10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
82,356 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Cadillac CTS engine problems

engine problem

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2003 Cadillac CTS Owner Comments (Page 2 of 2)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #9

May 112010

CTS 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 72,579 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2003 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the engine low power warning light illuminated as the engine stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle, but the engine loss power warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the throttle body assembly. The vehicle was repaired. In addition, the contact stated that four years after the repair the vehicle would not start at the first attempt. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 72,579. Updated 8/12/14 updated 08/20/2014

- Kansas City, MO, USA

problem #8

Mar 312011

CTS 6-cyl

  • 83,397 miles
Engine stopped running. Would not restart. Had to have vehicle towed to authorized Cadillac service center (green Buick GMC, davenport, ia). Green replaced parts (throttle body, part 9128412, connector part 15306420, seal part 90412566) with new ones and then cleaned, at a cost of $1,425.82. To be fair, in retrospect, green should have cleaned old part to save customer unnecessary costs. Now, three years later, this expensive fix is needed again. According to lujack northpark auto, davenport, Iowa, (invoice no. Cvcs863235) date 05/05/14, milage: 113716, these parts need to be replaced again already. (48000 miles later) that means that the $1,425.82 we paid to green was lost to either inferior quality parts (planned obsolesence) or sabotage by the authorized service centers. This car was in lujacks three times this year. Twice their technician removed & replaced V/C & vit gaskets. (parts vs50628R & MS96103. See cvcs854609 & 855596) which means removing these parts. GM refused to make any good faith effort at resolving issue (see GM file # 71-1305208758) updated 11/24/2014

- Bettendorf, IA, USA

problem #7

Jan 012008

CTS 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 59,730 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that the vehicle exhibited a recurring stalling failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer numerous times where several unknown repairs were performed on the vehicle but to no avail. The failure mileage was 59,730 and the current mileage was 79,000. Updated 06/30/14 MA updated 07/3/2014

- Murrells Inlet , SC, USA

problem #6

Mar 252014

CTS

  • 65,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2003 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly stalled while traveling various speeds and intermittently failed to start. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was found that the ECM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000. The VIN was not available.

- Newark, DE, USA

problem #5

Jan 232014

CTS

  • 80,000 miles
Tsb 05-06-01-007A this has happened to my cadi on at least three occasions. First time, Cadillac dealer charged to replace thermostat. Didn't work. Next time, repair shop replaced oil gasket. Didn't work. This time I found the below description on line and will ask my repair shop to fix. If this is recurring to Cts owners, there really should be a recall. It is also a fire hazard. Irritating. My research found the below and it is right on target.....it rarely happens because it is rarely below 10 degrees in my neck of the woods.... the car involved was a 2003 Cadillac Cts. Started vehicle in approximately 7 degree weather. After starting vehicle and running for approximately 15 minutes notice severe power loss. Within next couple of minutes black smoke with extreme burning smell flooded vehicle interior compartment also smoke starts to come from under hood of vehicle. Pulled into safe location found huge oil leak on left side of engine around valve cover. Could have possibly started a fire due to highly combustible oil being blown on engine but luckily did not catch on fire. Check on-line found tsb 05-06-01-007A stating GM knows this is a problem. "when operating in extremely cold weatherconditions, some 2003-2004 vehicles with 3. 2L V6 engine may leak engine oil from the cam/valve seals, especially from the left side just below the oil fill hole in the cam/valve cover. " this is quite a bit more than a leak since approximately a quart of oil was blown on the engine in only a couple minutes. If the engine would have been hotter there could easily have been a fire. Since this is a know issue with a known cause shouldn't this be taken care of by GM or at least the safety of the drivers and passengers should be considered. It could have been much worse if the vehicle would have caught fire.

- Springfield, MO, USA

problem #4

Sep 202012

CTS

  • 73,000 miles
Starting around September, my car would randomly shut off while in motion, at various speeds. After hundreds of dollars in diagnostic fees, I found some Cadillac forums stating it was a crank shaft sensor malfunction, which is common in 2003 models. My car would also show the traction control was off with no warning, and not get out of gear while being on, with no warning as well. The computer system would show low oil pressure and other warnings although nothing was wrong. And lastly, at around 78,000 miles, while driving 70 on a highway, the car make a huge bang, and smoke erupted, almost causing me to crash on the highway. All the oil leaked out, and the car won't start. I'm being told to replace my entire engine because of a possible head gasket, which according to multiple forums, tends to be faulty in the '03 models. These should obviously be recalled if so many cars are affected. I'm paying over 5000 dollars in repairs and costs for this. I refuse to ever let anyone I know, as well as myself, purchase another Cadillac, unless this gets resolved.

- Biloxi, MS, USA

problem #3

Nov 132012

CTS 6-cyl

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

As I was driving down the highway, the stability control light came on, then the brakes seemed to jerk a little and the car lost most of it's power. I had a mechanic test it, and they said they couldn't find a reason for it. The stability control light stayed on, but I didn't seem to have the problem again until about 2-3 months later when I was going 70 down the highway, lost all power and the motor shut down. Cadillac would not restart, had to have it towed over 2 hours back home, only to find that this time the timing belt had broken and the motor is blown since these cars have interference motors which causes the valves to get bent when the timing belt breaks. I am now without a vehicle and was almost in 2 accidents due to this. Another issue is the light cover from the lights on the trunk came off in the car wash and broke. Apparently this is a known issue yet Cadillac refuses to fix it. Their adhesive was not strong enough to hold on the plastic. This was my first Cadillac, and will be my last. They are dangerous and they refuse to fix their failures.

- Springfield, MO, USA

problem #2

Jan 252013

CTS

  • miles
I was driving down the highway and all of a sudden the vehicle lost all power. I was almost hit by the cars behind me. The timing belt had broken, and the motor is now blown due to the valves being bent. This was not only dangerous for me and my family, but is very very costly. I had previous issue with the vehicle losing power once while driving, also almost got into accident, but the mechanic could not find the cause. This was about 3 months earlier. It only happened on the highway going between 60 - 70 mph. This is so dangerous! I was over 2 hours from home, and had to pay a ridiculous amount to have the vehicle towed back home.

- Springfield, MO, USA

problem #1

Mar 152006

CTS

  • 72,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Cadillac Cts. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the engine compartment emitted smoke. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated that the valve cover gasket would have to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where the valve cover gasket was replaced a second time. The approximate failure mileage was 72,000.

- Pittsford, NY, USA

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