Problems · by component

2004 Cadillac CTS electrical system problems

35 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Cadillac CTS cite electrical system, 15% of all 229 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
35
15% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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
“ON MAY 18TH, 2018 I PURCHASED A 2004 CADILLAC CTS FROM TOP NOTCH AUTO. THE GAS GAUGE, BRAKES, A/C, BLINKERS DASH BUTTONS ALL WERE NOT WORKING. HE SAID TO BRING IT THE NEXT DAY AND THEY WOULD FIX IT ALL. I RAN OUT OF GAS GETTING THERE THE NEXT DAY DUE TO NOT HAVING A WORKING GAS GAUGE. I SPENT THE ENTIRE DAY THERE AND THEY DID NOTHING TO FIX THE CAR. THE NEXT DAY THE COMPUTER (ECM) WENT OUT ON THE CAR AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SAYING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS BAD. I TOOK THE CAR BACK AND ASKED FOR MY MONEY BACK AND THEY SAID NO BUT WOULD FIX IT AND THEY HAD THE CAR FOR OVER TWO WEEKS. THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FIXED BUT I NOTICED THE CAR WENT FROM 176000 MILES TO 101000 MILES (ODOMETER ROLLED BACK). I ASKED ABOUT THIS AND HE SAID IT WAS LEGAL AND NECESSARY TO FIX THE CAR. THE DAY AFTER GETTING IT BACK THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT GO OVER 20MPH ON THE ROAD. THE CODES READ PO121, PO23 AND THIS TIME IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY AND WIRING THAT WERE BAD. THE DEALER WOULD NOT PAY FOR IT. I PAID $498 OUT OF POCKET AND ANOTHER 3 DAYS WITHOUT THE CAR. I TOLD HIM THE BRAKES WERE STILL BAD AND THE CAR BARELY STOPS AND PULLS HARD TO THE…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 9, 2018Electrical system, Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11110352
“MY CAR WAS IN MOTION ON THE INTERSTATE. THE CAR IS USED BUT EXCELLENT CONDITION AND RECENTLY PURCHASED. I FELT A JOLT GOT OFF THE NEXT EXIT AND CAR WILL NOT START, ALL BATTERIES COME ON, EVERYTHING ELSE WORKS”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 18, 2018Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11073444
“ON WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017, WHILE DRIVING FROM WORK I HAD TO SUDDENLY APPLY TO MY BRAKES. IN THE PROCESS, FROM OUT OF NO WHERE MY CAR JUST CUT OFF AND CONTINUE TO CRUISE ALONG. I HAD TO CRUISE TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND AT THE SAME TIME MY STERN WHEEL WAS HARD TO TURN. ONCE I CAME TO A STOP ON SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY I ATTEMPTED TO PUT MY CAR IN PARK AND TURN MY IGNITION SWITCH TO THE ON POSITION. THIS WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION FOR ME, BECAUSE I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 24, 2017Electrical systemODI 11036042
“KEY GOT STUCK IN IGNITION IN THE START POSITION. CAR WON'T START NEITHER TURN OFF COMPLETELY WON'T TURN OFF LEAVING LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD ON THUS CAUSING THE BATTERY TO RUN DEAD. MY TRACTION AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE WITH A WARN SIGNAL SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE SYSTEM.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 11, 2017Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 11032959
“CAR WITH INTERMITTANT STARTING PROBLEMS. CAR WAS ABLE TO TAKE A JUMP BUT NO LONGER ABLE TO TAKE JUMPS. WENT TO START CAR AND KEY STUCK IN IGNITION, TEMP GAUGE AND GAS GAUGE NOT WORKING. SERVICE THEFT SYSTEM ON. THE VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO MOVE FROM DRIVEWAY. HAS TRIED BOTH CARS KEYS AND NO CHANGE. HAD BATTERY, ALTERNATOR AND STARTER CHECKED. ALL WERE FINE. CAR STILL STUCK.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 25, 2017Electrical systemODI 11025344

Showing 6 of 35 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

Electrical system: ignition

Free remedy

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, 2003, to August 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Electrical systemReported Jul 2, 2014NHTSA 14V394000
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.