22 of the
450 complaints about the 2003 Cadillac CTS are about the
body and structure — 5% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
70,000 miles.
AT ABOUT APPROXIMATELY 4:22 AM THIS MORNING MY CAR WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES IN MY DRIVEWAY. I WAS AWAKENED BY MY CADILLAC CTS 2003 CAR ALARM AS THE FLAMES WE'RE VISIBLE THRU MY BEDROOM WINDOW. AT WHICH TIME I RAN OUTSIDE TO TURN ON THE WATER HOSE TO TURN OFF THE FIRE AS MY FAMILY WAS SLEEPING IN THE HOUSE. MY HUSBAND'S CAR WAS RIGHT NEXT TO MY CADI THAT HAD A FULL TANK OF FUEL. I CALLED 911 AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO TURN OFF THE FIRE ON THE CADILLAC CTS 2003. AND FOR MORE THAN TEN MINUTES THE FIRE WAS STILL BLAZING AS THE FIREMEN UNABLE TO CONTROL THE FLAMES. MY CAR IS GONE AS IT BURNED DOWN. PLEASE HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAPPENED. I ONLY CARRIED LIABILITY AS THIS WAS ALL I COULD AFFORD. I THANK THE LORD THAT EVEN WHEN WE WERE IN HARM'S WAY, HE JEHOVAH GOD PROTECTED US. ALL THE GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST THAT THEIR WAS NO LOST OF LIFE. MATERIAL THINGS CAN BE REPLACED. I AM GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR HIS MERCY AND GRACE. HE HAS TOTAL CONTROL AND I KNOW THAT HE WAS WITH US. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THESE CARS HAVE A HISTORY OF CATCHING ON FIRE. I AM GLAD THAT WE WERE NOT ON THE ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED. MY MOTHER SUFFERED A STROKE AND THIS COULD OF BEEN MORE DETRIMENTAL BUT GOD DID NOT PERMIT THE HAND OF THE ENEMY TO TOUCH US PHYSICALLY, HALELUJAH TO THE LAMB OF GOD! I AM BLESSED TO BE A CHILD OF GOD! I KNOW THAT HE WILL GIVE US JUSTICE BECAUSE HE DOES NOT FORSAKE HIS CHILDREN AND HE IS A GOD THAT DOES NOT LIE. HE IS GOD EMANUEL! HE IS MY SHALOM!
NHTSA complaint #11186250 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesNewport News, VAFire
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY 2003 CADILLAC CTS CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIREMAN SAID THAT IT WAS THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MODULE THAT CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR HOURS AND FIRE STARTED WHILE WE WAS SLEEPING. THE WHOLE ENGINE IS BURNT UP AND THE CAR IS TOTALED. NOW I HAVE NO CAR AND NO MONEY TO GET ANOTHER CAR.
NHTSA complaint #11066874 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 70,000 milesClark, NJ
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY CAR HAS BEEN GARAGED KEPT FOR 13 YEARS, ONLY CAME OUT IN THE SUMMER AND WEEKENDS. THE LAST 2 YEARS I HAVE BEEN USING IT AS A DAILY DRIVER.. IN 2012 MY MECHANIC NOTICED A LOT OF CORROSION ON MY CHASIS RAILS, I NOTIFIED CADILLAC, THEY SENT ME TO THE DEALER TO INSPECT MY COMPLAINT AND OFFERED ME 3,000 OFF A NEW VEHICLE. 2 WEEKS AGO I WENT FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND MY MECHANIC NOTICED HOW WORSE THE GOT. I CALLED CADILLAC AND THEY TOLD ME THE CORROSION WARRANTY WAS OVER. MY CADILLAC ONLY HAS 113,000 MILES, NOW THAT I NOTICED HOW BAD THEY GOT I WILL NOT PUT MY FAMILY IN THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10994435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 86,000 milesCanton, MI
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME UNDERNEATH THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT WAS RUSTED OUT, CAUSING HOLES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
NHTSA complaint #10787300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 146,000 milesSachse, TXCrash
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
NHTSA complaint #10681903 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 89,000 milesKents Store, VA
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LICENSE PLATE LIGHT COVERING WAS FRACTURED AND THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE LICENSE PLATE COVERING, BUT THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
NHTSA complaint #10638319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aurora, OH
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT WOULD NOT ILLUMINATE UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE REAR BRAKE LIGHT PLASTIC PANEL HOUSING WAS FAULTY. IN ADDITION, THE CENTER OF THE FRAME EXHIBITED SEVERE CORROSION. THE DEFECT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 09/05/13
NHTSA complaint #10515949 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 108,000 milesPhonenix, AZ
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRUNK LATCH FELL ON HER HEAD WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE SOMETHING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRUNK WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED.THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
NHTSA complaint #10460274 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Aurora, IL
STRUCTURE
WHILE DRIVING HOME FROM WORK I HEARD A SLIGHT CRASH NOISE, LOOKED IN MY REAR VIEW MIRROR TO SEE THE BEZEL PIECE FLEW OFF MY CAR AND ATTACHED WERE THE BACK UP LIGHTS. THE PIECE SHATTERED AND WAS IRREPLACEABLE. UPON RESEARCH IN CADILLAC BLOGS I READ THAT THIS WAS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH 03-05 CTS CARS DUE TO GM USING A CHEAP GLUE TO HOLD THE PIECE ON. CADILLAC ONLY AGREED TO REPLACE THE PART IF THE CAR WAS STILL COVERED UNDER THEIR FACTORY WARRANTY, BUT I AM NOT. FURTHER RESEARCH SHOWED THAT THEY DON'T EVEN OFFER ATHE SAME REPLACEMENT PIECE, NOW A NEW PART ONLY AVAILABLE IN AN ASSEMBLY KIT RANGING BETWEEN 4-500 DOLLARS. I FIND IT UNETHICAL TO SELL A LUXURY CAR, AND BUILD IT WITH CHEAP PLASTIC PIECES THAT SIMPLY FALL OFF DUE TO CHEAP ADHESIVE, AND CAUSE DANGER TO DRIVERS BEHIND ME. THE FACT THAT THE PART WAS DISCONTINUED ONLY PROVES THAT CADILLAC ACKNOWLEDGES THE PIECE WAS CHEAPLY CONSTRUCTED, AND SHOULD OFFER REPLACEMENTS TO ALL EARLY CTS MODELS. WHEN ASSEMBLING AUTOMOBILE ONLY QUALITY PARTS SHOULD BE USED, NOT CHEAP PLASTIC WITH FAULTY GLUE, I FEEL THIS WARRANTS A RECALL, BUT ONE WASN'T ISSUED. THANKS FOR YOUR TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10449517 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesMarlow, GA
STRUCTURE:BODY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR TAG PANEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE, AS A RESULT WATER SIP IN AND DAMAGE THE WIRING OF THE BRAKE LAMPS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE ADHESIVE THAT WAS USED TO HOLD THE PANEL WAS DEFECTIVE AS A RESULT IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE AND REFERRED HER TO NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 95,000.
NHTSA complaint #10442507 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,100 milesCatonsville, MD
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT STARTED FOR A FEW DAYS IT WOULD ONLY START WITH A JUMP START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AT LEAST THREE TIMES WHO STATED THE BATTERY CAUSED THE FAILURE TO OCCUR. A BRAND NEW BATTERY WAS INSTALLED BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE TRUNK WAS TOO HEAVY TO STAY IN THE UP POSITION EACH TIME SHE OPENED IT. THE TRUNK HAD FALLEN ONTO HER HEAD BUT THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,100.
NHTSA complaint #10398460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 50,556 milesMidlothian, VA
STRUCTURE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 TO 70 MPH, THE REAR LICENSE PLATE COVER FRACTURED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE REAR LIGHT MODULE WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW, IMPROVED MODULE. THE BACK UP LAMPS AND THE REAR FINISH PANEL WAS ALSO REPLACED WITH A SAFER PANEL. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT CONSIDERED A SAFETY HAZARD AND WOULD NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,556 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,700.
NHTSA complaint #10355180 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 5,007 milesElmont, NYCrash
STRUCTURE
THIRD BRAKE LIGHT IMPROPERLY SEAL ALLOWING WATER TO LEAK INTO MECHANISM AND BURN OUT LED BULBS.
NHTSA complaint #10329946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 37,000 milesClearwater, FL
STRUCTURE
DESIGN FLAW? PLASTIC VALVE COVER FAILURE. OIL LEAKING ON ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #10222284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 38,000 milesSarasota, FL1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, THE TRUNK WOULD SLAM DOWN ON ITS OWN. THE TRUNK SLAMMED DOWN ON THE CONTACT'S HEAD AND BACK ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. SHE ALSO STATED THAT THE TRUNK WAS DIFFICULT TO LIFT. THE DEALER INFORMED HER THAT THE FAILURE WAS COMMON AMONG THAT YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE COMPONENT, BUT THE CONTACT HAD TO PAY THE LABOR FEES. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41,990 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. UPDATED 3/4/08 *CN THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE LIFT SUPPORTS WERE DEFECTIVE. UPDATED
NHTSA complaint #10215246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 6,000 milesPalm Beach Gardens, FL1 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT WAS STRUCK IN THE HEAD IN BOTH JULY AND OCTOBER OF 2007 BY THE TRUNK LID COMING DOWN. SHE WAS STRUCK ON THE HEAD AND BACK AND WAS SORE, BUT DID NOT NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR. SHE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE VEHICLE TO BE INSPECTED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 7,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000. UPDATED 12/12/2007 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07
NHTSA complaint #10206617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 7,562 milesPortland, OR
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
TRUNK LID IS EXTREMELY HEAVY. MY WIFE HAS TROUBLE JUST OPENING IT.
NHTSA complaint #10197833 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 25,000 milesRancho Mirage, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE OPENING THE TRUNK LID, THE HINGES THAT HOLD THE TRUNK LID OPEN FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE TRUNK LID WOULD NOT STAY OPEN. THE DEALERSHIP WAS CONTACTED AND NEW HINGES WERE ORDERED.
NHTSA complaint #10148460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 400 milesAlhambra, CA
STRUCTURE
DASHBOARD WENT OUT INTERMITTENTLY. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND REPAIRS WERE MADE. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM KEPT COMING BACK. ON ONE OCCASION THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED FOR UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION. *AK DASHBOARD PROBLEMS AND VEHICLE HAS DIED 3 TIMES. ENCLOSED HERE WITH THE CUSTOMER CLAIM FORM FOR DETAILS AND THE TOWED TRUCK REPORT AND SERVICE DOCUMENTS FROM CAR DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #10115564 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Culver City, CA
STRUCTURE
CADILLAC CTS 2003 REPLACED CAR SIDE PANEL. *BF THE CONSUMER NOTICED THERE WAS A FOAM INSULATION ABSORBENT MATERIAL INJECTED IN THE ROCKER WITHIN THE INNER AND OUTER PAN. THE CONSUMER STATE THE MATERIAL USED WAS FOUND TO HIGHLY FLAMMABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10113421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Venice, FL
STRUCTURE
DESIGN PROBLEM WITH INSTRUMENT PANEL, GAUGES ARE HARD TO SEE. *MR THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS BLACK, AND ON A BRIGHT CLEAR DAY IT WOULD BECOME DIFFICULT TO SEE THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, AND THE GAS GAUGE. THE PROBLEM WAS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVEN ON SUPER HIGHWAYS, ATTEMPTING TO SET THE CRUISE CONTROL, MONITOR SPEED WHEN THE SPEED HAS CHANGED GOING THROUGH DIFFERENT SPEED ZONES. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10024528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Durham, NC
STRUCTURE
THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. THE DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT IT WAS SOME PLASTIC PART THAT WAS LOOSE AND MELTING.
NHTSA complaint #568313 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.