2003 Cadillac CTS Exterior lighting Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHEN THE CONTACT OPENED THE VEHICLE DOORS WITH THE KEY FOB, THE HEADLIGHTS AND OVERHEAD LIGHTS ILLUMINATED EXTREMELY BRIGHT AND THEN DIMMED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NAVIGATION SYSTEM FAILED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AS A LEGAL ISSUE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.

NHTSA ID

10872979

Incident

Jun 1, 2015

Mileage

49,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG AND ANTI-THEFT WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. ALSO, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE RUNNING LIGHTS AND THE FOG LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND FAILED TO TURN OFF EVEN WHEN THE KEY WAS REMOVED OUT OF THE IGNITION SWITCH. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO TURN OFF AND THE KEY BECAME LODGED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. UPDATED 12/09/14*LJ UPDATED 08/23/2017*CT

NHTSA ID

10598792

Incident

May 3, 2014

Mileage

135,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT PLASTIC PANEL HOUSING WAS FAULTY. IN ADDITION, THE CENTER OF THE FRAME EXHIBITED SEVERE CORROSION. THE DEFECT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/05/13 *LJ

NHTSA ID

10515949

Incident

Apr 10, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DROVE OVER A ROAD BUMP AND HEARD A LOUD NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOOKED IN HER REAR VIEW MIRROR AND NOTICED THAT THE LENS COVER OF THE BRAKE LIGHTS HAD DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10490352

Incident

Aug 8, 2012

Mileage

140,000 mi

DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AND THE REVERSE BEZEL FELL OFF, BROKE AND THE PART IS TOO EXPENSIVE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10474172

Incident

Sep 5, 2012

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAG PANEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE AND AS A RESULT, WATER WAS ENTERING AND DAMAGING THE WIRING OF THE BRAKE LAMPS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ADHESIVE THAT WAS USED TO HOLD THE PANEL WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 103,000.

NHTSA ID

10459584

Incident

May 19, 2012

Mileage

103,000 mi

JUST GOT OFF THE XWAY, STOPPED AT RED LIGHT. WHILE WAITING AT THE LIGHT, WHICH WAS STUCK RED FOR ABOUT 5 MIN, BOTH (HID) HEAD LIGHTS FAILED AT THE SAME TIME. THEY FLASHED ON & OFF 3 TIMES, THAN STAYED OUT. I SWITCHED ON THE FOG LIGHTS SO I COULD DRIVE THE LAST 3 MILES HOME. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE BOTH LIGHTS AT A COST OF OVER $2,000. THE DEALER HAD NO IDEA WHAT CAUSED BOTH TO FAIL AT THE SAME TIME. I WROTE A LETTER TO CADILLAC CUSTOMER SERVICE. THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THEY WOULD NOT FORWARD THE INFO TO A TECHNICAL DEPT TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. I ESTIMATE THERE ARE 10,000 MILES ON THESE LIGHTS. I WROTE A SECOND TO CADILLAC, AGAIN THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THEY WERE CLOSING THE FILE ON THIS CASE. TO ME THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AS IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AT 70 MPH ON A CURVE. THESE (HID) LIGHTS ARE A PRICEY OPTION AND ARE SOLD THAT UNDER NORMAL USE THEY SHOULD LAST THE LIFE OF THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

10450989

Incident

Nov 5, 2011

Mileage

76,000 mi

WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE, WHEN I LOOKED BACK THE PLASTIC PIECE WHICH COVERS THE TWO SMALL LIGHTS AROUND MY LICENSE PLATE, HAD FLOWN OFF AND HIT THE CAR BEHIND ME. FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO DAMAGE DONE, HOWEVER THE PART OBVIOUSLY BROKE, AND A NEW PART COSTS ANYWHERE FROM 750.00 TO 1000.00 DOLLARS (FOR A PLASTIC PIECE THAT IS NO MORE THEN 28 INCHES LONG) EVERY VENDER OF THIS PART I HAVE CALLED HAS TOLD ME IT IS SO EXPENSIVE BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THEM FALL OFF OF THEIR CARS. THERE IS NO CLIPS OR SCREWS TO HOLD THE PART ON, WHICH MEANS EVEN IF I BUY ANOTHER ONE THE SAME THING COULD HAPPEN. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE CAR BEHIND ME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447300

Incident

Feb 1, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT NOTICED THE REAR LIGHT COVER ON THE BACK UP LIGHT FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, WATER ENTERED THE BACK UP LIGHTS AND HE BELIEVED THAT IT MAY CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO PURCHASE A LENS COVER TO PROTECT THE LIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,096. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 58,000.

NHTSA ID

10427868

Incident

Aug 1, 2011

Mileage

58,000 mi

THE PLASTIC PANEL COVER FOR THE REVERSE LIGHTS FELL OFF, AND NOW THE REVERSE LIGHTS ARE EXPOSED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10414862

Incident

Jul 22, 2011

Mileage

61,000 mi

THE REAR BACK UP LIGHT PANEL HAS A PLASTIC COVER OVER IT. MINE FELL OFF AND I AM HAVING A TERRIBLE TIME REPLACING IT. I CONTACTED CADILLAC, BUT THEY DON'T SELL THAT PIECE ANYMORE. THEY HAVE REDESIGNED A REPLACEMENT THAT WILL NOT FALL OFF BUT IT COSTS OVER $500 AND CADILLAC WON'T COVER IT BECAUSE THEY CLAIM IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED. AS I DRIVE UP AND DOWN THE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS IN CHICAGO, I NOTICE MANY 2003-2007 CADILLAC CTS ARE ALSO MISSING THIS PART. HOW CAN THIS PLASTIC PART FALL OFF WITH OUT CAUSE AND YET NOT BE RECALLED? *KB

NHTSA ID

10413446

Incident

Mar 15, 2011

Mileage

55,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE REAR OVERLAY PANEL FOR THE REAR REVERSE LIGHT FELL OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIR EXPENSES. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO REFERRED HIM TO THE CORPORATE OFFICE. HE HAD NOT RECEIVED A RESPONSE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID

10381334

Incident

Aug 15, 2010

Mileage

89,000 mi

I'VE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS EVER SINCE I BOUGHT MY 2003 CADILLAC CTS. MY ENGINE STARTS SMOKING UNDER THE HOOD WHEN I TURN ON MY HEATER WHEN IT'S COLD OUTSIDE. I REPLACED MY BRAKE LIGHTS SEVERAL TIMES. MY WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE IS BROKE. I HAD TO GET A NEW MOTOR FOR MY WINDOW BECAUSE THAT BROKE. I HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME CONDITIONS AS ME. WHY ISN'T IT ON RECALL ??? I MEAN WE PAID GOOD MONEY FOR IT SO WE SHOULD GET THE SAME QUALITY BACK !!! I KNOW GM HAS TO REVIEW OUR COMMENTS. THEY JUST DON'T CARE ABOUT THERE CUSTOMERS. GM NEEDS BETTER CUSTOMER SERVICE BECAUSE THERE SERVICE SUCKS!!!! RECALL....RECALL....RECALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *TR

NHTSA ID

10373347

Incident

Oct 27, 2009

Mileage

68,782 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 70 MPH, THE REAR LICENSE PLATE COVER FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE REAR LIGHT MODULE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW, IMPROVED MODULE. THE BACK UP LAMPS AND THE REAR FINISH PANEL WAS ALSO REPLACED WITH A SAFER PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,556 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,700.

NHTSA ID

10355180

Incident

Aug 22, 2010

Mileage

50,556 mi

THE EXTERIOR BACK BRAKE LIGHTS FELL OFF MY CADILLAC CTS 2003 MODEL. I HAVE NOTICED A MAJORITY OF THE 2003 CTS MODELS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. IT'S A SHAME CADILLAC WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE, THE VEHICLE COST ME OVER 30,000.00 AFTER ITS PAID FOR, THEY HAVE NO CONCERN FOR THE CONDITION OF MY VEHICLE. IT REALLY MAKES CADILLAC LOOK AWFUL TO HAVE THAT MANY VEHICLES IN THE SAME CONDITION. I WILL NOT PURCHASE ANY MORE CADILLACS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10343500

Incident

Nov 18, 2009

Mileage

92,000 mi

2003 CADILLAC CTS - THE BACKUP LIGHT ASSEMBLY CAME OFF IN CAR WASH... DEALERSHIPS ARE WELL AWARE OF PROBLEM BUT SAY THEIR HANDS ARE TIED BECAUSE OF GM. THEY SAID THE REASON WAS BECAUSE THE SUPPLIER TO CADILLAC USED AN INCORRECT EPOXY TO BUILD THE PART. GM KNOWS ABOUT THE ISSUE BUT WILL DO NOTHING. PART IS OVER $550 TO REPLACE!! ONE SEARCH ON INTERNET BRINGS UP HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS FOR SAME ISSUE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. I CALLED CADILLAC AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD CALL IF A RECALL WAS ISSUED, BUT THEY CAN DO NOTHING MORE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10336200

Incident

May 21, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

THIRD BRAKE LIGHT IMPROPERLY SEAL ALLOWING WATER TO LEAK INTO MECHANISM AND BURN OUT LED BULBS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10329946

Incident

Nov 1, 2002

Mileage

5,007 mi

2003 CADILLAC SAFETY ISSUES: PREMATURE AND RAMPANT FAILURE OF THE EBCM - ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE. IT IS WIDELY KNOWN THESE MODULES FAIL AND CANNOT BE REBUILT. DEALER COST IS OVER $500 WITH MOST DEALERS CHARGING MORE THAN $750. PREMATURE AND RAMPANT FAILURE OF THE REAR CENTER BRAKE LIGHT. GM EVEN ADMITTED FAILURE OF THE NEON LIGHTS USED FOR THIS APPLICATION AND QUICKLY SWITCHED TO A RELIABLE LIGHT MEDIA. REPLACEMENTS RANGE FROM $250 USED (IF YOU CAN FIND ONE THAT WORKS) TO $500 RETAIL AT GM. BOTH OF THESE UNITS ARE KNOWN HIGH FAILURE ITEMS AND BOTH COST A FORTUNE THROUGH YOUR LOCAL GM DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10320012

Incident

Jul 1, 2008

Mileage

75,000 mi

THE REAR BACK UP LIGHT FELL OFF MY 2003 CADILLAC CTS. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO SEE ABOUT GETTING ANOTHER ONE PUT ON, ONLY TO LEARN THAT GM DOES NOT EVEN MAKE THAT PART ANYMORE DUE TO IT BEING DEFECTIVE. TO FIX MY VEHICLE I WOULD HAVE TO ORDER A NEWER MADE PART THAT COST APPROXIMATELY $697.00. AFTER DOING EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I LEARNED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NUMEROUS CONSUMERS HAVE ENCOUNTERED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THE MANUFACTURER THAT PRODUCED THIS PART FOR GM DID NOT USE THE CORRECT EPOXY TO ADHERE THE BACK UP LIGHT TO THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE, AND I WOULD HAVE TO CALL GM CORPORATE OFFICE TO TAKE THE "PROBLEM" UP WITH THEM. AFTER ALMOST A MONTH OF THE DISTRICT SPECIALIST "INVESTIGATING" THE PROBLEM, HE TOLD ME HE WOULD CALL ME WITH A FINAL DECISION AND NEVER CALLED. I HAVE PLACED CALLS TO THEM EVERYDAY SINCE AND I KEPT GETTING THE RUN AROUND. SUPPOSEDLY NO ONE BUT THE DISTRICT SPECIALIST HANDLING MY CASE CAN HELP ME AND HE WILL NOT ANSWER OR RETURN MY CALLS. MY QUESTION IS THIS, UNDER THE LAW SOMEONE CANNOT SELL ANYTHING KNOWING THAT IT IS DEFECTIVE. WITH VEHICLES ALL EXTERIOR COMPONENTS OF THE VEHICLE ARE SUPPOSE TO WITHSTAND "MOTHERNATURE" AND NATURAL OCCURRENCES OF THE WEATHER, SO WHY WHEN KNOWING THE PART IS DEFECTIVE DO THEY EXPECT THE CONSUMER TO REPLACE IT? GM CLAIMS THAT BECAUSE IT CAN NOT CAUSE BODILY HARM THEY DO NOT HAVE TO REPLACE IT OR RECALL THE DEFECTIVE PART. IS THIS WHAT OUR ECONOMY HAS COME TO, LARGE CORPORATIONS SWINDLING THE "LITTLE" CONSUMERS THAT KEEP THEM IN BUSINESS? WITH GM FILING BANKRUPTCY AND THE TAXPAYERS AND GOVERNMENT "BAILING" THEM OUT, YOU WOULD THINK THEY WOULD WANT TO TREAT THEIR "LITTLE" CONSUMERS BETTER. HOW IS IT LEGAL FOR THEM TO KNOW A PRODUCT IS DEFECTIVE, TO THE POINT THEY WON'T EVEN MAKE THAT SAME PRODUCT TO REPLACE IT WHEN IT TEARS UP BUT ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING IT? *TR

NHTSA ID

10274847

Incident

May 29, 2009

Mileage

90,837 mi

WE HAVE WORK ON THIS TYPE OF CARS BEFORE AND IT SEEMS TO BE THAT THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE TAIL LIGHTS. I BELIEVE THEY WERE MADE TO WEAK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10240130

Incident

Aug 20, 2008

HEADLIGHT COVER ON CADILLAC CTS 2003 DEVELOPS CRACKING AND SPIDER WEBS, SUCH THAT VISIBILITY IS DIMINISHED. I HAVE NOTICED THIS ON ALL OLDER CTS VEHICLES IN THE PHOENIX AREA. IT MAY BE DUE TO THE SUN. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT APPEAR ON OTHER OLDER VEHICLE HEADLAMPS. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR DESPITE EXTENDED WARRANTY. REPAIR CAN ONLY BE DONE VIA REPLACEMENT ON THE ENTIRE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY WHICH COSTS IN EXCESS OF $1,300 PLUS LABOR BY A GM DEALER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10234100

Incident

Jan 1, 2008

Mileage

60,000 mi

LOW BEAMS ON THE HEADLIGHTS HAS A BLACK BAR IN MY LINE OF VISION. CREATES A "BLIND" SPOT AND MAKES NIGHT DRIVING ON THE COUNTRY ROADS NEAR MY HOME DANGEROUS. IT ALSO CREATES AN AREA OF DARKNESS THAT DOESN'T LIGHT UP STOP SIGNS OR INTERSECTIONS ALONG THESE ROADS . I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE SOMETHING THAT HAS TO BE CORRECTED!! I DRIVE ALONG THESE ROADWAYS WHILE IT IS DARK TWICE A DAY 4 TIMES A WEEK ON MY WAY TO AND FROM WORK. I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE IF MY ENTIRE LINE OF VISION WAS LIT UP. THANKFULLY I HAVE THE USE OF THE HIGH BEAMS THAT DO NOT HAVE THIS DARK BAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10188714

Incident

Apr 24, 2007

HEADLIGHTS PROJECT A BLACK BAR AT NIGHT ACROSS ROADWAY, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE AND OBSTRUCTS STREET SIGNS. TALKED TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BUT WAS TOLD THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE ABOUT IT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10169873

Incident

Oct 3, 2006

DT: 2003 CADILLAC CTS. SAFETY DEFECT INCLUDED THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS. A SHADOW IS PRESENT WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON LOW BEAM. CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM FOR 50% OF THE COST. WHILE GOING AROUND CURVES OR ON A HILL ONE CAN SEE A SHADOW. INCIDENT DATE WAS JULY 26, 2005. NO CRASHES, NO POLICE REPORTS, NO INJURIES.*AK UPDATED 11/2/2005. *NM

NHTSA ID

10138403

Incident

Jul 26, 2005

Mileage

75,000 mi

THE CLEAR BACK LENS OF THE 2003 CTS IS FULL OF CONDENSATION AND WATER. TOOK IT TO THE CAR DEALER IN NEW ROCHELL . THEY DRILL PILOT HOLES TO ALLOW FOR THE WATER TO DRAIN, THIS DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I STILL HAVE PLENTY OF CONDENSATION IN THE BACK CLEAR WHITE LENS IN THE BACK TRUNK. WHAT SHOULD I DO. *AK

NHTSA ID

10098338

Incident

May 1, 2004

Mileage

16,000 mi