Problems · by component

2003 Cadillac CTS power train problems

25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Cadillac CTS cite power train, 8% of all 319 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
25
8% of all complaints
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY MADE AN ABNORMAL SOUND AND THE GEARS SLIPPED WITHOUT WARNING. MARTIN BUICK GMC (12101 W OLYMPIC BLVD, LOS ANGELES, CA 90064, (310) 622-9334) WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY; THEREFORE, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AFTER SEVERAL EXTENSIVE REPAIRS FROM THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED WITH A LOANER VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN THREE MONTHS. THE DEALER RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE CONTACT WITHOUT IT BEING REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN SAFELY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CASE MANAGER WAS TO FOLLOW-UP WITH THE DEALER AND OWNER TO DETERMINE IF THERE WERE GUIDELINES FOR A REPAIR. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 29, 2019Power trainODI 11204352
“THE PCV VALVE SYSTEM DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE. ON (4) OCCASIONS THE PRESSURE BUILD-UP CAUSING MASSIVE OIL LEAKS AT THE VALVE COVER. I EXPERIENCED SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AS OIL LEAKED ONTO A HOT ENGINE. A POTENTIAL ENGINE FIRE. IT TOOK YEARS FOR THE CADILLAC DEALERS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A EXTREME COLD WEATHER ISSUE. THE AUTOMOBILE WAS IN ARIZONA FOR A FEW YEARS AND THE ISSUE WAS NOT A PROBLEM BUT ONCE RETURNED TO MICHIGAN, THE PROBLEM GOT SERIOUS. I HAVE ALL OF MY REPAIR DOCUMENTS. THIS CAR SHOULD HAS BEEN RECALLED. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I WAS LUCKY AS I WAS NEAR DEALERS WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 15, 2015Power train, EngineODI 10683560
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 2/24/15*CN UPDATED 9/15/2017*CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 13, 2015Power trainODI 10672259
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A DUMPSTER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 23, 2014Power train, Air bags, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10638324
“DRIVING DOWN ROAD IT JUST CUT OFF OTHER TIMES IT JUST WOULD NOT START I HAVE HAD IT 3YRS AND ONLY GOT TO DRIVE IT 2 MTHS I REALLY WANTED THIS CAR BUT NEVER KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN!ALSO SOME KIND OF SEAL WE HAD FIXED BLEW MAYBE A WEEK AFTER IT WAS FIXED. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 18, 2014Power train, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10626124
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ENGINE LOW POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE ENGINE LOSS POWER WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT FOUR YEARS AFTER THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,579. UPDATED 8/12/14*CN UPDATED 08/20/2014 *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 29, 2014Power train, EngineODI 10594865

Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.