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Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

2005 Cadillac SRXRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 122 owner complaints for the 2005 Cadillac SRX. Most complaints involve electrical system (22) and steering (17). The EPA rates it 15–17 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
15–17mpg
EPA · 4 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Jul 2014
Owner complaints
122
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$3,650est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

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

Power train: seal

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR AXLE PINION SEAL DOES NOT MEET ALL OF THE SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY EXPERIENCE A FLUID LEAK.

Power trainReported Dec 20, 2007NHTSA 07V589000

Suspension: rear

Free remedy

CERTAIN VEHICLES HAVE A LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK THAT COULD SEPARATE BECAUSE OF AN INCORRECT WELD.

SuspensionReported Apr 20, 2006NHTSA 06V125000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 8, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

122 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jul 2004 – Feb 2026
  1. Electrical system22
  2. Steering17
  3. Electronic stability control (esc)16
  4. Engine16
  5. Engine and engine cooling14
  6. Suspension12
  7. Power train7
  8. Air bags7
  9. Visibility6

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

By model year

Complaints for each SRX model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2004218
2005122
200668
200752
200847
200927
2010474
2011447
2012417
2013393
2014390
2015443
2016169
Crashes reported
10
Fires reported
4
Injuries reported
22
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 8, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electrical system

22 reports3 fires
“When I start the car and place it into reverse (from its parking spot) and let it idle backwards about 12-18 ft, it abruptly comes to a halt and makes a hard thump noise. If I then shift it into drive and allow it to idle forward, it will barely idle upto about 6-8 feet. I am hearing a plethora of different things and have not been able to drive it since October, 2025. I need help, please.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 21, 2026Power train, Electrical system, Unknown or otherODI 11719631

Steering

17 reports1 crash1 fire
“'TAKATA RECALL' WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY DASH, STEREO AND LIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE NOT WORKING. THEN. I TRIED CHANGING LANES ON THE INTERSTATE TO EXIT BUT LOST POWER STEERING. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AT THOSE HIGH SPEED!. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF BEFORE MY CAR COMPLETELY DIED.. IT TOOK A WHILE FOR IT TO TURN BACK ON BUT ONCE IT DID THE CAR WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, SUCH AS THE TEMP AND GAS GAUGE, TRACTION CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING AND LIGHT WAS LIT ON DASH. POWER STEERING WASN'T WORKING, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING WEIRD. I TOOK IT IN TO THE GM DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE 'ECM THAT WENT BAD' AND IT WASN'T COMMUNICATING WITH THE REST OF THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. IT WAS ABOUT 900$ IN TOTAL WITH THE TOWING AND 'DIAGNOSE AND FIX'. IT WAS FIXED BUT EXACTLY 6 MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING, I HAD TO PULL OVER. WENT BACK AND HAD TO PAY LIKE 400$ MORE TO GET IT 'FIXED' AGAIN AND THAT ONLY LASTED 1 MONTH. SO NOW WE TOOK IT TO THE CADILLAC DEALERSHIP AND THEY LOOKED AT IT AND COUKDNT TELL ME WHY IT WAS HAPPING OTHER THEN THEY THINK IT WAS THE 'ECM REPLACEMENT THAT WERE BAD'. SO NOW I WILL HAVE TO PAY 950$ FOR THAT…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 4, 2018Steering, Power train, EngineODI 11133340

Electronic stability control (esc)

16 reports2 crashes1 fire
“MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO MY WORK PARKING LOT, APPLIED BRAKES TO PULL INTO MY PARKING SPACE AND I HEARD A TERRIBLE GRINDING/SHUDDERING NOISE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING THE CONCRETE WALL. THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED AND THEN I SAW THE "SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM" APPEAR ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER. SINCE I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED I LOOKED THIS UP AND IT APPEARS THIS "SHOULD" HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED AS A RECALL GM NEEDS TO MAKE BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 10, 2019Unknown or other, Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 11288106
All 2005 SRX problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

4 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines
3.6L 6-cyl · 4.6L 8-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (S5)
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline · Premium Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 8, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
SRX 2WD
Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 3.6 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
152217$3,650523
SRX AWD
Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 3.6 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
142117$3,650523
SRX 2WD
Auto (S5), 8 cyl, 4.6 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
141916$4,850555
SRX AWD
Auto (S5), 8 cyl, 4.6 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
141915$5,150592
  • SRX 2WD
    Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 3.6 L
    15 city · 22 hwy · $3,650/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • SRX AWD
    Auto (S5), 6 cyl, 3.6 L
    14 city · 21 hwy · $3,650/yr
    17
    mpg comb.
  • SRX 2WD
    Auto (S5), 8 cyl, 4.6 L
    14 city · 19 hwy · $4,850/yr
    16
    mpg comb.
  • SRX AWD
    Auto (S5), 8 cyl, 4.6 L
    14 city · 19 hwy · $5,150/yr
    15
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 8, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2005 Cadillac SRX as of Nov 8, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 8, 2026Vehicle 1496
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2005 SRX questions

How many recalls does the 2005 Cadillac SRX have?

3 safety recalls as of Nov 8, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2005 Cadillac SRX problems?

Owners filed 122 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (22), steering (17), electronic stability control (esc) (16). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2005 Cadillac SRX get?

The EPA rates the 2005 Cadillac SRX at 15–17 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 8, 2026