Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
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 2004 Cadillac CTS submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
I HAVE A CTS AND I'VE GOTTEN IT SERVICE THINKING IT WAS A TUNE UP DO TO IT WAS MISFIRING. COME TO FIND OUT THAT IT WAS MY CYLINDERS GOTTEN THEN FIXED AND IT HAS DONE THE SAME. DID RESEARCH ON CTS AND COME TO FIND OUT THAT IS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR THESE CARS. WHAT KIND OF SOLUTION CAN BE MADE TO STOP THESE ISSUES
THE TIMING BELT COVER LEAKING OIL CREATING FIRE HAZARD
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE, SERVICE AIR BAG, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE MADE NOISES. PATRIOT AUTO SALES IN CLEVELAND, OHIO WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I HAVE A 2004 CADILLAC CTS I HAVE REPLACED THE ECM, THROTTLE BODY 3 TIMES, GAS PEDAL, WIRING HARNESS FOR THE THROTTLE BODY, BUT THE THROTTLE BODY POSITION WILL BE LEARNED FOR ABOUT A MONTH THEN MY VEHICLE WOULD GO INTO LIMP MODE ALMOST CAUSING SEVERAL CAR ACCIDENTS. I HAVE TRIED JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING I HAVE HAD THE ENGINE REPLACED AS WELL. I DON'T WANT TO LET THIS VEHICLE GO BUT THIS ISSUE WILL NOT STOP. IT IS A HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AND I NEED IT FIXED BEFORE ME OR ONE OF THE OTHER GM OWNERS LOSE THEIR LIVES.
MY CADILLAC CTS 2004 KEY IS STUCK IN THE IGNITION AND WILL NOT RELEASE. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS ONE SAID IT WAS A BATTERY. I PURCHASED A NEW ONE THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM AND ONE THOUGHT IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR AND THAT WASN'T THE PROBLEM. I DID HAVE A RECALL ON THE KEY RING AND GOT THAT TAKEN CARE OF, BUT HONESTLY THE SAME RECALL THAT IS DEALING WITH THE CAMAROS AND THE COBALTS NEED TO BE ENFORCED WITH THE CADILLACS. GM NEW THERE WAS SOMETHING FAULTY ABOUT THE KEYS GETTING STUCK IN THE CADILLACS. I'VE BEEN ON SEVERAL FORUMS AND WE ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM! *TR
THE TRANSMISSION COOLER LINES BLEW OUT OF THE RADIATOR. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BLOWING OUT ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FRONT TIRES, FRONT BRAKES, AND ONTO THE ROAD. I SAW ON SOME FORUMS, WHERE THEY STATED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE CADILLAC CTS. AND I WASN'T SURE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD FILED A COMPLAINT. IT DEFINITELY WAS NOT A SAFE SITUATION TO BE IN. TO BE HONEST, I HAVE OWNED/DRIVEN A NUMBER OF CARS, STARTING FROM A 1950 CHEVY. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THE COOLER LINES BLOWING OUT OF THE RADIATOR IS NOW A PROBLEM. NONE OF MY PREVIOUS VEHICLES HAD THIS PROBLEM AND THEY WERE DEFINITELY NOT IN ANY KIND OF PRISTINE CONDITION. *TR
2004 CADILLAC CTS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ECM BOARD RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE COST TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE ECM BOARD WAS $800.00. THE DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER, IT WOULD NOT START. AND THE SAME MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE VEHICLE, FROM WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY TAKEN TO THE DEALER. ALSO, THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION.
NOTICED BROWN LIQUID LEAKING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER WHEEL AREA. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO GM DEALER WHERE THEY DISCOVERED A COOLANT LINE FAILURE WHICH CREATED LEAKING OF TRANSMISSION FLUID INTO RADIATOR AND COOLANT INTO TRANSMISSION. BOTH TRANSMISSION AND RADIATOR NEED REPLACING, CAR IS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THIS WAS DETERMINED BY THE DEALER AND CADILLAC TO BE A FAILURE OF THE PART, UNABLE TO BE PREVENTED AND UNABLE TO DETECT. CONSUMER WAS NOT AT ALL RESPONSIBLE FOR DAMAGE. TOTAL ESTIMATED COST $4,900. CONTACTED GM WHERE THEY OFFERED TO "SPLIT" THE COST 50/50, MYSELF RELIABLE FOR THE $2400. ALTHOUGH CADILLAC TOOK RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE, I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF REPAIR. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN RPMS WHEN DRIVING 50 MPH AND ABOVE OR WHILE SITTING IDLE WITH THE VEHICLE IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWO WEEKS LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,300.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 10 MPH WHEN FLUID BEGAN LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY AND THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COOLANT LINE FRACTURED FROM THE RADIATOR. THE DEALER ADVISED REPLACING THE RADIATOR ASSEMBLY, COOLANT LINES AND REFILLING WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,400.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15-20 MPH THE TRANSMISSION COOLING LINE BROKE OFF FROM THE RADIATOR AND THE FLUID SPILLED OUT OF THE VEHICLE. HE STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED, THERE WAS FLUID ON THE GROUND AND INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE . THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RADIATOR ASSEMBLY AND REFILLED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,971 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,100. UPDATED 01/04/11. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HER VEHICLE AND COULD NOT ASSIST. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V024000 WAS REFERENCED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD IDLE VERY LOUDLY AS IF SOMEONE WERE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IN ADDITION, THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED JUST AS THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURES STILL PERSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
I HAVE A 04 CADILLIAC CTS THAT CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE PARKED. THE CAR IS TOTALED. THERE WERE ONLY 60,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT RAN OK . MY WARRANTY WAS UP A MONTH BEFORE THIS HAPPEN I FILED A COMPLAINT BUT NO ONE IS CALLING ME BACK TO VIEW THE VEHICLE OR OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. *TR
REAR DIFFERENTIAL OF MY 2004 CADILLAC CTSV IS TOO WEAK. IT CLUNKS, AND PRODUCES EXCESSIVE WHEEL-HOP THUS NOT ALLOWING THE POWER TO TRANSFER. THE WHOLE REAR END OF THE CAR FROM THE BUSHINGS TO THE REAR CRADLE TO THE HALF SHAFTS ARE TOO WEAK FOR THE CAR. OVER 1000'S OF CTS-V'S OF THE UNDER APPROX. 4,000 PRODUCED FROM 2004-2005 HAVE HAD MAJOR ISSUES. SERVICE CENTERS CLAIM EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. MY CAR IS CONTINUALLY IN THE SHOP. GM REFUSES TO PAY FOR THESE ITEM AND I HAVE A 6YR 100K WARRANTY. SERVICE CENTERS ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH THIS CAR, AND GM FAILED TO ENGINEER IT PROPERLY. IN ADDITION ALL OF MY INTERIOR PARTS RATTLE WHEN I STEP ON IT, AND SOME CONTINUE TO RATTLE DURING DAILY DRIVING. THE PAINT QUALITY OF THE EXTERIOR IS THE WORST I HAVE TO SEE YET. THERE ARE WEIRD BLOTCHES ALL OVER THE PLACE AND ARE OBVIOUSLY DUE TO POOR PAINT APPLICATION AT THE FACTORY. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS AND SO FAR HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR, THE WHOLE NAV UNIT, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. AND ALREADY, THE NAV UNIT IS BEGINNING TO SHOW THE SAME INDICATIONS OF WHY IT GOT REPLACED IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS STARTING TO MAKE NOISES AGAIN. ALSO, THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL PRODUCES LOTS OF NOISE. I HAVE HAD IT UP TO HERE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *JB
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. IT WAS TEST DRIVEN, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55-MPH VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES, BUT COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM . *AK
EMISSION TEST FAILURE. 2004 CADILLAC CTS. 875 MILES ON ODOMETER JUST PICKED UP FROM DEALER BROUGHT BACK FOLLOWING DAY FOR INSPECTION STICKER,WOULD NOT PASS EMISSIONS TEST. TOLD BY DEALER VEHICLE HAD BLOCKED CATALYTIC CONVERTER AND NEED REPLACEMENT. *JB
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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