Total Complaints
3 filings
CADILLAC CADILLAC · model year
2003 CADILLAC CADILLAC
3 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003CADILLACCADILLAC carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 CADILLAC is seat belts with 1 filings, followed by suspension:front:control arm (1) and seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 10 investigation files overlapping the 2003 CADILLAC, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
3
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20070123SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 2003 CADILLAC DTS AT 35 MPH HE BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THE SMOKE COMING FROM THE CREASE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THERE WERE NO FLAMES PRESENT. THE CONTACT TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND WAS ADVISED TO CALL CADILLAC'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. *AK
Mileage: 54,200
20061030SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BACKING UP FROM A PARKING SPACE ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AT 5 MPH, THE BOLT AND WHEEL ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. IT WAS TOWED AND LATER REPAIRED. THE FAILED PART AND THE REPAIR INVOICE WERE AVAILABLE.
Mileage: 49,700
20031002SEAT BELTS
VEHICLE'S SEAT BELT TOWER IS TOO LOW.*MR (CADILLAC DTS 2003) SEAT BELT WAS MANUFACTURED TO BE ADJUSTABLE. IT DOES NOT RAISE, DEALER STATED THAT THEY NEED PERMISSION TO MAKE IT ADJUSTABLE.*TS
Compare 2003CADILLACCADILLAC to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
PE24011Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Electronic Brake Module Component Failure
PE22006Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Rear-View Camera Failure
PE19001Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Roof Skin Separation While Driving
EQ11001EQClosed
IEE Passenger Sensing System Mats
EA07017Engineering AnalysisClosed
REAR DRIVETRAIN COMPONENT FAILURE
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2003 CADILLAC CADILLAC have?▼
The 2003 CADILLAC CADILLAC has 3 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 CADILLAC CADILLAC?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 CADILLAC CADILLAC is SEAT BELTS with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM and SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:SEAT HEATER/COOLER.
Is the 2003 CADILLAC CADILLAC safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.