2003 Cadillac CTS Recalls, Complaints & Specs
4 safety recalls list the 2003 Cadillac CTS, and owners have filed 313 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
4 safety recalls for the 2003 Cadillac CTS
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Ignition (electrical system)
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…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014. Owners may contact…
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
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,…
Remedy: Dealers are to replace both front brake hose assemblies free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during may 2010. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339 or at the owner center at…
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Owners/service/other manual (equipment)
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.
Remedy: Owners will be provided with a supplement for their owner's manual. This supplement describes and shows the location symbols for the child restraint anchors that are located in the vehicle and on the child restraint or…
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Steering
Some passenger vehicles have a condition in which the intermediate steering shaft bolt may be loose.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect for the presence of the intermediate steering shaft bolt and ensure that it is tightened to the proper specification. Owner notification began march 20, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an…
313 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Cadillac CTS have filed 313 complaints with NHTSA; 29 describe a crash and 12 describe a fire. Reports cite 21 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 72,528 miles. Complaints peaked in 2014 with 42 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“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 ho”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, April 9, 2023 · Service brakes
“The contact owns a 2003 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that when driving at various speeds the vehicle would suddenly stalled and the instrument panel would illuminate. The message stating "starting”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 5, 2022 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Cadillac CTS. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 19 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 16–17 / 24 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3.2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Cadillac CTS model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Cadillac CTS model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 Cadillac CTS | 4 | 313 |
| 2004 Cadillac CTS | 6 | 224 |
| 2005 Cadillac CTS | 6 | 277 |
| 2006 Cadillac CTS | 6 | 269 |
| 2007 Cadillac CTS | 6 | 217 |
| 2008 Cadillac CTS | 2 | 175 |
| 2009 Cadillac CTS | 5 | 167 |
| 2010 Cadillac CTS | 3 | 67 |
| 2011 Cadillac CTS | 2 | 101 |
| 2012 Cadillac CTS | 2 | 65 |
| 2013 Cadillac CTS | 2 | 73 |
| 2014 Cadillac CTS | 6 | 146 |
| 2015 Cadillac CTS | 3 | 47 |
| 2016 Cadillac CTS | 4 | 31 |
| 2017 Cadillac CTS | 2 | 27 |
| 2018 Cadillac CTS | 2 | 8 |
| 2019 Cadillac CTS | 0 | 10 |
Checking a specific 2003 Cadillac CTS
How do I know if my 2003 Cadillac CTS has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 4 campaigns currently list the 2003 Cadillac CTS; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Cadillac dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 03V115000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Cadillac models
- SRX3,262 complaints
- Deville2,725 complaints
- Escalade1,713 complaints
- Seville801 complaints
- Escalade ESV533 complaints
- DTS527 complaints
- Catera468 complaints
- STS430 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.