Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. 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. 46 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.
The 25 most recent of 46, in the owner's own words
The output shaft flange for the transmission that mounts to the driveshaft coupler the flange starts to break away and then breaks . I can provide photos but the metal on the part is close the the end and if I did not find this problem by mistake the drive shaft would have came free
AT ABOUT 100K I NOTICED THE AXLE SEALS ON THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS LEAKING. THERE ARE RECALLS ON THIS BUT NOT BASED ON MY VIN NUMBER. WHEN I NOTICED THIS THE CAR WAS ON A LIFT IN THE AIR BEING INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC.
REAR PINION SEAL FAILED AND REAR AXLE LOCKED UP. LOST CONTROL AND WAS INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT. SHOCKED TO FIND OUT THERE IS A RECALL FOR 2005 AND NEWER CTS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V589000, GM RECALL NO. 07204) BUT NOT MY 2004 WHICH HAS AN IDENTICAL REAR MAIN SEAL. THE PART NUMBER USED IN THE RECALL IS THE SAME TO REPAIR MY 2004. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE, IT REVERSED FOUR FEET BEFORE COMING TO A COMPLETE STOPPED. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000.
WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55 MPH AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE LOST DRIVE POWER. THE RPM'S REVVED UP TO 4 BEFORE I COULD PULL OVER ON A BUSY ROAD JUMPING TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC WITH MY THREE KIDS IN THE CAR. IT WAS STORMING THE CAR WAS RUNNING BUT WOULD NOT ENGAGES IN GEAR. WHEN WE GOT OUT THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FLUID PORING AND SPRAYING OUT OF THE CAR WE QUICKLY KNEW TO TURN IT OFF AND CALL FOR HELP. WHEN WE GOT THE CAR HOME WE SAW THAT THE TRANSMISSION LINE CAME OFF THE RADIATOR. I HAVE SEEN SENSE THEN THAT THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON AND MOST PEOPLES TRANSMISSION ARE SHOT AFTER THIS HAPPENS. WITCH IS A $5000 FIX. THERE WAS NO INDICATORS THAT THE PART WAS BAD OR THAT THE COOLANT PAN WAS LOOSE IN THE BOTTOM OF THE RADIATOR WHICH STRIPED OUT THE NUT ON THE LINE LEAVENING ME AND MY THREE KIDS STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. CADILLAC KNEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM SO THEY PUT OUT A AFTER MARKET PART WITH A QUICK DISCONNECT NOT THE SCREW IN PART LIKE MY CAR HAD. I FOUND THAT OUT AFTER I CALLED AROUND TO HAVE MY CAR FIXED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH, A HUMMING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE VIBRATED AND THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT AFTER THE SPEED INCREASED TO 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE NO LONGER VIBRATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 57,565.
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
HAD MY CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 70 MPH FOR HIGHWAY DRIVING WHEN I HEARD A PSSHHH SOUND AND CRUISE CONTROL BROKE VIOLENTLY AND SMELLED BURNT RUBBER WITH SMOKE COMING FROM BACK END OF CAR. PULLED OVER IMMEDIATELY AND CAR SMOKE FROM BACK END AND SMELL ONLY INCREASED. THOUGHT FOR SURE I HAD A TIRE BLOWOUT. WALKED AROUND CAR AND NOTHING WRONG WITH TIRES. HAD CAR TOWED TO AN AUTO REPAIR PLACE AND AM TOLD THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WENT OUT. I HAVE SINCE INVESTIGATED AND FOUND MANY, MANY FORUMS ABOUT THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR THIS PARTICULAR MODEL BUT A CERTAIN RECALL FOR 2005 MODELS. THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN DEADLY AND I FEEL BOTH FORTUNATE AND UPSET WITH GM THAT SUCH A PROBLEM HAS BEEN SO COMMONLY NOTED BUT WITH NO "REAL" RESOLVE. THE AUTO REPAIR PLACE HAS CALLED AROUND AND THIS IS A SPECIAL PART THAT IS NOT AVAILABLE IN MY STATE AND A NEW ONE COSTS AN ESTIMATED $1,200. WITH SO MANY ISSUES WITH MODELS 2004-2006 HOW COME THERE IS NO RECALL FOR 2004 AND ONLY A LESSER DEGREE OF A RECALL FOR 2005? *TR
I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH MY 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE MOST RECENT IS WITH MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE LATEST PROBLEM WITH THE DIFFERENTIAL PROMPTED AN ONLINE SEARCH WITH THE RESULTS SHOWING THAT EACH OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH MY CADILLAC CTS IS ONE THAT HAS HAPPENED WITH 1000'S OF OTHER 2004 CTS MODEL CADILLACS. *TR
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
WHILE DRIVING FOR BUSINESS THE REAR END STARTED MAKING A GROWLING NOISE AND THEN IT STARTED TO CUT IN AND OUT. STILL MAKES NOISE AND CUTS IN AND OUT MORE IN TURNS. *TT
I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, PUT VEHICLE INTO FIRST GEAR, BEGAN TO LET OFF OF CLUTCH, HEARD & FELT A VERY LOUD BANG. REAR DIFFERENTIAL EXPLODED. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, SHE HEARD A RUMBLING NOISE UNDER THE VEHICLE AS IF IT WERE UNSTABLE. INSTABILITY WHILE DRIVING INCREASED THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. THE DEALER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RESURFACED. AN AUTHORIZED TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE DIFFERENTIALS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 118,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE PINION SEAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V589000 (POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL) APPLIED TO THE 2005-2007 MODELS. THE CONTACT FELT THAT HIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL BECAUSE THE FAILURES WERE IDENTICAL. THE DEALER REFERRED HIM TO THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY ADVISED THE CONTACT TO GO TO ANOTHER DEALER. IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PINION SEAL FAILED. HE WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, IT WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED FOR FREE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,700. UPDATED 01/07/09. *LJ UPDATED 01/08/09. *JB
2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CAR HAS MADE A LOUD NOISE IN THE DIFFERENTIAL SINCE PURCHASED. THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE NOISE AND JERKING OF REAR WHEELS CONTINUES. I HAVE RETURNED TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES ONLY TO BE TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I HAVE REPLACED THE TIRES THREE TIMES BECAUSE THE DEALER SAID THEY WERE THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE AND JERKING, BUT THE CONDITION STILL EXISTS. I HAVE CHECKED THE INTERNET AND INFORMATION LISTED REVEALS THE CADILLAC CTS HAS A MAJOR DEFECT IN THE DRIVE TRAIN HOWEVER GM HAS NOT ACKNOWLEDGED. *TR
I HAVE A 2004 CADILLAC CTS 3.6L. I PURCHASED THE CAR WITH 28,000 MILE ON IT AND HAVE NOTICED A WHINING AND HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END. I BRUSHED IT OFF THINKING IT WOULD NOT BE ANYTHING. BUT THEN I DID RESEARCHED ON IT AND NOTICED THAT THERE ARE NUMEROUS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION BULLETINS THE REAR END PROBLEMS. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE CADILLAC DEALERSHIP ABOUT 6 TIMES OR MORE WITH COMPLAINTS AND THEY HAVE HEARD THE NOISE BUT TELL ME THAT IT IS NORMAL GEAR RASH NOISE YEAH RIGHT!!. HERE IS A LIST OF PI'S TAKE TO UR DEALERSHIP NOVEMBER 24, 2004 - PIP3140 - ABNORMAL NOISE AND VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING - KW ACCESSORY AFTERMARKET AXLE BUZZ CASE GROWL GROAN HOWL MOAN PROP RATTLE RESONANCE SHAFT TRANSMISSION WHINE BODY BOOM PART MODIFICATION NO OEM PIP3051PI03-05 CADILLAC CTS , CTS-V AND SRX HOWL WHINE NOISE FROM REAR AXLE - KW ACCELERATE DECELERATEJULY 8, 2004 PIP3140PIABNORMAL NOISE AND VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING - KW ACCESSORY AFTERMARKET AXLE BUZZ CASE GROWL GROAN HOWL MOAN PROP RATTLE RESONANCE SHAFT TRANSMISSION WHINE BODY BOOM PART MODIFICATION NO OEMNOVEMBER 24, 2004 PIP3152BPI 04-05 CADILLAC SRX, CTS, CTS-V AND 05 CADILLAC STS SHUDDER OR BIND ON LOW SPEED TURNS - KW DIFFERENTIAL GROAN GROWL MOAN NOISE REAR SLOW VIBRATION DECEMBER 7, 2004 PIP3152FPISHUDDER OR BIND ON LOW SPEED TURNS - KEYWORDS AXLE DIFFERENTIAL GROAN GROWL MOAN NOISE REAR SLOW VIBRATIONOCTOBER 28, 2005 PIP3051BPIHOWL WHINE NOISE FROM REAR AXLE - KEYWORDS ACCELERATE DECELERATE SEPTEMBER 13, 2005 PIP3051APIHOWL WHINE NOISE FROM REAR AXLE - KEYWORDS ACCELERATE DECELERATE MAY 20, 2005 PIP3152EPISHUDDER OF BIND ON LOW SPEED TURNS - KEYWORDS AXLE DIFFERENTIAL GROAN GROWL MOAN NOISE REAR SLOW VIBRATIONAPRIL 26, 2005 THEY HAVE EXTEND A "REAR END WARRANTY TO ME FOR ADDITIONAL 3YRS". CHECK INTO THIS AS IT WILL SAVE A LOT OF MONEY WHEN IT DOES GO OUT AS WE KNOW IT WILL HTTP://REARDIFF.JON04CTSV.COM/ <--- CHECK THIS SITE OUT *TR
2004 CADILLAC CTS. CONSUMER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE INVESTIGATION ON THE 2004-2005 CADILLAC CTS-V. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED HE DROVE THE VEHICLE ABOUT 200 MILES BEFORE THE REAR END NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONSUMER THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE LIMITED SLIP DIFFERENTIAL. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT PURCHASED HER VEHICLE WITH NUMEROUS FAILURES. SHE STATED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR SHOULD HAVE BEEN PERFORMED PRIOR TO THE SALE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THE FRONT END SUSPENSION, STEERING WHEEL SHAFT, AND REAR DIFFERENTIAL. SHE WAS INFORMED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO ANOTHER LOCATION BECAUSE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY; HOWEVER, DUE TO THE NUMBER OF FAILURES, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AT ALL. THE DEALER DOES NOT WANT THE CONTACT TO TRADE THE VEHICLE IN OR TAKE IT BACK. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT THE VEHICLE IS A LEMON. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000.
POWERTRAIN PROBLEM AS MANY OTHERS ALREADY POSTED. *TR
OIL LEAKING FROM REAR DIFF IN 2004. DEALER REPLACED SEAL, BUT LEAKED AGAIN IN 2006 AND DEALER THEN REPLACED REAR DIFF. THEN IN 2007 A SEAL ON THE NEW DIFF LEAKED AND WAS REPLACED. IT APPEARS THAT THE REAR DIFF IS IMPROPERLY DESIGNED AND WILL CONTINUE TO FAIL OUTSIDE MY WARRANTY PERIOD. IN MY OPINION, THE REAR DIFF IS THE ONLY DESIGN PROBLEM WITH THE 2004 CTS. *JB
REAR DIFFERENTIAL LEAKING - DRIVER SIDE AXEL SEAL WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. WAS REPLACED FOR SAME ISSUE AT ABOUT 6K MILES NOW SAME PROBLEM AT ABOUT 10K MILES, I SUSPECT THE CASE IS WARPING. *JB
1) I TOOK MY CAR IN ON 3/30 COMPLAINING OF A LEAKING REAR DIFFERENTIAL. I WAS INFORMED NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. 4/20 I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT NORMAL SPEEDS. I DOWN SHIFTED AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE ENGINE REVVED YET THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HAD QUITE LITERALLY EXPLODED. 2) THE HOUSING TO THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL SHATTERED CAUSING ONE OF THE BOLTS TO COME OUT AND THE REMAINDER OF THE HOUSING TO HANG AT AN ANGLE. THE INTERNALS OF THE DIFFERENTIAL LOOKED AS THOUGH A GRENADE HAD BEEN SET OFF IN THEM. THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR HALF SHAFT WAS HANGING OUT OF THE HOUSING. 3) I'M CURRENTLY LOCKED IN A FIGHT WITH MY LOCAL CADILLAC DEALERSHIP. THEY ARE TRYING TO REFUSE WARRANTY. *JB
2004 CADILLAC CTS-V REAR DIFFERENTIAL LEAK\NOISE. HOWLING DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED 2005. NEW ONE NOW LEAKS AND WHINES. *NM
SO ILL START OFF WITH ABOUT COMPLAINING TO THE DEALER ABOUT MY REAR END MAKING A MOANING WHINNING SOUND. I WENT IN MORE THAN ONCE TO TELL THEM ABOUT HOW IT KEEPS GETTING LOUDER AND THAT I KNOW SOMETHING IS NOT CORRECT. I AM CURRENTLY SELLING MY CAR AND WANT IT PERFECT FOR ANYONE WHO BUYS IT. THE CADILLAC DEALERSHIP KEEPS TELLING ME THAT ALL OF THIS IS NORMAL AND THEY DO NOTHING. SO LET ME TELL YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW IT ALL STARTS. I WAS AT A RACEWAY ROAD COURSE PRACTICING DRIVING ONE OF MY RACE CARS FOR A RACE THAT I HAVE COMING UP. MY GIRLFRIEND WANTED TO GO AROUND THE TRACK A FEW TIMES TO SEE HOW IT FELT SO I TOOK HER FOR A LITTLE RIDE IN THE CADILLAC NOTHING MORE THAN DRIVING UP A WINDEY ROAD. WE PACK UP OUR STUFF AND I LEAVE WITH MY GIRLFRIEND TO MEET MY FOLKS FOR DINNER. I STARTED DRIVING UP A FREEWAY ON RAMP AND HIT A LITTLE BIT OF WATER AS I WAS ACCELERATING THEN GET A LITTLE BIT OF WHEEL HOP AND BOOM! MY CAR SUDDENLY STOPS IN FRONT OF A BIG RIG THAT WAS ON MY TAIL THE WHOLE TIME AND I BARELY HAVE TIME TO MOVE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT GETTING RAN OVER. I TRAILER MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY TELL ME MY CAR WAS ABUSED! I KNEW ABOUT THE REAR ENDS AND DIDN'T WANT TO DEAL WITH THE CAR AND ALL ITS PROBLEMS AND THAT IS WHY I DIDN'T WANT TO RISK DEALING WITH IT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A HUGE HAZARD THAT CADILLAC SEEMS TO JUST BE IGNORING. THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING BEFORE SOMEONE GETS KILLED. I KEEP THINKING ABOUT IT AND HOW IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE FOR ME AND MY GIRLFRIEND. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM BUT AT LEAST WE WALKED AWAY! NOW I AM SCARED FOR WHOMEVER I SELL THIS CAR TOO. SOMEONE FROM THIS WEBSITE NEEDS TO DO A GOOGLE ON ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WE ARE HAVING BECAUSE I DON'T THINK PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THIS WEBSITE. THANKS GUYS, MICHAEL LEBARD. *NM
THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL ON MY CADILLAC CTS-V HAS FAILED TWICE IN THE 20,100 MILES THAT I HAVE DRIVEN IT. *JB
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