FaultScore

2004 Cadillac CTS airbag problems

26 of the 294 complaints about the 2004 Cadillac CTS are about the airbag system — 9% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 41,000 miles.

F

26

Complaints

14

Crashes

0

Fires

13

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 18 69.2%
Frontal 4 15.4%
Sensor/Control Module 2 7.7%
Side/Window 2 7.7%

Airbags across every Cadillac CTS year

2003 38 10.1%
2004 26 6.9%
2005 75 19.8%
2006 97 25.7%
2007 67 17.7%
2008 12 3.2%
2009 13 3.4%
2010 16 4.2%
2011 23 6.1%
2013 11 2.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Sacramento, CA

AIR BAGS

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

NHTSA complaint #11193372 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ventura, CA

AIR BAGS

IN BACK SEAT ON LEFT AIRBAG IS REALLY COMING OUT. IM AFRAID IT WILL EXPLODE WHEN I HAVE A CHILD OR FAMILY MEMBER IN THE SEAT. THE AIRBAG SITS RIGHT OVER THE PERSON THAT SITS UNDER IT. I HAPPEN TO NOTICE IT WHEN I WAS HELPING MY ELDER MOTHER OUT OF THE CAR. HELP PLEASE 🙏🏼 WE JUST HOME FROM DOCTORS APPOINTMENT.

NHTSA complaint #11122245 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 160,000 miles Cleveland, OH

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE, SERVICE AIR BAG, AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE MADE NOISES. PATRIOT AUTO SALES IN CLEVELAND, OHIO WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND SCHEDULED A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #11078297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 65,000 miles Franklin, VA

AIR BAGS

THE AIR BAG INDICATOR HAS BEEN ILLUMINATED SINCE OCTOBER 2016. I RECENTLY LEARNED THAT AFTER MY MECHANIC RUN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON 1/19/2017, THE READING SHOWS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE DRIVER SEAT WHICH CAUSES THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" TO HIGHLIGHT IN THE INFORMATION CENTER OF THE STEREO SYSTEM AT EVERY STARTUP OF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #10948594 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Myrtle Beach, SC Crash

AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALLED MY 77 YEAR OLD MOTHER, A DIABETIC, RECENTLY RAN INTO THE BACK OF A COP CAR IN MYRTLE BEACH, SC WHEN HER BLOOD SUGAR WAS LOW. HER HEAD BANGED AGAINST THE WHEEL AND HER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED BUT DIDN'T DEFLATE. SHE WAS DRIVING A 2004 CADILLAC CTS SEDAN WITH AROUND 60K MILES ON IT, WITH VIN NUMBER [XXX]. I HAVE CONTACTED CADILLAC CORPORATE AND THEY ARE PROCESSING MY INFORMATION AT THE MOMENT. THE CASE NUMBER IS [XXX]. PLEASE CONTACT ME, [XXX] , BACK AT [XXX] AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, OR RESPOND TO THIS EMAIL ADDRESS AT [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10907461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 143,000 miles Huntsville, AL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 CADILLAC CTS EQUIPPED WITH UNIROYAL TIGER PAW TOURING TIRES, SIZE: 235/55R17 99HM+S (NA). WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON SLIGHTLY WET ROADS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO HYDROPLANE, DROVE INTO A DITCH, AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE VEHICLE'S TIRES FAILED TO GAIN TRACTION IN ORDER FOR THE CONTACT TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED FACE, ARM, AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN AND DOT NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

NHTSA complaint #10846100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 87,594 miles Bonham, TX

AIR BAGS

SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT AND WARNING INDICATOR CAME ON WHEN CAR IS STARTED. TOOK TO GM CERTIFIED DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. WAS ADVISED CODE B0058- RIGHT FRONT PRETENSIONER DEFECTIVE ON PASSENGER SEAT BELT BUCKLE. THE DEALERSHIP ADVISED THAT THIS PART IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE FROM GM AND THEREFORE THEY WOULDN'T BE ABLE TO MAKE REPAIRS. ALSO ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAGS ARE DISABLED AND WILL NOT DEPLOY. WAS TOLD TO CONTACT GM CUSTOMER SERVICE. AFTER 3 WEEKS OF LENGTHY TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS, STILL NO HELP FROM GM. SEARCHED EVERY ONLINE WEBSITE AND THIS PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. PLEASE ADVISE WHAT IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE TO STRESS THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS ISSUE WITH GM.

NHTSA complaint #10767487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Inverness, FL

AIR BAGS

I BROUGHT MY CADILLAC CTS 2004 TO DEALER FOR TRANNY SERVICE CHANGE THEY SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON MY KEYS THEY ASKED FOR THEM AND IF WE DID NOT HAVE BOTH OF THEM THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO DO IT SO I GOT THE OTHER KEY AND THEN THEY DID THE WORK MY KEY HAD A 1 ON THE BACK OF IT AND A 2 ON THE BACK OF MY FAIENCE FOR THE MEMORY SEATS MY KEYLESS ENTRY 'S HAVE THE SAME NUMBERS SO THEY DO THE WORK "PUT PLASTIC INSERTS AND A LITTLE KEY RING ON TWO KEYS" THATS WHAT THE RECALL WAS FOR, THEY GIVE ME KEYS BACK BUT I NOTICED THEY ARE NOT MY KEYS THERE ARE NO MEMORY NUMBERS ON THEM SO I TALK TO THE SERVICE MANGER TOLD HIM MY PROBLEM HE DID NOT EVEN ASK HIS WORKERS WHAT HAPPENED HE WENT STRAIGHT INTO DENIAL AND SAID MY KEYS NEVER HAD A NUMBER ON THEM AND INSTEAD AND IMPLIED ME AND MY FAIENCE WERE DELUSIONAL 'WE KNOW OUR CADILLAC" ALSO THEY CHANGED MY IGNITION SLEEVE IN MY STEERING COLUMN I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I TURN IT EVERY TIME I GET IN AND THE ONE THEY REPLACED IT WITH LOOKS LIKE A DOG CHEWED IT ITS SO BEAT UP SO I DID SOME RESEARCH AND MY VEHICLE COMES WITH A KEY CALLED A CIRCLE PLUS KEY THE KEYS THE CADILLAC COMPANY GAVE ME BACK ARE A KEY CALLED PK3 NOT MY ORIGINAL KEY SO I GO HOME, GO TO A GM DEALER ASK TO MAKE MY KEYS WITH MY VIN # THEY MAKE ME CIRCLE PLUS KEY LOOKS JUST LIKE THE ONE I GAVE THEM IN THE FIRST PLACE LOW AND BEHOLD IT DON'T WORK ON MY IGNITION NOW.......... SO I HAVE MY MOM BRING THE KEY I HAD MADE FOR HER "BECAUSE I MISPLACED THEM A COUPLE MONTHS EARLIER HAD A LOCK SMITH MAKE THAT OPENED MY DOOR AND STARTED MY CAR AFTER PROGRAMMING IT THAT KEY DOES NOT WORK NOW!!!!!!!!! MY AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON NOW WITCH MAKES ME THINK MY AIR BAG SYSTEM IS NOW NOT UP TO PAR FROM THE IGNITION NOT RIGHT.... SO I THEN GO TO THE CADILLAC DEALER WERE THE PROBLEM ORIGINATED FROM ASK THEM TO MAKE ME A KEY "TOLD THEM I LOST THEM".

NHTSA complaint #10670002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 117,000 miles Riverdale, IL

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,000.

NHTSA complaint #10638210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fort Walton Beach, FL

AIR BAGS

2004 CADILLAC CTS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ECM BOARD RECALL. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. THE COST TO REPAIR/REPLACE THE ECM BOARD WAS $800.00. THE DAY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER, IT WOULD NOT START. AND THE SAME MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE VEHICLE, FROM WHEN IT WAS ORIGINALLY TAKEN TO THE DEALER. ALSO, THE KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT OF THE IGNITION.

NHTSA complaint #10492803 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EL Dorado, AR Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

MY 2004 CADILLAC CTS WAS HIT FROM BEHIND, CAUSING ME INJURIES AND EVENTUALLY SURGERY AND DISABILITY. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY- MY HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL, RATHER HARD. I TRADED THIS VEHICLE IN LAST YEAR. SHOULD THE AIR BAG HAVE DEPLOYED? I THINK IF IT HAD, I WOULD NOT HAVE SUSTAINED THE INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #10482190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dumfries, VA

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF IMPACT. UPON RESEARCH OF THE NATIONAL SAFETY HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 05V024000, NVS-215-05V-024 AND ALSO A GM RECALL NUMBER OF 05004 SHOWS A RECALL ON THESE AIRBAGS.

NHTSA complaint #10441225 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 41,000 miles Wichita, KS Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

I HAD A 2004 CADILLAC CTS AND I WAS TRAVELING AT A RATE OF 60 MILES PER HOUR AND HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION. MY AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint #10267975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 40,000 miles Chicago, IL

AIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CHECK AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON HER VEHICLE AND COULD NOT ASSIST. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V024000 WAS REFERENCED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD IDLE VERY LOUDLY AS IF SOMEONE WERE DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IN ADDITION, THE TIMING CHAIN FAILED JUST AS THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURES STILL PERSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

NHTSA complaint #10248334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stonewall, LA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

I HAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND HIT A VEHICLE THAT DIDN'T HAVE A TURN SIGNAL ON, THE BACK BUMPER OF THE VEHICLE CAME OFF THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROAD. MY RATE OF SPEED WAS 55MPH, THE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS DESTROYED AND THE HOOD WAS CAVED IN AND UP. I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT BUT MY NOSE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSING ME TO HAVE A BLOODED NOSE, BLACK EYES, AND FRACTURED NOSE. MY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS AMAZED. THE VEHICLE THAT I HIT WAS ALSO A CADILLAC BUT AN OLDER MODEL.

NHTSA complaint #10229758 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 47,000 miles Massapequa, NY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

BRAKES STOPPED WORKING GOT INTO ACCIDENT ... AIRBAGS NEVER WENT OFF

NHTSA complaint #10174263 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12 miles Miami, FL Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN REVERSE WHILE BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. THE VEHICLE EXCESSIVELY INCREASED IN SPEED WITHOUT WARNING, SPUN THREE TIMES AND COLLIDED WITH A PARKED VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND BOTH PASSENGERS INCURRED PINCHED NERVE INJURIES AND MILD SPINAL INJURIES IN THE COLLISION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER WHERE ONLY THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. SINCE THIS INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXCHANGED FOR A DIFFERENT VEHICLE. UPDATED

NHTSA complaint #10156629 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,000 miles Hurst, TX Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ACCELERATING AT 10MPH FROM A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING INJURY TO THE THREE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELTS WERE WORN AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE INSURANCE AGENCY DEEMED THE VEHICLE TOTALED.

NHTSA complaint #10150141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,015 miles Redondo Beach, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE IN A STOPPED POSITION THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED AND PUSHED INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALTHOUGH SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE THERE WERE INJURIES SUSTAINED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #10148397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 12,015 miles Redondo Beach, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED WHICH CAUSED A FRONT END COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE INJURIES SUSTAINED, HOWEVER THE SEAT BELTS WERE IN USE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. THERE WAS A RECALL NHTSA # 05V024000 FOR THE AIR BAG SENSOR.

NHTSA complaint #10148055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chatsworth, CA 1 injured

AIR BAGS

DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION ON THE 2004 CADILLAC CTS.*MR THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED A BROKEN NOSE. THE AIR BAG DEPLOY INADVERTENTLY PRIOR TO THE CONSUMER RECEIVING THE RECALL NOTICE 05V-024000. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS GOING TO TAKE A WEEK FOR THE REPLACEMENT PART TO ARRIVE AT THE DEALER.

NHTSA complaint #10125813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 58,000 miles Sierra Vista, AZ Crash

AIR BAGS

WHILE PULLING INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, PLACED THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND APPLIED THE BRAKES,THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. THE DRIVER PLACED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY AND RAN INTO A GLASS WINDOW. NO INJURIES. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB SIERRA VISTA POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS A REPORT OF THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10096881 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 1,700 miles Winneconne, WI Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE SWERVED BECAUSE THERE WAS A DEER IN THE ROAD, AND WENT INTO A DITCH , AFTER GAINING CONTROL VEHICLE STRUCK A CONCRETE ABUTMENT HEAD ON. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10089802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,000 miles SAN Jose, CA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

ONSTAR SYSTEM ACTIVATED BY SAYING THAT AN "IMPACT WAS DETECTED", BUT THERE WAS NOTHING IN FRONT OF ME, NOR DID I HIT ANYTHING. A PERSON FROM ONSTAR CONNECTED AND ASKED IF I HAD AN ACCIDENT. I WAS AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE WHEN THIS HAPPEN. I INFORMED THE TECHNICIAN. THIS WAS ON 8/2/04. MY CAR IS STILL IN THE SHOP BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO AN AIRBAG PROBLEM THAT IT COULD DEPLOY AT ANYTIME. THERE IS NO ESTIMATED ARRIVAL FOR THE PART. IN THE MEANTIME, I HAVE A BRAND NEW CAR THAT I CANNOT DRIVE. I WILL MOST LIKELY NOT BUY ANOTHER GM CAR/SUV DUE TO THE FACT THAT I CANNOT EVEN GET A DATE ON WHEN I WILL HAVE MY CAR BACK.

NHTSA complaint #10086561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 232 miles Deer Park, NY Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

THE CONSUMER WAS PARKING THE VEHICLE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL BECAME STUCK CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO CRASH INTO A BUILDING HEAD ON. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WAS HOSPITALIZED. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10081770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Friendswood, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

SEVERE SIDE IMPACT, BOTH DRIVER SIDE DOORS AND CENTER PILLAR CRUSHED. SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10072488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2004 Cadillac CTS problems

← Full 2004 Cadillac CTS report