2003 Cadillac Cts Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2003 Cadillac Cts.
Worst 2003 Cadillac Cts Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Electrical Faults
Airbags
Engine Problems
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2003 Cadillac Cts.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical Faults | 48 | 4 | 4 | 84,073 mi | |
| Airbags | 30 | 12 | — | 83,130 mi | |
| Engine Problems | 29 | 1 | 3 | 95,533 mi | |
| Steering Defects | 22 | 2 | 1 | 74,780 mi | |
| Brakes | 21 | 1 | 2 | 103,597 mi | |
| Electronic Stability Control | 20 | 1 | — | 86,064 mi | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 19 | 1 | — | 80,187 mi | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 19 | 3 | — | 70,478 mi | |
| Engine & Cooling | 15 | — | — | 68,659 mi | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 12 | — | — | 20,502 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 11 | — | 3 | 51,598 mi | |
| Hydraulic Brakes | 11 | 1 | — | 86,566 mi | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 10 | 1 | — | 69,296 mi | |
| Body Structure | 9 | 1 | 2 | 108,875 mi | |
| Suspension Failures | 9 | — | — | 88,800 mi | |
| Structural Problems | 8 | 1 | — | 23,241 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 7 | — | — | 77,196 mi | |
| Power Train:Driveline:Differential Unit | 7 | — | — | 23,251 mi | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 7 | 1 | — | 42,305 mi | |
| Automatic Transmission | 5 | 1 | — | 20,792 mi | |
| Structure:Body:Trunk Lid | 5 | — | — | 33,332 mi | |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 | 3 | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Traction Control System | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 3 | 2 | — | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Tail Lights | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 3 | — | — | — |
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2003 Cadillac Cts. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Recalls for 2003 Cadillac Cts
2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~693,459 vehicles.
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.
GENERAL MOTORS HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003-2007 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE FRONT BRAKE HOSE FITTING AT THE CALIPER MAY CORRODE DUE TO SNOW OR WATER, CONTAINING ROAD SALT OR OTHER CONTAMINANTS, ENTERING AND BEING RETAINED IN THE ROUTING SLEEVE. IF THE FITTING CORRODES SIGNIFICANTLY, THE BRAKE HOSE-TUBE INTERFACE MAY DEVELOP A LEAK.
Other Cadillac Cts Years
2003 Cadillac Cts — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2003 Cadillac Cts reliable?
What are common problems with the 2003 Cadillac Cts?
At what mileage do problems start on the 2003 Cadillac Cts?
How safe is the 2003 Cadillac Cts?
Does the 2003 Cadillac Cts have any recalls?
Should I buy a 2003 Cadillac Cts?
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Cadillac Cts reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2003 Cadillac Cts
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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