Total Complaints
10 filings
CADILLAC CTS-V · model year
10 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004CADILLACCTS-V carries 10 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 2004 CTS-V is service brakes with 4 filings, followed by steering (2) and suspension (2). 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. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 10 investigation files overlapping the 2004 CTS-V, 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.
Total Complaints
10 filings
Crashes Reported
1 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES | 4 |
| STEERING | 2 |
| SUSPENSION | 2 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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, Misso
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, AND WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAKE FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS. THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS FAILED, THE BALL JOINT WAS CRACKED AND BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO CENTRAL HOUSTON CADILLAC DEALER (2520 MAIN ST, HOUSTON, TX 77002, (832) 431-5697) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 84781603741. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
Mileage: 170,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, AND WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAKE FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS. THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS FAILED, THE BALL JOINT WAS CRACKED AND BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO CENTRAL HOUSTON CADILLAC DEALER (2520 MAIN ST, HOUSTON, TX 77002, (832) 431-5697) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 84781603741. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
Mileage: 170,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, AND WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE BRAKE FAILED. THE CONTACT HAD TO ENGAGE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A COMPLETE STOP. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD SHAKE AT LOW AND HIGH SPEEDS. THE BRAKE AND ABS WARNING LIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS FAILED, THE BALL JOINT WAS CRACKED AND BOTH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO CENTRAL HOUSTON CADILLAC DEALER (2520 MAIN ST, HOUSTON, TX 77002, (832) 431-5697) BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED DUE TO THE DIAGNOSTIC AND REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 84781603741. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
Mileage: 170,000
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.
Mileage: 68,500
KEY GOT STUCK IN IGNITION IN THE START POSITION. CAR WON'T START NEITHER TURN OFF COMPLETELY WON'T TURN OFF LEAVING LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD ON THUS CAUSING THE BATTERY TO RUN DEAD. MY TRACTION AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE WITH A WARN SIGNAL SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE SYSTEM.
KEY GOT STUCK IN IGNITION IN THE START POSITION. CAR WON'T START NEITHER TURN OFF COMPLETELY WON'T TURN OFF LEAVING LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD ON THUS CAUSING THE BATTERY TO RUN DEAD. MY TRACTION AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE WITH A WARN SIGNAL SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE SYSTEM.
KEY GOT STUCK IN IGNITION IN THE START POSITION. CAR WON'T START NEITHER TURN OFF COMPLETELY WON'T TURN OFF LEAVING LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD ON THUS CAUSING THE BATTERY TO RUN DEAD. MY TRACTION AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE WITH A WARN SIGNAL SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE SYSTEM.
I TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE DEALER TO HAVE OTHER RECALLS HANDLED AND WAS INFORMED MY BRAKE HOSE FITTINGS WERE RUSTED AND SHOULD BE REPLACED. UPON RESEARCHING THE ISSUE I FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V225000 / GM RECALL 15149. THIS SEEMS TO BE THE SAME ISSUE DETAILED IN THE RECALL, HOWEVER I WAS TOLD THE RECALL IS NOT APPLICABLE TO ME. MY CAR FALLS WITHIN THE DATE RANGE FROM THE RECALL, BUT IS NOT IN ONE OF THE LISTED STATES. IT SEEMS CLEAR TO ME THAT I AM SUFFERING THIS ISSUE DUE TO THE SAME DEFECT, AND I SUSPECT MY VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED FOR THIS ISSUE DUE TO THE RECENTLY ISSUED RECALL, HOWEVER I AM NOT BEING COVERED BECAUSE I LIVE IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND NOT ~10 MILES AWAY IN MARYLAND OR DC. THE WEATHER IN MY LOCATION IS MORE OR LESS IDENTICAL TO THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (IN FACT, THE SUBURBS OFTEN GET MORE SNOW), AND I DRIVE MY VEHICLE YEAR ROUND (INCLUDING TRIPS IN MD/DC/WV) ENCOUNTERING ROAD SALT WHEN APPLIED, WHICH IS THE STATED REASON FOR THE CORROSION. I
I WAS TRAVELING AT NIGHT ON I-95 IN FLORIDA AT 70MPH W/CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. VEHICLE SUDDENLY FELL OUT OF 6TH GEAR AND ENGINE OVER-REVVED TO RED-LINE CAUSING ENGINE TO SHUT OFF COMPLETELY (AS IT IS DESIGNED TO DO) - RESULTING IN SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE SPEED, TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. I MANAGED TO GUIDE VEHICLE SAFELY TO SHOULDER OF ROAD (ONLY BECAUSE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT). I COLLECTED MY THOUGHTS AND GOT VEHICLE RE-STARTED AS NORMAL. I CONTINUED ON MY TRIP BUT WITHOUT USING CRUISE CONTROL. VEHICLE FELL OUT OF 6TH GEAR SEVERAL MORE TIMES (AND A COUNTLESS NUMBER OF TIMES SINCE THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT), BUT I WAS ABLE TO PREVENT ENGINE OVER-REV & SHUT-DOWN BY NOT USING THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE. THERE IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE (SEE NUMEROUS INTERNET COMPLAINTS) AND, GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED ABOVE, I FEEL THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE A LONG TIME AGO. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A TREMEC T-56 MANUAL TRANSMISSION. SI
Mileage: 80,000
I WAS TRAVELING AT NIGHT ON I-95 IN FLORIDA AT 70MPH W/CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. VEHICLE SUDDENLY FELL OUT OF 6TH GEAR AND ENGINE OVER-REVVED TO RED-LINE CAUSING ENGINE TO SHUT OFF COMPLETELY (AS IT IS DESIGNED TO DO) - RESULTING IN SUDDEN LOSS OF VEHICLE SPEED, TOTAL LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKES. I MANAGED TO GUIDE VEHICLE SAFELY TO SHOULDER OF ROAD (ONLY BECAUSE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT). I COLLECTED MY THOUGHTS AND GOT VEHICLE RE-STARTED AS NORMAL. I CONTINUED ON MY TRIP BUT WITHOUT USING CRUISE CONTROL. VEHICLE FELL OUT OF 6TH GEAR SEVERAL MORE TIMES (AND A COUNTLESS NUMBER OF TIMES SINCE THE ORIGINAL INCIDENT), BUT I WAS ABLE TO PREVENT ENGINE OVER-REV & SHUT-DOWN BY NOT USING THE CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE. THERE IS A TRANSMISSION ISSUE WITH THIS VEHICLE (SEE NUMEROUS INTERNET COMPLAINTS) AND, GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED ABOVE, I FEEL THERE SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE A LONG TIME AGO. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH A TREMEC T-56 MANUAL TRANSMISSION. SI
Mileage: 80,000
Electronic Brake Module Component Failure
Rear-View Camera Failure
Roof Skin Separation While Driving
IEE Passenger Sensing System Mats
REAR DRIVETRAIN COMPONENT FAILURE
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.