Problems · NHTSA complaints

2004 Cadillac CTS problems

Owners filed 229 complaints about the 2004 Cadillac CTS with NHTSA between Oct 2003 and Sep 2024. The most-cited component is power train (52).

Complaints
229
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
26
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
25
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train52
  2. Electrical system35
  3. Air bags26
  4. Service brakes25
  5. Suspension18
  6. Structure17
  7. Steering16
  8. Service brakes, hydraulic16
  9. Engine and engine cooling12
  10. Vehicle speed control11
  11. Wheels8
  12. Exterior lighting7
  13. Tires6
  14. Engine5

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

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 9, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20033
200422
200517
200629
20077
200817
20092
201022
201111
20127
201310
201426
201516
201613
20176
201810
20193
20203
20210
20221
20230
20244

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

52 reports3 crashes
“The output shaft flange for the transmission that mounts to the driveshaft coupler the flange starts to break away and then breaks . I can provide photos but the metal on the part is close the the end and if I did not find this problem by mistake the drive shaft would have came free”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 25, 2024Power trainODI 11616522

Electrical system

35 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle, the vehicle would not restart. The contact stated that the ignition failure required her to contact roadside assistance to jump start the battery. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure recurred. The contact had an independent mechanic diagnose the vehicle and determined that there was an unknown electrical issue. The contact researched the failure online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 14V394000 (Electrical System). The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 20, 2022Electrical systemODI 11461459

Air bags

26 reports14 crashes1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V024000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *TT *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 2, 2019Air bagsODI 11193372

Service brakes

25 reports1 crash
“MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING HOME AND THE BRAKES WENT OUT AND HE HAD TO PUMP THEM TO BE ABLE TO STOP. UPON REASEARCHING THE CAMPAIGN NUMBER CAME UP. HIS BRAKE LIGHT CAME AND AND UPON INSPECTING THE BRAKE LINES AND CHECKING THE FLUID IT WAS LOW AND THE LINES APPEAR TO BE CORRODED. CADILLAC STATED THERE IS NOT ACTIVE RECALL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 20, 2018Service brakesODI 11152887

Suspension

18 reports2 crashes
“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…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 2, 2024Steering, Suspension, WheelsODI 11612149

Structure

17 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CLOSE THE TRUNK MANUALLY, IT RAPIDLY CLOSED DOWN. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED FOR THEIR SAFETY AND STATED THAT IT COULD CAUSE INJURIES. DUE TO THE DISTANCE AND THE CONTACT'S HANDICAP, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,500.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 11, 2019StructureODI 11166544
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 9, 2026

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