CTS (1st)
Reliability Score
Complaints by Engine Code
LY7
3.6L 6-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
LA3
3.2L 6-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Cadillac CTS Unidentified Engine
View details
Complaint Breakdown
LP1
6-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
LS6
5.7L 8-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
LS2
6.0L 8-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
LD9
2.4L 4-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Show 2 additional engine variants with limited data
LLT
3.6L 6-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
LFW
3.0L 6-cylView details
Complaint Breakdown
Owner Complaints by System
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Cadillac CTS, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.
What to check on a used 2003-2007 Cadillac CTS
On a used 2003-2007 Cadillac CTS, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the airbags and driver-assist systems (288), the electrical system (251) and the brakes (239). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-12. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
- Switch the ignition on and watch the airbag light. On the drive, check the backup camera and any collision or lane warning.Safety. NHTSA has 288 owner complaints on the 2003-2007 Cadillac CTS about the airbags and driver-assist systems.
- Switch on every electrical item in turn: lights, windows, locks, wipers, climate fan, screen and power outlets.Costly repair. NHTSA has 251 owner complaints on the 2003-2007 Cadillac CTS about the electrical system.
- On an empty road, brake firmly from 40 mph with a light grip on the wheel.Safety. NHTSA has 239 owner complaints on the 2003-2007 Cadillac CTS about the brakes.
- Accelerate gently through every gear, then once at full throttle. Shift into Reverse and back to Drive.Costly repair. NHTSA has 236 owner complaints on the 2003-2007 Cadillac CTS about the transmission and drivetrain, all engines combined.
- Start the engine cold and listen for the first 30 seconds, then again at idle once it is warm.Costly repair. NHTSA has 185 owner complaints on the 2003-2007 Cadillac CTS about the engine, all engines combined.
Recalls (13)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 Cadillac CTS-V vehicles manufactured between September 6, 2003, and June 11, 2007, currently registered, 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, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, snow or water containing road salt or other contaminants may corrode the front brake hose fitting at the caliper.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 Cadillac CTS-V vehicles manufactured October 6, 2003, to March 15, 2007, and 2006-2007 Cadillac STS-V vehicles manufactured June 23, 2005, to March 15, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the electrical terminals of the fuel pump module may overheat resulting in the melting of the flange material.
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 IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2007 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH REPEATED FLEXING OF THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM MAT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT MAY CAUSE THE MAT TO KINK, BEND, OR FOLD. THIS FLEXING CAN BREAK THE CONNECTIONS IN THE MAT. IF THIS OCCURS, THE SENSOR MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A FRONT SEAT PASSENGER AND WILL DISABLE THE AIR BAG.
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.
Show 8 older recalls
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR AXLE PINION SEAL DOES NOT MEET ALL OF THE SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY EXPERIENCE A FLUID LEAK.
CERTAIN VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 118, 'POWER OPERATED WINDOW, PARTITION, AND ROOF PANEL SYSTEMS.' UNDER THE STANDARD, THE SUNROOF MAY ONLY BE CLOSED WHEN THE IGNITION IS ON, OR AFTER THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF, BUT BEFORE EITHER OF THE FRONT DOORS ARE OPENED. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION WHERE THE SUNROOF CAN BE CLOSED AFTER THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF AND THE DOORS ARE OPENED.
CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH V6 ENGINES MAY HAVE A CONDITION WHERE FUEL IS NO LONGER SUPPLIED TO THE ENGINE. THIS CONDITION OCCURS WITHOUT THE ILLUMINATION OF THE FUEL LEVEL LOW INDICATOR LIGHT OR THE WARNING CHIME.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, AN INTERACTION BETWEEN THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE AND VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG AND/OR ROOF-MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG TO DEPLOY WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED TO THE "ON" POSITION.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL STUD NUT/WASHER ASSEMBLIES WITH WASHERS WERE MADE OF THE WRONG MATERIAL. THE WASHERS MAY FRACTURE AND BECOME LOOSE OR FALL AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE, REDUCING CLAMP LOAD. SEPARATION OF THE CONTROL ARM BALL STUD AND STEERING KNUCKLE, DUE TO DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TAPERED ATTACHMENT AND RETAINING NUT, IS POSSIBLE.
CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." ONE OR BOTH FRONT ANCHOR TABS FOR THE FRONT BUCKET SEATS ARE NOT ENGAGED IN THE FLOOR PAN REINFORCEMENT SLOTS. A SEAT WITH ONLY ONE TAB ENGAGED OR NEITHER ENGAGED WOULD NOT MEET THE STATIC REARWARD LOADING TEST REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
CERTAIN MINIVANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 225, "CHILD RESTRAINT ANCHORAGE SYSTEM." THE OWNER'S MANUAL DOES NOT EXPLAIN THE MEANING OF THE LOCATION SYMBOLS FOR THE CHILD RESTRAINT LOWER UNIVERSAL ANCHORAGE SYSTEM.
SOME PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLT MAY BE LOOSE.
All Generations
Alternatives in Midsize Sedan
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2003-2007 Cadillac CTS complaints?
Owners have filed 1,302 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003-2007 Cadillac CTS. The systems they name most often are the safety systems, the electrical system and the brakes.
Is the 2003-2007 Cadillac CTS a good used car?
That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 1,302 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003-2007 Cadillac CTS. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003-2007 Cadillac CTS have?
NHTSA has 1,302 owner complaints on file for the 2003-2007 Cadillac CTS as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
What recalls affect the 2003-2007 Cadillac CTS?
NHTSA lists 13 recalls covering some 2003-2007 Cadillac CTS vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.
What should I check before buying a used Cadillac CTS?
Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the safety systems, the electrical system and the brakes, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.
Does the CTS have NHTSA crash test ratings?
NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2003-2007 Cadillac CTS. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 1,302 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-12.