There are 12 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2004 Cadillac CTSin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
I GOT THE CAR TOOKEN BUT THEY DONT WANT GAVE IT BACK I DONT NOW THE RESON CAN U GUYS GET IT BK THANK U WITH MY FULL RESPECT GOING OUT TO U N UR WORKERS
I HAVE OR HAD A 2004 CADILLAC CTS-V. IT HAD GIVEN ME SOME PROBLEMS WITH TURNING. SEVERAL TIMES WHEN I MADE TURNS ONTO ANOTHER STREET OR EVEN WHEN I TOOK AN ON RAMP ONTO AN INTERSTATE, I HAVE LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR. IT SEEMS TO LOOSE TRACTION, LIKE THE TRACTION CONTROL GOT TURNED OFF (WHICH IT HADN'T) AND BEGAN DRIFTING/SWERVING ON THE ROAD WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT SEVERAL TIMES, UNTIL FINALLY IT DID. THANKSGIVING OF 2017 IT FINALLY DID CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AND A DEATH OF ONE OF MY FRIENDS. I WAS TAKING A LEFT TURN ONE NIGHT ON THE WAY TO DROP OFF SOME FRIENDS WHEN MY VEHICLE KEPT TURNING, LIKE IT SWUNG OUT, AND HIT A POLE, CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE CAR AND TAKING THE LIFE OF ONE OF MY PASSENGERS THAT NIGHT.
IF YOU GO HERE: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0F480A YOU WILL SEE THAT OUR CAR IS NOT THE FIRST CTS TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM!!! MY IN-LAWS PURCHASED A CADILLAC CTS IN ILLINOIS IN 2004. THAT CAR NEEDED ITS FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING/SPEED SENSOR/HUB REPLACED MULTIPLE TIMES. IT WAS REPLACED ON 2/906, 7/10/07, AND 12/3/07 IN IL, AND AGAIN IN CA IN 7/08. IN 12/07 MY IN-LAWS PURCHASED A NEW CAR AND GAVE THE '04 CTS TO MY HUSBAND AND I (CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS). SINCE RECEIVING THIS CAR, IT INTERMITTENTLY DISPLAYED A 'SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST' WARNING. BECAUSE OF THIS, THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL BEARING/SPEED SENSOR/HUB WAS REPLACED AGAIN AT A LOCAL CA DEALERSHIP ON 7/30/08. THE 'SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST' WARNING HAS CONTINUED TO BE DISPLAYED RARELY BUT INTERMITTENTLY DURING THIS TIME. EARLIER THIS SPRING, I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT AT A SLOW SPEED WHEN THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. WE TOOK THE CAR DIRECTLY TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY RECOMMENDED THAT WE REPLACE THE TIRES (WHICH WE DID) AND THEN RECOMMENDED THAT WE REPLACE THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING/SPEED SENSOR/HUB AGAIN FOR THE 5TH TIME. WE WERE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THAT (OBVIOUSLY IT WAS NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM) SO TOOK IT HOME TO INVESTIGATE. WE WERE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE WAY THE CAR WAS BRAKING AND TOOK IT BACK IN LAST WEEK TO THE DEALERSHIP. WE WERE TOLD AGAIN THAT WE SHOULD REPLACE THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING/SPEED SENSOR/HUB ASSEMBLY. WE REFUSED ASKING THEM TO PLEASE FURTHER INVESTIGATE WHY THE SAME PART WAS FAILING. WE CALLED GM DIRECTLY AND THEY BECAME INVOLVED. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED YESTERDAY TO TELL US THAT IN FACT THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL PART DOES NOT NEED TO BE REPLACED, AND THAT ACTUALLY THE COMPUTER THAT NEEDS REPLACING. LIKELY THIS HAS BEEN THE PROBLEM ALL ALONG (IE, THAT PART WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES WHEN IT HAS REALLY BEEN A COMPUTER ISSUE). THE CAR SHOWED THESE PROBLEMS WITHIN THE FIRST 20K MILES. GM REFUSES TO REIMBURSE FOR 4 UNNEEDED REPAIRS OR REPAIR THE ORIGINAL LEMON COMPUTER. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE FRONT END ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS RESTING ON THE WHEEL, WHICH WAS ONLY ATTACHED BY THE BRAKE LINE. THE CONTACT DID NOT NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES IN THE VEHICLE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY BEING DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V273000 (STEERING:LINKAGES) FOUR YEARS PRIOR TO THE RECENT FAILURE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 20,600.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY UNDER NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AT 10 MPH, THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE COLLAPSED. THERE WAS NO PRIOR WARNING BEFORE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO THE NUT HOLDING THE BOLT OF THE LOWER FRONT BALL JOINTS WAS MISSING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND NO FURTHER PROBLEMS OCCURRED. THE CONTACT WROTE THE MANUFACTURER A LETTER PERTAINING TO THE PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED, AND HAD NOT RECEIVED A REPLY AS OF YET. *NM UPDATED 10/30/06. *JB
UPON COMPLETION OF AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY TRIP AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND CAME TO AN INVOLUNTARY DEAD STOP WITH A LOUD NOISE WITH THE RH FRONT END RESTING ON THE WHEEL. THE SUSPENSION ON THE GROUND. THE NUT RETAINING THE LOWER BALL JOINT WAS MISSING. THE RH SIDES OF FRONT END COLLAPSED ON R FRONT WHEEL.. 2004 CADILLAC CTS. EARLIER MODELS HAD FACTORY RECALL FOR SAME LOOSE NUT NOT THIS MODEL. FRONT END COLLAPSING ON FRONT WHEEL AT HIGH SPEED IS GUARANTEED CATASTROPHE. IF A NUT IS RELIED ON TO RETAIN BALL JOINT, THAT NUT MUST BE POSITIVELY PREVENTED FROM LOOSENING BY HOLE THRU BOTH NUT AND BOLT, WITH COTTER PIN THROUGH HOLES. NO SUCH BASIC SAFETY IN EVIDENCE. DESIGN FLAW CATALYTIC CTS 2004 AND EARLIER MODELSA ALSO SUSPECTED. USED TO BE LOOSE LIPS SINK SHIPS - NOW - LOOSE NUTS KILL PEOPLE. BAD BAD BAD. *NM
SPORADIC BRAKE FAILURES ON A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. CAR HAS HAD FRONT LEFT HUB/SPEED SENSOR ASSEMBLY REPLACED 4 TIMES PER AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDATION STARTING AT <20K MILES. BRAKE FAILURE OCCURRING EVERY FEW DAYS, TYPICALLY AT LOW SPEED BUT NOW STARTING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. NEARLY RAN OVER PEDESTRIAN IN PARKING LOT. ACCIDENTS HAVE BEEN AVOIDED THUS FAR. CAR IS WITH DEALERSHIP; THEY SAY ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE IS TO BLAME. CALLED GM; THEY REFUSE TO COVER COST OF REPAIRS EVEN THOUGH PROBLEM STARTED WHEN CAR WAS 19 MONTHS OLD WITH <20K MILES. *TR THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE ABS ACTIVATED AT LOW SPEEDS, THE ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. UPDATED IVOQ 09/29/10 THE DEALER REPLACED THE WHEEL BEARING ASSEMBLY. UPDATED 10/29/10
FAILURE OF A SECOND REAR DIFFERENTIAL I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY DOING 55 MPH IN THE CENTER LANE WHEN THE REAR WENT. THE CAR SHUT DOWN FORCING ME TO PULL TO THE RIGHT IN TRAFFIC WITHOUT POWER. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED AS IT WOULD NO LONGER MOVE. *JB
I OWN A 2004 CADILLAC CTS-V. AFTER OWNING THE VEHICLE FOR A FEW MONTHS, WITH APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES ON THE CAR, I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE AN EXTREME WHINING NOISE FROM THE REAR-END OF THE CAR. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THE NOISE WAS NORMAL FOR MY VEHICLE. I CONTINUED DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND ABOUT 5 WEEKS AGO I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR EXCESSIVE NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF MY CAR. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL UNIT HAD EXCESSIVE PLAY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THIS CONCERNED ME SO I DID SOME RESEARCH. MY RESEARCH FOUND THAT MANY, MANY CTS-V OWNERS ARE HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AND THAT MY PROBLEM WAS IN NO WAY ISOLATED. I ALSO FOUND THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL UNIT USED IN THE CTS-V IS UNDERRATED AND IS NOT DESIGNED TO HANDLE THE POWER PRODUCED BY THE ENGINE FROM THE FACTORY. I AM CONCERNED THAT A FAILURE IN THE NEAR FUTURE WILL CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY TO SOMEONE IF NO ACTION IS TAKEN. *JB
REAR DIFFERENTIAL OF MY 2004 CADILLAC CTSV IS TOO WEAK. IT CLUNKS, AND PRODUCES EXCESSIVE WHEEL-HOP THUS NOT ALLOWING THE POWER TO TRANSFER. THE WHOLE REAR END OF THE CAR FROM THE BUSHINGS TO THE REAR CRADLE TO THE HALF SHAFTS ARE TOO WEAK FOR THE CAR. OVER 1000'S OF CTS-V'S OF THE UNDER APPROX. 4,000 PRODUCED FROM 2004-2005 HAVE HAD MAJOR ISSUES. SERVICE CENTERS CLAIM EVERYTHING IS NORMAL. MY CAR IS CONTINUALLY IN THE SHOP. GM REFUSES TO PAY FOR THESE ITEM AND I HAVE A 6YR 100K WARRANTY. SERVICE CENTERS ARE NOT EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH THIS CAR, AND GM FAILED TO ENGINEER IT PROPERLY. IN ADDITION ALL OF MY INTERIOR PARTS RATTLE WHEN I STEP ON IT, AND SOME CONTINUE TO RATTLE DURING DAILY DRIVING. THE PAINT QUALITY OF THE EXTERIOR IS THE WORST I HAVE TO SEE YET. THERE ARE WEIRD BLOTCHES ALL OVER THE PLACE AND ARE OBVIOUSLY DUE TO POOR PAINT APPLICATION AT THE FACTORY. I HAVE OWNED THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS AND SO FAR HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE RADIATOR, THE WHOLE NAV UNIT, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. AND ALREADY, THE NAV UNIT IS BEGINNING TO SHOW THE SAME INDICATIONS OF WHY IT GOT REPLACED IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IS STARTING TO MAKE NOISES AGAIN. ALSO, THE DUAL MASS FLYWHEEL PRODUCES LOTS OF NOISE. I HAVE HAD IT UP TO HERE WITH THIS VEHICLE. *JB
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE REAR END LOCKED. AS A RESULT, THE REAR END BEGAN SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL. *AK THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TOT HE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE REAR BECAUSE OF NOISE. LESS THAN THREE MILES FROM THE DEALER THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER HEARD NOISE AND THE REAR END LOCKED. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE DID THREE 360 DEGREE TURNS AND FINALLY CAME TO REST IN A TRUCK STOP PARKING LOT. TOOK CAR BACK TO DEALER AND FOUND OUT THAT THE REAR END WAS OUT OF LINE FROM THE TIME OF PURCHASED. THE TIRES HAVE BEEN ROTATED ON 2 OCCASIONS. THIS IS THE THIRD TRIP BACK TO THE DEALER FOR REAR END NOISE. *BF *NM
UNDER POWER THE REAR SUSPENSION RATTLES UP AGAINST THE FLOOR. IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS FALLING APART WHICH PROMPTS YOU TO STAB THE BRAKES UPON HEARING IT. *JB
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026