RoadVitals

2003 Cadillac CTS Suspension Problems

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

Data refreshed

Suspension 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.
11
Latest Sep 29, 2014
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.
4%
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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 11 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 suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Suspension
Filed Sep 29, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, MADE A LOUD SNAPPING NOISE, AND THE FRONT END VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CARRIER BEARING HOUSING AND BRACKETS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 225,000.

NHTSA ID
10639928
Incident
Sep 28, 2014
Mileage
225,000 mi
Driver assistanceSuspension
Filed Jun 17, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STABILIZATION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO FIND A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 166,000. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN UPDATED 9/10/2014 *JS

NHTSA ID
10599025
Incident
Dec 11, 2013
Mileage
140,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine+3 more
Filed Dec 6, 2011

2003 CADILAC CTS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE SYSTEM *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE METAL BRAKE LINE HAD TO BE REPLACED, DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER TWO DAYS LATER. ALSO, THE STRUTS, THREE WHEEL BEARINGS, RADIATOR, TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. THE CRUISE CONTROL AND GAS TANK, WHICH WAS LEAKING HAD TO REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10438430
Incident
Dec 1, 2011
Suspension
Filed Mar 10, 2011

I HAVE A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY SEIZED WHILE DRIVING APPX 55MPH CAUSING THE REAR OF THE CAR TO LOCK UP AND SKID OFF OF THE ROAD.... THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAS A RECURRING "BODY CONTROL MODULE" FAILURE WHICH RENDERS THE AIRBAGS USELESS....CANNOT BE CLEARED BY MYSELF OR DEALERS.. *TR

NHTSA ID
10389734
Incident
Mar 1, 2011
Mileage
150,000 mi
AirbagsElectricalEngine+4 more
Filed Jul 23, 2007

I AM AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING NUMEROUS FAILURES WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM NUMEROUS TIMES BEGINNING APPROXIMATELY A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TO INFORM THEM THAT THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE, ONLY TO BE TOLD MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT OR GIVE MY ONE THAT IS NOT DEFECTIVE. MY VEHICLE IS STILL DEFECTIVE TO THIS DATE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10197185
Incident
Jan 1, 2003
Mileage
2,000 mi
BrakesHeating & air conditioningSteering+1 more
Filed Aug 8, 2006

BRAKES PULSATE WHEN THEY ARE BEING APPLIED, CAUSING DELAY IN STOPPING TIME. AIR CONDITIONING COMPRESSOR IS GONE OUT AND HAS METAL GOING THROUGH THE SYSTEM. HAVE TO GET COMPRESSOR REPLACED ALREADY AND IT IS GOING TO COST AN ADDITIONAL $2300. CAR PULLS VIOLENTLY TO LEFT OR RIGHT, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A COUPLE OF ACCIDENTS, THE STEERING SYSTEM SENSOR IS GONE OUT AND IS GOING TO COST $500 TO GET REPLACED. FM RADIO HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN AND WORKS WHEN IT FEELS LIKE WORKING. THIS IS THE NEWEST CAR I'VE HAD AND THE WORST CAR. I HAVE NEVER OWNED A CAR WITH THIS MANY PROBLEMS, I THINK THIS CAR IS A TOTAL DEFECT AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. I WAS AT 51000 MILES WHEN THE AIR COMPRESSOR WENT OUT AND I CALLED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY WAS UP. THAT IS CLEARLY FAULTY EQUIPMENT THAT WAS USED IN THIS CAR IT IS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS, AND IT HAS MANY PROBLEMS WHICH I FEEL NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10164890
Incident
Jun 18, 2006
Mileage
51,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistancePowertrain (other)+2 more
Filed Apr 18, 2005

THERE NEEDS TO BE AN IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE NUMBER OF CTS AND CTS-V REAR DIFFERENTIALS THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED. I HAVE NOW BEEN THROUGH 2 PERSONALLY, AND AN ONLINE POLL OF 65 CTS-V OWNERS SHOWED THIS: 26% HAVE HAD 1 REPLACEMENT, 5% HAVE HAD 2 OR MORE REPLACED, AND 8% HAVE HAD 3 OR MORE REPLACED. THE LINK FOR THIS POLL IS: HTTP://CADILLACFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=305662&POSTED=1#POST305662. PLEASE CONTACT ME REGARDING ANY INFORMATION LEARNED. THANK YOU. *AK!

NHTSA ID
10118067
Incident
Apr 16, 2005
Mileage
26,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngineExterior lighting+1 more
Filed Jun 29, 2004

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. *AK THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, ROUGH JERKS AT SHIFTS, VIBRATION AT MID TO HIGH SPEEDS, LOUD NOISE FROM BACK TIRES WHEN RIDING OVER BUMPS, BURNING SMELL FROM UNDER THE HOOD ALONG WITH SMOKING, WATER IN THE TAIL LIGHT, BLACK EXHAUST DUST/DIRT IN THE TAIL PIPE, THE ENGINE WOULD SHAKE. THE JERKING WAS AS IF THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WHILE IN DRIVE. *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10073577
Incident
Mar 13, 2004
Mileage
26,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Jun 25, 2004

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ALL KINDS OF SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. SHE COULD NOT DRIVE VEHICLE ON AN OPEN ROAD BECAUSE IT WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE. ALSO, TIRES WOBBLED. DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL ITEMS ON THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WAS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. *AK

NHTSA ID
10079982
Incident
Jun 25, 2004
EngineFuel systemSteering+1 more
Filed Oct 15, 2003

STEERING MECHANISM FAILED ON 2003 CADILLAC CTS. *MR THE POWER STEERING MECHANISM FAILED, WHICH MADE THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO TURN, WHICH WAS REPLACED. BOTH FRONT STRUTS WERE REPLACED DUE TO LEAKAGE AND THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLT WAS UNDER TORQUED. THE LEFT FRONT SHOCK LEAKED, THE INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKED. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO PUMP GAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE GAS LINE. A RUBBING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, SQUEAKING FROM THE FRONT END, AND A HOLLOW SOUND WHEN PASSING OVER BUMPS. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER/MANUFACTURER REPAIR THE VEHICLE IN ACCORDANCE TO THE LEMON LAW BILL. (LAWYER, JOSEPH ARDITO ON BEHALF OF CLIENT ROBERT GENOVESE)*SCC *JB

NHTSA ID
10044158
Suspension
Filed Jul 29, 2003

STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
10030319
Incident
Apr 1, 2003

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .