Body & structure
Filed Jan 15, 2026
The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac XLR. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, there was an abnormal sound like a shotgun being fired overhead. The contact pulled over and observed that the retractable fiberglass roof panel had detached from the frame of the vehicle. The contact stated that the headliner, cables, and pulleys used to retract the roof were exposed. The contact was unable to recover the panel. The contact called the dealer and the manufacturer and was informed that there were no recalls on the VIN for the failure. The contact was informed that the roof panel could be replaced out-of-pocket. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
- NHTSA ID
- 11711077
- Incident
- Dec 15, 2025
- Mileage
- 88,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed May 22, 2024
The roof panel that was only attached with adhesive has detached from the frame of the car. This has also caused the retractable convertible top to stop working. I have read about the roof of many of these cars flying off while driving down the road. It is only a matter of time before this poor defect causes serious injury and/ or significant property damage. I called cadillac customer service and they refused to offer any help. I recently spoke to a local body shop about getting it repaired and the estimate was upward of 1000 dollars
- NHTSA ID
- 11590209
- Incident
- Apr 15, 2024
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jul 20, 2023
The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac XLR. The contact stated while driving 65-70 MPH in the rain, the contact heard wind coming from the area where the front roof panel was connected to the windshield. The roof panel then detached and separated from the vehicle. The contact pulled into a service station to get out of the rain. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 113,420.
- NHTSA ID
- 11533527
- Incident
- Jul 20, 2023
- Mileage
- 113,420 mi
Body & structure
Filed Aug 19, 2022
The top roof panel separated while driving on the highway, and almost struck another vehicle causing it to swerve to miss it. The vehicle then proceeded to follow me as he though I was to blame. Once I got off the highway he got out of his car an violently started screaming at me for almost causing an accident.
- NHTSA ID
- 11480261
- Incident
- Aug 18, 2022
Body & structure
Filed Nov 14, 2021
My roof panel is separating from the roof frame of my 04 Cadillac XLR. If it come off it will cause property damage to another vehicle or death! It a GM defect that should be recall !!!! Thanks!
- NHTSA ID
- 11440408
- Incident
- Mar 23, 2021
Body & structure
Filed Sep 28, 2021
Was driving on interstate and top panel on convertible top flew off.
- NHTSA ID
- 11434620
- Incident
- Sep 24, 2021
Body & structure
Filed Feb 12, 2019
WHEN DRIVING I NOTICED A SEVERE WHISTLING SOUND COMING FROM JUST ABOVE THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. UPON INSPECTING, I NOTICED THAT THE ROOF PANEL HAD A 8' SECTION THAT HAD SEPARATED. WHEN GOOGLED, I SAW SEVERAL PEOPLE HAD REPORTED THAT THEIR XLR'S HAD A ROOF PANEL SEPARATE WHILE DRIVING. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO A BODY SHOP AND THEY RE-GLUED THE PANEL BY INJECTING GLUE INTO THE SEPARATION. I HAVE NO IDEA IF THIS IS A RECOMMENDED SOLUTIONN BY GM.
- NHTSA ID
- 11176647
- Incident
- Jul 15, 2016
- Mileage
- 36,788 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 31, 2019
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE SUDDENLY THERE WAS A RUSH OF AIR COMING FROM THE REARVIEW MIRROR AREA. I STOPPED AT THE NEXT SERVICE PLAZA AND OBSERVED THE FRONT OF THE ROOF PANEL SEPARATING FROM THE FRAME. GM USED A ADHESIVE ON THESE XLR ROOFS THAT IS FAILING NOW. CORVETTE ROOFS PANELS WERE RECALLED FOR THIS ISSUE AND FAILED ADHESIVE, BUT GM HAS NOT RECALLED THE XLR YET. THEY OPENED A INVESTIGATION AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER OF 2018.
- NHTSA ID
- 11173362
- Incident
- Jan 25, 2019
- Mileage
- 33,320 mi
Body & structure
Filed May 11, 2017
SEVERAL XLR OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THAT THEIR ROOF PANEL HAS SEPARATED AND FLOWN OFF THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. MY TOP BEGAN EMITTING A WHISTLING NOISE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. WHEN INSPECTING IT, THE CENTER FRONT OF THE TOP HAS BEGUN TO SEPARATE. THESE TOPS WERE APPARENTLY ONLY GLUED AS THE ONLY SECUREMENT. NOT MECHANICAL METHODS WERE USED. WHILE MINE HAS NOT TOTALLY SEPARATED, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A BODY SHOP TO GET IT RE-SECURED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I AM THANKFUL I CAUGHT IT BEFORE CAUSING A SERIOUS ISSUE. IN THE PICTURE SHOWN, THERE SHOULD BE NO GAP BETWEEN THE FRONT SEAL AND THE TOP AT ALL. THE ATTACHED PICTURES SHOW THE TOP BEGINNING TO SEPARATE. FOR REFERENCE, I HAVE SHOWN A TOP THAT TOTALLY SEPARATED TO SHOW THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS ISSUE.
- NHTSA ID
- 10985013
- Incident
- May 8, 2017
- Mileage
- 41,800 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 5, 2017
THE RETRACTABLE ROOF FLEW OFF WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING. GM OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE WITH THIS AND DENIED ANY NEGLIGENCE. CASE #8-2866250293
- NHTSA ID
- 10970736
- Incident
- Jun 15, 2015
- Mileage
- 110,000 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 3, 2017
I DRIVING FREEWAY ABOUT 70MPH, BIG AIR NOISE THEN ROOF PANEL COME OFF & FRYING.
- NHTSA ID
- 10970383
- Incident
- Apr 2, 2017
- Mileage
- 70 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.