Total Complaints
8 filings
CADILLAC DTS · model year
2004 CADILLAC DTS
8 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004CADILLACDTS carries 8 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, 1 injury, 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 2004 DTS is electrical system with 2 filings, followed by steering (1) and power train:automatic transmission (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 2004 DTS, 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.
8
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 2 |
| STEERING | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20160528UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND FROM THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW AND THE WINDOW SUDDENLY DROPPED COMPLETELY INTO THE DOOR AND WOULD NOT ROLL BACK UP. 3 WEEKS LATER THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WINDOW DID THE EXACT SAME THING.
Mileage: 45,000
20150310TIRES
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC DTS EQUIPPED WITH MICHELIN RADIAL X TIRES, AND TIRE SIZE 235/55/R17. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ALL THE TIRES WERE CRACKED SEVERELY WHICH CAUSED THE AIR TO LEAK OUT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,424 AND THE TIRE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. NEITHER THE VIN NOR THE DOT NUMBER WAS AVAILABLE.
20141231ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Mileage: 100,000
20141231ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V355000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Mileage: 100,000
20140603ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WITHOUT WARNING AND FOR NO REASON THE RIGHT SIDE REAR DOOR WINDOW FELL DOWN INTO THE DOOR. THERE WAS A YOUNG CHILD IN THE REAR SEAT AT THE TIME. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS AS IT IS A SEVERE SAFETY HAZARD. THIS CAR HAS VERY FEW MILES FOR ITS AGE AND SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS. DRIVER SEAT NO LONGER WILL ADJUST AND IT COST TOO MUCH FOR ME TO HAVE REPAIRED AT THIS TIME.
Mileage: 38,000
20130816CrashAIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS CRASHED INTO BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED O DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED ELBOW AND BRUISING. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.
Mileage: 100,000
20110316POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CADILLAC DTS. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING WHEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DECELERATE SLOWLY AND BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DRAG WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO FAILURES LOCATED WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE CONTACT THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A SECOND DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE SEALS ON THE TRANSMISSION WERE FRACTURED AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FAILURE OF THE SEALS WAS UNUSUAL FOR THE PARTICULAR MODEL YEAR. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 56,000.
Mileage: 56,000
20100222STEERING
DURING RAINY PERIODS WHILE DRIVING AT A SLOW SPEED (20-30 MPH) IN PARKING LOTS OR RESIDENTIAL STREETS WHERE WATER HAS POOLED WHEN I HIT A DEEP (3-5 INCHES) PUDDLE THE POWER STEERING ON MY 2004 CADILLAC DEVILLE DTS STOPS FUNCTIONING FOR A PERIOD OF 30-45 SECONDS. BECAUSE I AM UNABLE TO STEER MY CAR I MUST COME TO A COMPLETE STOP UNTIL THE POWER STEERING RECOVERS. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALER WHEN IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND NOW TO A REPAIR SHOP SEVERAL TIMES TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AND REPAIRED. ALL TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. WATER IS SPLASHING ONTO THE ENGINE BELT THAT TURNS THE POWER STEERING PUMP AND THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT SOME SORT OF FACTORY MODIFICATION SUCH AS A SPLASH GUARD TO PREVENT THE WATER FROM SPLASHING ONTO THE DRIVE BELT. *TR
Mileage: 91,225
Compare 2004CADILLACDTS 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 2004 CADILLAC DTS have?▼
The 2004 CADILLAC DTS has 8 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 CADILLAC DTS?▼
The most-complained component for the 2004 CADILLAC DTS is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING and POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
Is the 2004 CADILLAC DTS 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.