2003 Cadillac Cts problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (26) · Vehicle Speed Control (19) · Air Bags (18)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Cadillac Cts model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
219 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Electrical System:ignition 2014-07-02 · campaign 14V394000 · 554,328 vehicles
Defect: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured August 16, 2001, to April 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured March 20
Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14172.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings 2010-03-17 · campaign 10V105000 · 139,131 vehicles
Defect: GENERAL MOTORS HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003-2007 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE FRONT BRAKE HOSE FITTING AT THE CALIPER MAY CORRODE DUE TO SNOW
Risk: THE BRAKE HOSE-TUBE INTERFACE MAY RUPTURE SUDDENLY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AND INCREASE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE MAY OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Service bulletins (506)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2025-07-18 · PIP5601C · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from tac.
Unknown Or Other 2025-03-28 · 23-NA-001 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on onstar module 2g sunset information.
Unknown Or Other 2025-02-20 · PIP5358D · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. technician will need to
Electrical System 2024-10-25 · PIP4723J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the tire pressure monitor, active fuel injector tester, multi media tester, pico scope, gr8 starting/charging tester and vehicle data recorder tools, giving website address and ste
Unknown Or Other 2024-09-12 · PIT5099H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the heater-vent-air conditioning blows warm air. before calling general motors technical assistance center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and ven
Unknown Or Other 2024-09-12 · PIT5099H · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the heater-vent-air conditioning blows warm air. before calling general motors technical assistance center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and ven
Showing the 6 most recent of 506 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2023-04-09 · Steering · 🔥 fire“everything was really grate no problems. my brakes sounds like there is lots of air coming from somewhere. my key ignition sometimes want turn over or easy to come out. than the car started running hot. i've had it looked at few times and can't seem to fix the problem. i've even brought a new coolant box or another name for it.. so now i can't dr…”
2022-07-05 · Engine · 121,000 mi“the contact owns a 2003 cadillac cts. the contact stated that when driving at various speeds the vehicle would suddenly stalled and the instrument panel would illuminate. the message stating "starting disabled remove key" would display. the contact stated that they would be able to coast and restart the vehicle. other times the contact would have t…”
2021-06-25 · Electrical System“the computer isn’t telling the alternator to charge the battery so the batteries are being all of the way drained without anything recharging them. beans new batteries get ruined fast.…”
2020-09-17 · Air Bags“the check air bag warning keeps coming on. when brought to dealer to fix they said it was not under recall and it needs to be since others having the same issue. this is a safety issue.…”
2020-07-16 · Service Brakes · 83,000 mi“there is a open recall effecting this year & make although my vin says there's no recalls on my cts. i had both front brake hose assemblies fail while driving. luckily we didn't wreck. i've since had both repaired. curious as to know why car was not listed with open recall.…”
2020-03-20 · Electrical System · 150,000 mi“the car will not start and i have to bypass the ignition with a jumper in the fusebox…”
2019-12-18 · Engine · 128,900 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2003 cadillac cts. while driving various speeds, the vehicle suddenly shut off. after restarting the engine, the vehicle operated normally. the cause of the failure was not determined. the local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. the failure mileage was 128,900.…”
2019-11-06 · Service Brakes · 144,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2003 cadillac cts. while driving various speeds, the brake line failed and the check brake indicator illuminated. the contact took the vehicle to an unknown dealer where it was diagnosed with brake failure. the contact discovered nhtsa campaign number: 15v225000 (service brakes, hydraulic), which he related to the failure. th…”
2019-10-28 · Service Brakes · 185,000 mi“tl* the contact owns a 2003 cadillac cts. while driving various speeds, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard when it was depressed and the vehicle failed to stop. also, the key became stuck inside the ignition switch and the contact detected fuel leaking from the vehicle. furthermore, the "remove key" message was displayed and the door lock a…”
2019-08-19 · Engine · 25 mi“i bought this car for my son that go to college at san jose state university, his been using this car since 2015 till 2019. recenty about a month ago his complaining the car has been overheating for no reasons, he says that the gauge goes all the way up everytime he drive it but its ok if the car engine is running but in park mode. we ended up got …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.