Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Cadillac SRX problems

Owners filed 122 complaints about the 2005 Cadillac SRX with NHTSA between Jul 2004 and Feb 2026. The most-cited component is electrical system (22).

Complaints
122
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
10
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
22
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  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
  10. Service brakes5
  11. Structure4
  12. Vehicle speed control4
  13. Exterior lighting4
  14. Traction control system4

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 8, 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
20041
20056
20067
20072
20086
20097
201011
201114
20128
20135
201418
20157
20168
20174
20188
20194
20203
20210
20222
20230
20240
20250
20261

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

Electrical system

22 reports3 fires1 related recall
“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

Engine

16 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC SRX. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AFTER A COMPLETE STOP, A LOUD VIBRATION/RUMBLE EMITTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO COVERT CADILLAC BUICK GMC (11750 RESEARCH BLVD, AUSTIN, TX 78759, (512) 583-3000), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 9, 2019EngineODI 11230546

Engine and engine cooling

14 reports1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 12, 2018Engine and engine coolingODI 11084782

Suspension

12 reports4 crashes1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE REGARDING THE REAR SUSPENSION. IN ADDITION, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWAYED BACK AND FORTH. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED, WHICH CAUSED DIFFICULTY WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE IN EITHER DIRECTION AT LOW OR HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWAYED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL ACROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC AND CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY, NECK AND BACK PAINS, AND HEADACHES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A SPRAINED LEFT THUMB, AND NECK AND BACK PAINS. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED BACK AND MUSCLE PAINS, AND FEET INJURIES. ALL THE OCCUPANTS RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE POLICE TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 17, 2018SuspensionCrash reportedODI 11129886
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 8, 2026

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