RoadVitals

2004 Cadillac CTS Other / unspecified Problems

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

Data refreshed

Other / unspecified 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.
13
Latest Sep 2, 2024
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.
6%
of 224 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.
1
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 whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above. 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. 13 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 other

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

Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Sep 2, 2024

I am writing regarding a recent incident regarding the left front control arm of our 2004 CTS Cadillac. There was a recall for the lower control arm ball nut/washer attaching the control arm, which could lead to disengagement of the control arm, disengagement of the wheel and tire, and possible crash. We purchased the car in 2015. The Cadillac Service Center in Beverly Hills confirmed that they have records showing the car was inspected, and the recalled piece replaced in 2006. The dealer at that time was named Martin Cadillac. The night of [XXX], my son was driving the CTS on the freeway at about 50 mph, when the front left tire and wheel suddenly twisted out of place and rendered the car undrivable. Fortunately, he was not injured or worse, but he was stranded in the middle of a busy freeway for more than 30 minutes until AAA arrived. The car was then towed to our home and towed to our mechanic the following day. The repair needed and done was to replace the left front control arm, precisely the area noted in the recall notice. Also, it was necessary to repair the undercarriage that was damaged by the dislocated wheel and tire. The left front fender was also damaged by the action of the detached tire and wheel. The total repair cost we paid was $793.13 for the control arm and undercarriage. We are not currently driving the car, as we are concerned that the car is still unsafe. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11612149
Incident
Jul 7, 2024
Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 15, 2024

Recent incident regarding the left front control arm of our 2004 CTS Cadillac. There was a recall for the lower control arm ball nut/washer attaching the control arm, which could lead to disengagement of the control arm, disengagement of the wheel and tire, and possible crash. We purchased the car in 2015. The Cadillac Service Center in Beverly Hills confirmed that they have records showing the car was inspected, and the recalled piece replaced in 2006. The dealer at that time was named Martin Cadillac. The night of [XXX], my son was driving the CTS on the freeway at about 50 mph, when the front left tire and wheel suddenly twisted out of place, impairing the steering and motion, rendering the car undrivable. He was stranded in the middle of a busy freeway for more than 30 minutes until AAA arrived. The car was then towed on a flatbed to our home and towed on a flatbed to our mechanic the following day. The repairs needed and done were to replace the left front control arm, precisely the area noted in the recall notice. Also, it was necessary to repair the undercarriage that was damaged by the dislocated wheel and tire. The left front fender was also damaged by the action of the detached tire and wheel. The total repair cost we paid was $793.13 for the control arm and undercarriage. We are not currently driving the car, as we are concerned that the car is still unsafe, and we are renting a car meanwhile. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11602467
Incident
Jul 7, 2024
Body & structureOther / unspecifiedSuspension
Filed Dec 15, 2018

I GOT THE CAR TOOKEN BUT THEY DONT WANT GAVE IT BACK I DONT NOW THE RESON CAN U GUYS GET IT BK THANK U WITH MY FULL RESPECT GOING OUT TO U N UR WORKERS

NHTSA ID
11161743
Incident
Nov 15, 2018
Mileage
1 mi
AirbagsEngineOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 9, 2018

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.

NHTSA ID
11078297
Incident
Feb 22, 2018
Mileage
160,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteering
Filed Mar 2, 2016

TAKATA RECALL WS DRIVING THE CAR - I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN IN PARKING LOT - THEN SOUNDED LIKE A POP - THE BOTTOM BALL JOINT FELL COMPLETELY OUT DUE TO SCREW FALLING OFF BOTTOM CALLED SEVERAL PLACES FOR PART AND SEVERAL WOULDN'T EVEN GIVE ME A QUOTE DUE TO A RECALL THEN I CALL GM DEALERSHIP IN COLUMBIA MO AND THEY STATE VIN # ARE OFF BUY 270 I FEEL LIKE IT SHOULD BE COVERED DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT DONE EXACTLY THE SAME THING OTHER CTS

NHTSA ID
10839571
Incident
Mar 2, 2016
Mileage
185,000 mi
BrakesElectricalOther / unspecified
Filed Sep 9, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED THE IGNITION SWITCH, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT BRAKE FLUID LEAKED INTO THE COMPUTER, BUT THE EXACT CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000. UPDATED 11/26/14*CN UPDATED 10/5/2015*JS

NHTSA ID
10631925
Incident
Aug 21, 2014
Mileage
122,000 mi
BrakesEngineOther / unspecified+1 more
Filed Jun 2, 2014

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

NHTSA ID
10595466
Incident
May 30, 2014
Mileage
156,366 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceOther / unspecified
Filed Sep 25, 2012

MULTIPLE, ARBITRARY INCIDENCES OF THE BRAKES SHAKING, KIND OF GRINDING AND CAR NOT WANTING TO STOP, GENERALLY WHEN PULLING INTO OR OUT OF A PARKING SPOT, OR COMING TO ANY SLOW STOP. ALWAYS AT A LOW SPEED. SPOKE WITH TWO GM DEALERSHIP SERVICE MANAGERS WHO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH IT IS DOCUMENTED CLOSE TO 100 TIMES ON THIS AND OTHER WEB SITES: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0F480A/29 PLEASE CHECK THESE POSTS SINCE SO MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM WHICH (AS STATED IN ONE OF THE POSTS) VERY WELL COULD BE A FAILURE IN THE DESIGN OR WORKMANSHIP IN SOME OF THE WIRING HARNESSES CONNECTING THE EBCM TO THE SPEED SENSORS THAT CAUSES THE BRAKES TO FAIL. WHATEVER THE CAUSE, ONE WOULD NOT EXPECT ANY BRAKE TROUBLE ON A VEHICLE WITH ONLY 21,000 MILES. THIS IS A DEADLY FLAW AND I EXPECT GM SHOULD OWN UP TO IT, EDUCATE DEALERS AND OWNERS AND FIX THE PROBLEM. THANK YOU. I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR RESPONSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10477006
Incident
Sep 13, 2012
Mileage
21,047 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Jul 7, 2011

BRAKES GO TO THE FLOOR WHEN TURNING RIGHT. ABS/TC KICKS ON BUT CAR DOES NOT STOP. REPORTED TO DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIX IT BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL OF THE TIME. ALMOST HAD MANY ACCIDENTS AND RECENTLY AVOIDED HITTING PEDESTRIAN. CAR IS SITTING UNTIL WE FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10410885
Incident
Jul 4, 2011
Mileage
53,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed Jun 2, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STRUCK AN OBJECT ON THE ROAD. THE RIGHT FRONT RIM BECAME DAMAGED, CAUSING THE EDGE OF THE RIM TO HIT THE BRAKE CALIPER AND A BRAKE FLUID LEAK. THE CONTACT INSTALLED THE SPARE TIRE AND DROVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000.

NHTSA ID
10334251
Incident
May 31, 2010
Mileage
50,000 mi
Driver assistanceOther / unspecified
Filed Mar 5, 2010

ON OR ABOUT FEBRUARY OF 2007, SEPTEMBER 2008, JUNE 2008 AND MARCH 2010, MY 2004 CADILLAC CTS'S RPM FLUCTUATED FROM 1 TO 3 AT A HIGH SPEED WHILE DRIVING AND WHILE PARKED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10317258
Incident
Feb 15, 2007
Mileage
50,000 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed May 9, 2005
Crash reported

FLOOR MATS THAT COME WITH THE CADILLAC CTS DO NOT STAY IN PLACE, THEY GET PUSHED FORWARD UNDER THE BREAK AND GAS PEDDLE PREVENTING ACCELERATION AND STOPPING.

NHTSA ID
10120454
Incident
Aug 19, 2003
Other / unspecified
Filed Jul 8, 2004

CONSUMER HEARD THE LUGS/ NUTS AND BOLTS JIGGLING IN THE WHEEL WELL. A BOLT AND LUG NUT ON REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE SNAPPED OFF WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO INSPECTED THE BOLTS/ LUGS, AND NUTS, AND NOTICED THAT ANOTHER LUG NUT ON THE SAME TIRE WAS STARTING TO SEPARATE. THE LUG NUTS AND BOLTS WERE REPLACED. TWO WEEKS LATER THEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE . DEALERSHIP INDICATED THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF THE RIMS. THE TIRES WERE ROTATED BY THIS DEALERSHIP TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10081556
Incident
Jun 16, 2004
Mileage
16,000 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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