2004 Cadillac CTS Steering Problems

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

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

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON ONE OCCASION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,394.

NHTSA ID

10749118

Incident

Jan 7, 2015

Mileage

95,394 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT VARYING SPEEDS (TYPICALLY OVER 30 MPH) THE "STABILITY SYSTEM ENGAGED" MESSAGE COMES ON AND THE CAR VIOLENTLY PULLS TO THE LEFT WITH A WEIRD NOISE. THIS IS REALLY SCARY WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT HIGH SPEEDS. NO RECALL EXISTS AND THIS HAS TAKEN PLACE FOR TWO YEARS. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED HOW TO TURN OFF THE TRACTION CONTROL AND THIS PROBLEM BY HOLDING DOWN THE TRACTION CONTROL BUTTON ON THE INSIDE OF THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. THIS IS NO REAL SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM SINCE IT HAS TO BE DONE EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10553874

Incident

Oct 1, 2012

Mileage

150,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10553873

Incident

Nov 25, 2013

Mileage

175,000 mi

2004 CTS V-6 3.6L,REAR WHEEL DRIVE , THIS CAR HAS PLAY IN STEERING WHEEL AT ABOUT 12 O'CLOCK POSITION . PLAY IS ALWAYS THERE NO MATTER WHAT SPEED YOU ARE AT. PLAY IN WHEEL IS ABOUT 1 INCH EACH WAY , IT IS DIFFICULT TO STEER/ CONTROL AT HIGHER SPEEDS .RIGHT OR LEFT. THIS COULD BE AN UNSAFE CONDITION

NHTSA ID

10544945

Incident

Aug 9, 2011

Mileage

65,000 mi

1) LEAVING THE PARKING LOT OF MY EMPLOYER, TURNING RIGHT ONTO MAJOR HIGHWAY 2) ONE OCCURRENCE. THE LOWER FRONT BALL JOINT SEPARATED FROM THE CONTROL ARM, HENCE DROPPING THE FRONT RIGHT CORNER ONTO OF THE WHEEL/TIRE. THE NUT "BACKED OFF" AND SLOWLY SPUN ITSELF OFF. THE NUT HAD NO VISIBLE "MARRING" OF THE METAL OR SHOWED SIGNS OF DISTRESS. THIS IS ALSO TRUEFOR THE LOWER BALL JOINT. 3) VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP, WHERE THE PARTS WERE REPLACED AND A NEW NUT WAS APPLIED. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL ISSUED BY GM FOR THE 2004 CADILLAC CTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEMS, GM HAS FAILED TO CURE THE PROBLEM AS " IT DOES NOT FALL WITHIN THE DESCRIBED LOT OF VEHICLES PER YOUR VIN # ". GIVEN THE MAJOR SAFETY RAMIFICATIONS SURROUNDING THE IMPROPER FUNCTION OF THIS PART IT IS IRRATIONAL TO BELIEVE THAT THE NUT WOULD JUST "BACK ITSELF OFF". *TR

NHTSA ID

10373571

Incident

Dec 23, 2010

Mileage

57,684 mi

HELLO, I HAVE HEARD REPORTS OF THE GM RECALL FOR POWER STEERING IN SOME VEHICLES. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW YOU MAY WANT TO CHECK OUT CADILLAC'S AS WELL. I HAVE A 04 CTS THAT JUST RECENTLY STARTED DOING THE EXACT SAME THING A FEW WEEKS AGO. AT LOW SPEEDS THE CAR IS VERY HARD TO TURN AND WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT THERE IS A WHINE SOUND. LOOKS LIKE THE POWER ASSIST PUMP HAS GONE OUT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10315353

Incident

Jan 11, 2010

Mileage

70,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT HEARD A TAPPING AND GRINDING SOUND UNDER HER FEET WHILE DRIVING, AND ALSO FELT SOMETHING IN THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO HER LOCAL MECHANIC AND HAD IT DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE CONTROL ARM WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE, AND IS CURRENTLY MAKING REPAIRS. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL HAD BEEN ISSUED, HOWEVER HER VEHICLE IDENTIFCATION NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. UPDATED 07/29/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10231281

Incident

Feb 16, 2008

Mileage

65,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10230757

Incident

Feb 11, 2008

Mileage

34,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUTSIDE OF THE WARRANTY. THERE HAD BEEN NO FAILURE TO DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 33,610.

NHTSA ID

10221761

Incident

Feb 26, 2008

WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE MOMENTARY LOST STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER SLAMMED ON BRAKES AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSTATE HIGHWAY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

10099383

Incident

Nov 1, 2004

Mileage

25,413 mi

WHILE MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN THE POWER STEERING WHEEL FAILS TO RETURN TO ITS ORIGINAL CENTER POSITION. THE PROBLEM IS IN FACT CONTINUOUS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER, IN WHICH THE DEALER WAS ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER ACKNOWLEDGE A PROBLEM EXIST, HOWEVER, THE DEALER STATED THE PROBLEM CAN'T BE RESOLVED BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS INHERIT WITH THESE VEHICLES. THE MANUFACTURE FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS.

NHTSA ID

10075930

Incident

Jun 8, 2004

Mileage

450 mi