nov 14, 2020
EngineTransmission
Filed Jul 5, 2022

The contact owns a 2003 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that when driving at various speeds the vehicle would suddenly stalled and the instrument panel would illuminate. The message stating "starting disabled remove key" would display. The contact stated that they would be able to coast and restart the vehicle. Other times the contact would have to pull over to the side of the road and restart the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 121,000.

NHTSA ID
11472357
Incident
Jul 5, 2020
Mileage
121,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Dec 18, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,900.

NHTSA ID
11289829
Incident
Nov 1, 2019
Mileage
128,900 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 19, 2019

I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY SON THAT GO TO COLLEGE AT SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY, HIS BEEN USING THIS CAR SINCE 2015 TILL 2019. RECENTY ABOUT A MONTH AGO HIS COMPLAINING THE CAR HAS BEEN OVERHEATING FOR NO REASONS, HE SAYS THAT THE GAUGE GOES ALL THE WAY UP EVERYTIME HE DRIVE IT BUT ITS OK IF THE CAR ENGINE IS RUNNING BUT IN PARK MODE. WE ENDED UP GOT THE CAR TOWED TO MERCED. SINCE JULY OF 2019, THE CAR IS THE GARAGE AND NEVER DRIVE. WE ONLY START THE CAR MOSTLY TO WARP UP THE ENGINE BUT NOT DRIVE. WE HAVE A FRIEND MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND CAN'T POINT OUT THE RIGHT PROBLEM, A LOT OF ASSUMPTION POSSIBLE THE THERMOSTAT, OR RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, OR THE FAN, ETC.

NHTSA ID
11244966
Incident
Jul 1, 2019
Mileage
25 mi
Body & structureElectricalEngine
Filed Mar 12, 2019
Fire reported

AT ABOUT APPROXIMATELY 4:22 AM THIS MORNING MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS AWAKENED BY MY CADILLAC CTS 2003 CAR ALARM AS THE FLAMES WE'RE VISIBLE THRU MY BEDROOM WINDOW. AT WHICH TIME I RAN OUTSIDE TO TURN ON THE WATER HOSE TO TURN OFF THE FIRE AS MY FAMILY WAS SLEEPING IN THE HOUSE. MY HUSBAND'S CAR WAS RIGHT NEXT TO MY CADI THAT HAD A FULL TANK OF FUEL. I CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO TURN OFF THE FIRE ON THE CADILLAC CTS 2003. AND FOR MORE THAN TEN MINUTES THE FIRE WAS STILL BLAZING AS THE FIREMEN UNABLE TO CONTROL THE FLAMES. MY CAR IS GONE AS IT BURNED DOWN. PLEASE HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAPPENED. I ONLY CARRIED LIABILITY AS THIS WAS ALL I COULD AFFORD. I THANK THE LORD THAT EVEN WHEN WE WERE IN HARM'S WAY, HE JEHOVAH GOD PROTECTED US. ALL THE GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST THAT THEIR WAS NO LOST OF LIFE. MATERIAL THINGS CAN BE REPLACED. I AM GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR HIS MERCY AND GRACE. HE HAS TOTAL CONTROL AND I KNOW THAT HE WAS WITH US. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THESE CARS HAVE A HISTORY OF CATCHING ON FIRE. I AM GLAD THAT WE WERE NOT ON THE ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED. MY MOTHER SUFFERED A STROKE AND THIS COULD OF BEEN MORE DETRIMENTAL BUT GOD DID NOT PERMIT THE HAND OF THE ENEMY TO TOUCH US PHYSICALLY, HALELUJAH TO THE LAMB OF GOD! I AM BLESSED TO BE A CHILD OF GOD! I KNOW THAT HE WILL GIVE US JUSTICE BECAUSE HE DOES NOT FORSAKE HIS CHILDREN AND HE IS A GOD THAT DOES NOT LIE. HE IS GOD EMANUEL! HE IS MY SHALOM!

NHTSA ID
11186250
Incident
Mar 12, 2019
Mileage
157,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 28, 2018

I WAS DRIVING DOWNHILL ON DALLAS RD IN WEST RICHLAND, WA I STARTED TO APPLY BRAKES TO TURN INTO QUAIL SPRINGS APARTMENT COMPLEX, IDK WHETHER IT WAS DUE TO THE ROAD OR THE WAY I HIT THE BRAKES BUT IT MOVED MY KEY OUT OF THE RUN POSITION CAUSING THE ENGINE TO TURN OFF, I WAS SLOWING DOWN PROGRESSIVELY FROM 55 MILES AN HOUR AND HEARD SOMETHING THAT SOUNDED LIKE MY ENGINE HAD FALLEN APART. AFTER GETTING IT STOPPED I POPPED THE HOOD AND NOTICED DAMAGE TO MY TENSIONER PULLEY IT HAD CAME OFF AND MY SERPENTINE BELT HAD SHREDDED, I CALLED AND GOT IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST PLACE I COULD TO GET IT LOOKED AT. WHEN REPLACING THE SERPENTINE BELT THEY SAID IT'D BE GOOD TO CHECK THE TIMING BELT AS WELL JUST IN CASE. UPON CHECKING IT THEY NOTICED PIECES OF SERPENTINE BELT HAD GOTTEN INSIDE OF THERE SOMEHOW CAUSING THE TIMING BELT DAMAGE. WITH THIS TYPE OF ENGINE IF TIMING BELT GETS RUINED 98% VALVES AND PISTONS KISS WHICH CAUSES BENT VALVES ON THE HEAD. I WAS TOLD THE CAR WOULD NOT RUN ANYMORE UNLESS I PUT A BRANDNEW ENGINE IN AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME 6000 FOR THAT, I LOOKED UP A USED ENGINE ON EBAY FOR 650 THEY STILL WANTED 3000, I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY SITTING AROUND AND HAVE BEEN SUFFERING WITHOUT MY VEHICLE SINCE THIS HAPPENED. I'VE MISSED WORK AND AM LUCKY ME OR CHILD WEREN'T HURT DURING THIS SITUATION. I CALLED THE LOCAL CADILLAC DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED THE GUY I SPOKE WITH WAS VERY RUDE AND TOLD ME THERES NOTHING THE COULD DO TO HELP ME, I ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL AGAIN AND HE SAID I NEED TO CALL CORPORATE I DIALED THE NUMBER HE GAVE ME AND DIDN'T GET THRU TO ANYBODY. LUCKY I LOOKED UP THE NUMBER MYSELF EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO THEM THEY GAVE ME A CASE # AND SAID I'D BE CONTACTED WITHIN 1TO 2 BUSINESS DAYS BY A SENIOR ADVISOR. BOTTOM LINE IS I'M STILL STUCK WITHOUT A WORKING VEHICLE DUE TO THIS RECALL.

NHTSA ID
11114277
Incident
Jul 25, 2018
Mileage
193,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed May 18, 2016

THE CRANK AND CAM SENSORS HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT WHILE DRIVING OR BEING STOPPED. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THIS ISSUE IN MY CAR AND OTHER GM CARS. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE YOU RECEIVED FOR THIS ISSUE IN GM CARS. IT SEEMS THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS SINCE IT IS A WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED ISSUE AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH CARS STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND WHILE BEING STOPPED. I STALLED ON A FREEWAY ON RAMP, AT A STOP SIGN AND WHILE BEING PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

NHTSA ID
10865652
Incident
May 5, 2016
Mileage
70,000 mi
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed May 10, 2016

2003 CADILLAC CTS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STARTS UP AND DRIVES FOR A WHILE THEN SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. *SMD THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE IDLER ARMS AND CRANK SENSORS WERE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10863889
Incident
May 2, 2016
Engine
Filed Feb 3, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER OVERNIGHT FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER THAT, DUE TO A STRIPPED SCREW IN THE OIL PAN, THE OIL CHANGE COULD NOT BE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT OBSERVED A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS RETRIEVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

NHTSA ID
10824083
Incident
Jan 7, 2016
Mileage
140,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 5, 2015

PURCHASED CAR FROM DEALERSHIP IN OCT 2015. WHILE DRIVING, I BEGIN TO SMELL BURNING OIL AND NOTICED OIL LEAK UNDER VEHICLE ON LEFT SIDE. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TO SEE WHERE LEAK IS COMING FROM AND HE STATED THAT VALVE COVER GASKET IS LEAKING OIL OUT AS WELL AS OIL IS PRESENT IN THE SPARK PLUG RESERVOIRS. WILL HAVE TO GET GASKETS REPLACED BEFORE FURTHER DAMAGE IS CAUSED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE AND I RECENTLY SAW ON NEWS WHERE GM RECALLED OTHER MODELS AND YEARS OF VEHICLE WITH SAME ISSUE. WHY WASN'T THIS MODEL CADILLAC INCLUDED IN THE RECALL WHEN IS SHOULD HAVE?

NHTSA ID
10788602
Incident
Oct 26, 2015
Mileage
145,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 26, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT TURNED SHARPLY TO AVOID AN ANIMAL. THE ENGINE STALLED, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO COAST AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT WAS LAUNCHED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LOWER BACK, NECK, AND HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS ALREADY EXPERIENCED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ID
10730679
Incident
Apr 28, 2014
Mileage
50,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 8, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO COOL DOWN COMPLETELY BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.

NHTSA ID
10724078
Incident
Jun 5, 2015
Mileage
67,000 mi
Engine
Filed May 26, 2015

MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF EXCELERATION.........THIS HAPPEN TO ME 2X... ONCE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC!!! AND THE OTHER JUST BEFORE A BLUE LINE TRAIN ...DEALERSHIP TAKES THIS VERY LIGHTLY.I GUESS SOMEONE HAS TO DIE FIRST..IT IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW. I HAVE SO MANY ISSUES THAT I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE HAVING OR HAD WHEN NEW TOO. .I ALSO NOTICED THAT WHERE MY AIRBAG ON MY STEERING WHEEL .IS LOOKS LIKE IT IS SEPARATING...NOT SURE BUT IT IS NOT FLUSH....I'M AFRAID TO ASK ABOUT THAT SINCE ALL IT DOES IS COST ME$$$$$$$ ALSO I HAD BRAKES FIXED THAT WEREN'T THAT BAD BECAUSE OF NOISE BUT THE NOISE IS STILL THERE NOT ALL THE TIME BUT MORE FREQUENT AND IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS FROM SOME PART OF CLUTCH PART NOT THE BRAKES..... NEW BRAKES DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING.. I AM FIXING THIS CAR MORE THAN WHAT I AM WRITING ABOUT. THE 1ST MONTH I BOUGHT IT I HAD TO RETURN FOR A BOLT WAS COMING LOOSE ON MY STEERING COLUMN...FOUND OUT IT WAS A RECALL. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE FOR WORK THAT WAS DONE TO MY CAR THAT LATER I FOUND WAS NOT MY WORK ORDER OR MY VIN #. OR MY MILEAGE... AFTER I PAID FOR HALF THE WORK SINCE MY CAR WASN'T BROUGHT IN FOR ANY OF THAT STUFF.. ONLY A STABILITY LIGHT TO BE CHECKED... WHICH AFTER 11MONTHS WHEN I TOOK IT BACK AGAIN... FOUND THAT WAS NEVER TAKEN CARE OF.. THATS WHY IT WOULD COME OFF AND ON ... I WAS JUST TIRED OF BEING TAKEN... THATS HOW I FELT.. BEING THAT I AM A WOMEN........

NHTSA ID
10721447
Incident
May 25, 2015
Mileage
79,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 22, 2015

LEAKING VALVE COVER GASKETS RESULTING IN OIL ON COILS, OXYGEN SENSOR AND RISK FOR OIL RELATED FIRES. THE SMELL OF BURNING OIL IS PREVALENT BECAUSE OF OIL ON HOT ENGINE PARTS. A REVIEW OF VARIOUS INTERNET FORUMS SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MAKE/MODEL. A CONSENSUS OPINION APPEARS TO BE THE VALVE COVER GASKETS WERE MADE FROM INFERIOR MATERIALS. SINCE THIS IS A FIRE SAFETY ISSUE AND/OR A RESULT OF THE MANUFACTURER'S NEGLIGENCE, THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10689869
Incident
May 15, 2014
Mileage
75,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Feb 15, 2015

THE PCV VALVE SYSTEM DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE. ON (4) OCCASIONS THE PRESSURE BUILD-UP CAUSING MASSIVE OIL LEAKS AT THE VALVE COVER. I EXPERIENCED SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AS OIL LEAKED ONTO A HOT ENGINE. A POTENTIAL ENGINE FIRE. IT TOOK YEARS FOR THE CADILLAC DEALERS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A EXTREME COLD WEATHER ISSUE. THE AUTOMOBILE WAS IN ARIZONA FOR A FEW YEARS AND THE ISSUE WAS NOT A PROBLEM BUT ONCE RETURNED TO MICHIGAN, THE PROBLEM GOT SERIOUS. I HAVE ALL OF MY REPAIR DOCUMENTS. THIS CAR SHOULD HAS BEEN RECALLED. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I WAS LUCKY AS I WAS NEAR DEALERS WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10683560
Incident
Jan 24, 2013
Mileage
104,492 mi
BrakesEngineOther / unspecified+1 more
Filed Oct 1, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH BECAME INOPERABLE, AND THE BRAKE, CHECK ENGINE, AND TRACTION CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

NHTSA ID
10640447
Incident
Jan 12, 2014
Mileage
104,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 9, 2014

I HAVE HAD MY CAR STOP RUNNING SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE TIME I HAVE OWNED IT... IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. I HAVE TO RESTART IT AGAIN. IT DOES IT ON OCCASION , SOMETIMES MONTHS APART. I AM JUST HOPING THAT IT WILL NEVER SHUT OFF LIKE THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10632038
Incident
Sep 2, 2014
Mileage
96,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 22, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL LEAK IN THE ENGINE AND THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

NHTSA ID
10627472
Incident
Jun 2, 2014
Mileage
102,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 20, 2014

MY CTS HAVE BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIME FOR SMOKE AND THE SMELL OF OIL BURNING COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.AFTER YEARS OF TAKING MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVING PARTS REPLACE THE PROBLEM STILL OCCUR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10626922
Incident
Aug 15, 2003
EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Aug 5, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER SIX MINUTES, BUT IT SHOOK AND IDLED ROUGHLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWENTY TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,197.

NHTSA ID
10618975
Incident
Sep 2, 2013
Mileage
145,197 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 25, 2014

WHILE DRIVING TURNING LEFT ONTO AN EXPRESSWAY ENTRANCE MY ENGINE SHUT DOWN I BELIEVE IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. I'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIND A SOLUTION. I AM IN FEAR THAT ONE DAY THIS CAR WILL LOSE POWER AT THE WRONG TIME AND CAUSE A SERIOUS IF NOT FATAL ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM FIXED OR A REIMBURSEMENT TO INVEST IN A NEW VEHICLE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10616213
Incident
Jun 25, 2014
Mileage
105,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed May 29, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ENGINE LOW POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE ENGINE LOSS POWER WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT FOUR YEARS AFTER THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,579. UPDATED 8/12/14*CN UPDATED 08/20/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID
10594865
Incident
May 11, 2010
Mileage
72,579 mi
Engine
Filed May 18, 2014

ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO AUTHORIZED CADILLAC SERVICE CENTER (GREEN BUICK GMC, DAVENPORT, IA). GREEN REPLACED PARTS (THROTTLE BODY, PART 9128412, CONNECTOR PART 15306420, SEAL PART 90412566) WITH NEW ONES AND THEN CLEANED, AT A COST OF $1,425.82. TO BE FAIR, IN RETROSPECT, GREEN SHOULD HAVE CLEANED OLD PART TO SAVE CUSTOMER UNNECESSARY COSTS. NOW, THREE YEARS LATER, THIS EXPENSIVE FIX IS NEEDED AGAIN. ACCORDING TO LUJACK NORTHPARK AUTO, DAVENPORT, IOWA, (INVOICE NO. CVCS863235) DATE 05/05/14, MILAGE: 113716, THESE PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN ALREADY. (48000 MILES LATER) THAT MEANS THAT THE $1,425.82 WE PAID TO GREEN WAS LOST TO EITHER INFERIOR QUALITY PARTS (PLANNED OBSOLESENCE) OR SABOTAGE BY THE AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTERS. THIS CAR WAS IN LUJACKS THREE TIMES THIS YEAR. TWICE THEIR TECHNICIAN REMOVED & REPLACED V/C & VIT GASKETS. (PARTS VS50628R & MS96103. SEE CVCS854609 & 855596) WHICH MEANS REMOVING THESE PARTS. GM REFUSED TO MAKE ANY GOOD FAITH EFFORT AT RESOLVING ISSUE (SEE GM FILE # 71-1305208758) UPDATED 11/24/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID
10592252
Incident
Mar 31, 2011
Mileage
83,397 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 1, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A RECURRING STALLING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WHERE SEVERAL UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,730 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 06/30/14 MA UPDATED 07/3/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID
10576468
Incident
Jan 1, 2008
Mileage
59,730 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 25, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10574711
Incident
Mar 25, 2014
Mileage
65,000 mi

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.

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Data on this page last refreshed .