Problems · by component

2003 Cadillac CTS steering problems

28 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 Cadillac CTS cite steering, 9% of all 319 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
28
9% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the steering

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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 drive it because my fluids keep coming out of the coolant tank please help me I don't know what to do. To complete this message I've even had a smog twice nonpassable. - Thank you any Questions [XXX] call/ text”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 9, 2023Steering, Service brakes, EngineFire reportedODI 11516158
“WHILE DRIVING AT A STEADY SPEED AND FOR NO APPARENT REASON, THE STABILITY SYSTEM ENGAGED, I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE, COULD NOT ENGAGE BRAKES, VEHICLE BEGAN LOSING POWER & STALLED IN FREEWAY TRAFFIC. LASTLY, THE BRAKES VIBRATE AND THE CAR'S VALVE COVER GASKETS ARE MADE OF PLASTIC WHICH MAY LEAK & START A FIRE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 5, 2018Steering, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 11133455
“2003 CADILLAC CTS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE STARTS UP AND DRIVES FOR A WHILE THEN SHUTS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING. *SMD THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE IDLER ARMS AND CRANK SENSORS WERE REPLACED. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 10, 2016Steering, Engine and engine cooling, Electrical systemODI 10863889
“WAS ENTERING THE ON RAMP ON TO A FREEWAY AND JUST TAPPED THE BRAKE AND NOTICED AND HEARD THE LEFT FRONT TIRE GRIND AND THE STEERING WHEEL PULLED TO THE LEFT REAL HARD. I WAS GOING INTO A BLIND UNDER PASS AND THOUGHT THAT IF IT SEIZED UP AROUND THE BLIND CORNER I WOULD SURELY BE IN AN ACCIDENT. I FIRST THOUGHT THAT A STONE CHIP WAS IN BETWEEN THE BRAKE AND ROTOR. THE CAR WAS TOWED AWAY TO A AAA LOCATION ABOUT 3 MILES AWAY. THE SERVICE STATION THEN TOOK IT OUT AROUND THE BLOCK AND WAS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE. THE PUT THE CAR UP AND THE LIFT AND COULD NOT SEE ANYTHING THAT WAS WRONG. THEN I TOOK THEM OUT AROUND THE BLOCK REAL SLOW AND THE LEFT FRONT BRAKES WOULD GRIND AWAY. THEY TESTED IT AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG NO ERROR CODES. THEY I SAID COULD DRIVE THE CAR HOME FROM SAN DIEGO TO SOUTH ORANGE COUNTY NOT DIDN'T MAKE IT A BLOCK AWAY BEFORE IT LOCKED UP THE LEFT FRONT TIRE. WAS ABLE TO LIMP TO MARVIN K. BROWN AUTO CENTER ABOUT A MILE AWAY AND IT WAS THERE FOR TWO WEEKS AND $500.00 FOR A STEERING SENSOR REPLACED. THEN IT CONTINUED TO HAPPEN AND THE CTS WAS TAKEN TO TUSTIN CADILLAC AND THEY TRIED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEMS AFTER SPENDING 2 DAYS AT THE DEALER AND…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 2, 2015Steering, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 10745675
“MY 2003 CTS CADILLAC KEY STUCK IN IGNITION AND CAR ENGINE SHUTS COMPLETELY DOWN. THE ECM IS READING LIKE SOMEONE IS STEALING THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING OF PARK AND WANT START. DEFECTIVE RECALL. GM SHOULD REIMBURSE CUSTOMERS FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. THEY DID NOT FIX THE RECALL PROBLEM, THEY JUST PUT A BAND AID ON IT AND SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS RECALL FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. NO QUALITY IN THEIR VEHICLES. THE CONSUMER IS PAYING TOO MUCH FOR THEIR DEFAULTS. THIS ARE NOT CHEAP INVOICE VEHICLES, WHILE THEY ARE GETTING BAIL OUTS, NOW WE KNOW WHY. AND PAYING THEIR CEO BILLIONS OF DOLLARS ON THE CONSUMER'S BACK. WHY?? NO CONSUMER, NO JOBS FOR ANY OF GM EMPLOYEES. I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED. AGED OF THE VEHICLE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH DEFAULT OF GM VEHICLE PRODUCTS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 28, 2015SteeringODI 10722009
“DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY W/ BRAND NEW SUMITOMO TIRES FOR REAR PURCHASED ON 1/10/15, THE REAR RIGHT TIRE BLEW CAUSING ME TO LOOSE CONTROL SENDING ME INTO THE GUARDRAIL THEN SPUN OUT INTO THE HIGHWAY LANDING HORIZONTAL ACROSS ALL LANES OF TRAFFIC WITH MY TRUNK END IN THE HOV LANE. I WAS THEN STRUCT BY A BOX TRUCK, SPINNING ME BACK AROUND AND TOTALING THE VEHICLE. THE SIDEWALLS TO THE TIRE WE STILL ATTACHED TO THE RIM AND THE TREAD FACE HAD DETACHED. *JS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 7, 2015Steering, Structure, WheelsCrash reportedODI 10681903

Showing 6 of 28 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

1 recall on this component

Steering

Free remedy

SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLT MAY BE LOOSE.

SteeringReported Mar 24, 2003NHTSA 03V115000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 9, 2026

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