10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
50,986 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 steering problems

steering problem

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2003 Cadillac CTS Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #22

Nov 142020

CTS 6-cyl

  • miles

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

Everything was really grate no problems. My brakes sounds like there is LOTS of AIR Coming from somewhere. My key ignition sometimes want turn over or easy to come out. Than the car started running hot. I've had it looked at Few times and can't seem to fix the problem. I've even brought a new coolant box or another name for it.. so now I can't drive it because my fluids keep coming out of the coolant tank please help me I don't know what to do. To complete this message I've even had a smog twice nonpassable. - Thank you any Questions [XXX] call/ text INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Twentynin Plms, CA, USA

problem #21

Sep 222018

CTS

  • 111,992 miles
While driving at a steady speed and for no apparent reason, the stability system engaged, I was unable to control vehicle, could not engage brakes, vehicle began losing power & stalled in freeway traffic. Lastly, the brakes vibrate and the car's valve cover gaskets are made of plastic which may leak & start a fire.

- Stockton, CA, USA

problem #20

May 022016

CTS 6-cyl

  • miles
2003 Cadillac Cts. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle starts up and drives for a while then shuts down without warning. The consumer also stated the idler arms and crank sensors were replaced.

- Mardela Springs, MD, USA

problem #19

Oct 282014

CTS

  • 115,909 miles

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

Was entering the on ramp on to a freeway and just tapped the brake and noticed and heard the left front tire grind and the steering wheel pulled to the left real hard. I was going into a blind under pass and thought that if it seized up around the blind corner I would surely be in an accident. I first thought that a stone chip was in between the brake and rotor. The car was towed away to a aaa location about 3 miles away. The service station then took it out around the block and was not able to duplicate. The put the car up and the lift and could not see anything that was wrong. Then I took them out around the block real slow and the left front brakes would grind away. They tested it and could not find anything wrong no error codes. They I said could drive the car home from san diego to South orange county not didn't make it a block away before it locked up the left front tire. Was able to limp to marvin K. brown auto center about a mile away and it was there for two weeks and $500 for a steering sensor replaced. Then it continued to happen and the Cts was taken to tustin Cadillac and they tried to correct the problems after spending 2 days at the dealer and $1700 later the car continues to have not only the left front but now it is the right front. The brakes continue to activate on both the left and right front at anytime at any speed. This last time it felt like the left rear activated, the car got out of control every one around me backed off. I have been driving the car through the locking of left or right front tires and it does say ding and read " check stability system" this car it no longer save to be driven and I was told the last part to fix it is "obsolete" the only thing that might work is to disable the "stability system" by unplugging the fuses on in the trunk on up front.

- Mission Viejo , CA, USA

problem #18

Oct 162008

CTS

  • miles
My 2003 Cts Cadillac key stuck in ignition and car engine shuts completely down. The ECM is reading like someone is stealing the vehicle while driving of park and want start. Defective recall. GM should reimburse customers for this defective product. They did not fix the recall problem, they just put a band aid on it and should be held responsible for this recall for their defective product. No quality in their vehicles. The consumer is paying too much for their defaults. This are not cheap invoice vehicles, while they are getting bail outs, now we know why. And paying their CEO billions of dollars on the consumer's back. Why?? no consumer, no jobs for any of GM employees. I want to be reimbursed. Aged of the vehicle has nothing to do with default of GM vehicle products.

- Park Forest, IL, USA

problem #17

Jan 242015

CTS

  • 146,000 miles
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.

- Sachse , TX, USA

problem #16

Jan 122014

CTS

  • 104,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2003 Cadillac Cts. While driving approximately 70 mph, the steering wheel became difficult to maneuver and the engine stalled. The driver side door latch became inoperable, and the brake, check engine, and traction control indicators illuminated. The contact waited for a few minutes and the vehicle restarted. The failure occurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the cause of the failures could not be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 104,000.

- Methuen, MA, USA

problem #15

Nov 262013

CTS

  • 138,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Cadillac Cts. The contact was driving approximately 10 mph when the steering wheel malfunctioned and an abnormal cracking noise was heard. In addition, the steering wheel seized and became very difficult to turn. The vehicle was not repaired and the manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 138,000. The VIN was not available.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #14

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 #13

Jan 022012

CTS

  • 108,000 miles
I was driving home from work when this first happened. All of a sudden a loud screeching noise and the brakes would not stop in time. I had to pump the brakes to work. I took my car to Cadillac in Arizona and they had it for 2 days and could not find an issue. I drove home that day with it and sure enough it did it while I was home. It had now began to jerk me to the right and left when I press on the brakes, scaring me thinking I am going to hit the car next to me. I took it to midas this time and they noticed a problem and said maybe its a wheel barring. They replaced issue duplicated itself shortly after. Since I did not have a second car or pay for a rental I had to take my car home to go back to work the next day. This problem is a safety hazard and I have even been pulled over because the cop asked why I was swerving while driving. I told the office its the code that comes up on my screen and it makes my car halt while driving and I can not control it. He stated that its a very serious issue and if another officer was on duty they might impound my car due to a safety hazard but he would give me a chance to take it home to go to the shop. I am almost close to trading in my vehicle and buying a new one, but not a Cts. If Cadillac can't solve this, the creator, who can? I am scared I'm going to veer off the freeway or hit a car on the way to work. I drive an hour to and from work everyday and my safety is the utmost concern to me and my family.

- San Tan Valley, AZ, USA

problem #12

Sep 012011

CTS 6-cyl

  • 83,000 miles

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

All power steering was lost due to a seal failure on the piston the positions the passenger right wheel. I discovered while speaking to the Cadillac parts department, that the serial number range of my vehicle, requires the replacement of both the power steering pump as well as the rack and pinion assembly. It appears then that cars with a certain serial number may have had some engineering change which made the pump and rack and pinion incompatible. This is an obvious safety problem which should have been a mandatory recall and repair.

- Saratoga, CA, USA

problem #11

Apr 012011

CTS

  • 64,000 miles
While driving at a steady and even speed my car would suddenly pulled to the left as if the left front wheel had the break apply. Almost instantly my "stability system engaged" display would go on and the car would correct itself. This went on to become a regular event with each time I took the car out. The most it occurred was 30 or so times in a 90 mile trip, but it happened regularly on local 2 mile trips to the store. Sometimes it would be more severe than others. In addition and occasionally, when the breaks were applied, there would be a "loudish" crunch sound and resistance to foot pressure that would give way after the initial break application. There was also a vibration "buzz" through the gas pedal when this all would occur. The first time I took the car to the dealer they could not find anything wrong or duplicate the problem. I took them information I had found on the web about the problem and they checked their service bulletins for a problem. It was fixed by changing a steering sensor at a cost of $430.

- Laquinta, CA, USA

problem #10

Aug 162009

CTS

  • 87,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Cadillac Cts. The contact was driving between 65 and 73 mph when the steering wheel turned sharply to the left. The weather was not a factor. The steering wheel became difficult to turn for approximately 15 seconds. He was able to drive onto the emergency lane. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing for the second time, as a result of power steering failure. The dealer could not duplicate the failure on two occasions. The approximate failure mileage was 87,000. The VIN was not available. The approximate current mileage was 87,000.

- Lexington, NC, USA

problem #9

Feb 082010

CTS

  • miles
Loss of vehicle control.

- Oceanside, CA, USA

problem #8

Jan 012003

CTS 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,000 miles
I am and have been experiencing numerous failures with my vehicle. I have contacted GM numerous times beginning approximately a few months after I purchased the vehicle to inform them that the vehicle is defective, only to be told my vehicle is out of warranty, so they refuse to fix it or give my one that is not defective. My vehicle is still defective to this date.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #7

Jun 182006

CTS 6-cyl

  • 51,000 miles
Brakes pulsate when they are being applied, causing delay in stopping time. Air conditioning compressor is gone out and has metal going through the system. Have to get compressor replaced already and it is going to cost an additional $2300. Car pulls violently to left or right, which almost caused a couple of accidents, the steering system sensor is gone out and is going to cost $500 to get replaced. Fm radio has a mind of its own and works when it feels like working. This is the newest car I've had and the worst car. I have never owned a car with this many problems, I think this car is a total defect and needs to be recalled. I was at 51000 miles when the air compressor went out and I called the manufacturer and they refused to fix it because the warranty was up. That is clearly faulty equipment that was used in this car it is a 2003 Cadillac Cts, and it has many problems which I feel needs to be recalled.

- Louisville, KY, USA

problem #6

May 112004

CTS

  • 15,800 miles
There was a lot of play in the front end/steering wheel. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.

- Malvern, AR, USA

problem #5

Mar 272004

CTS

  • 16,000 miles
While driving on the freeway consumer heard a noise under the vehicle. Consumer tried to control the vehicle and it began to swerve. While trying to keep it under control, vehicle flipped over, and the air bags failed to deploy. Vehicle was totaled. The consumer believes the steering shaft bolt became loose and caused the accident.

- Lithonia, GA, USA

problem #4

Jan 012003

CTS

  • miles
While driving, the steering failed, which caused the vehicle to run off the road.

- Howell, MI, USA

problem #3

Mar 242003

CTS 8-cyl

  • miles
The dealership told the consumer they did not know about a recall regarding the steering shaft bolt 03 V 115 000. The manufacturer stated all the dealerships were notified 3 weeks prior to consumers being notified.

- Kingston, NH, USA

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