Total Complaints
15 filings
CADILLAC STS · model year
2003 CADILLAC STS
15 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003CADILLACSTS carries 15 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 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 STS is electrical system with 2 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (2) and exterior lighting:headlights:concealment devices (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 STS, 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.
15
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
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 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES | 1 |
| STEERING:COLUMN | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 1 |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 1 |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20140729FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE STALLS SOMETIMES WHEN STANDING AT A LIGHT OR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS & SOMETIMES INTO A TURN WITHOUT WARNING, THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. *JS
Mileage: 63,000
20120905SERVICE BRAKES
VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN DRIVEWAY DURING STRONG ELECTRICAL STORM. LIGHTNING APPEARED TO HIT A TREE NEARBY. SIMULTANEOUSLY, SEVERAL DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON, INCLUDING ANTI-LOCK BRAKE, TRACTION AND STABILITY CONTROL WARNINGS. CALL WAS MADE TO INSURANCE COMPANY AND VEHICLE TOWED TO CADILLAC DEALERSHIP. SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID CAUSE OF THE WARNING LIGHT WAS A BOLT NEAR WIRE TO ANTI-LOCK BRAKE POWER CONTROL MODULE HAD WORN INSULATION OFF, CAUSING FAILURE OF POWER CONTROL MODULE.IF INDEED LIGHTNING/POWER SURGE DID NOT CAUSE THIS PROBLEM, IMPROPERLY LOCATED BOLT OR DESIGN WOULD SEEM TO BE DEFECTIVE. *TR
Mileage: 112,000
20120905ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN DRIVEWAY DURING STRONG ELECTRICAL STORM. LIGHTNING APPEARED TO HIT A TREE NEARBY. SIMULTANEOUSLY, SEVERAL DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON, INCLUDING ANTI-LOCK BRAKE, TRACTION AND STABILITY CONTROL WARNINGS. CALL WAS MADE TO INSURANCE COMPANY AND VEHICLE TOWED TO CADILLAC DEALERSHIP. SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID CAUSE OF THE WARNING LIGHT WAS A BOLT NEAR WIRE TO ANTI-LOCK BRAKE POWER CONTROL MODULE HAD WORN INSULATION OFF, CAUSING FAILURE OF POWER CONTROL MODULE.IF INDEED LIGHTNING/POWER SURGE DID NOT CAUSE THIS PROBLEM, IMPROPERLY LOCATED BOLT OR DESIGN WOULD SEEM TO BE DEFECTIVE. *TR
Mileage: 112,000
20120905ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN DRIVEWAY DURING STRONG ELECTRICAL STORM. LIGHTNING APPEARED TO HIT A TREE NEARBY. SIMULTANEOUSLY, SEVERAL DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON, INCLUDING ANTI-LOCK BRAKE, TRACTION AND STABILITY CONTROL WARNINGS. CALL WAS MADE TO INSURANCE COMPANY AND VEHICLE TOWED TO CADILLAC DEALERSHIP. SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID CAUSE OF THE WARNING LIGHT WAS A BOLT NEAR WIRE TO ANTI-LOCK BRAKE POWER CONTROL MODULE HAD WORN INSULATION OFF, CAUSING FAILURE OF POWER CONTROL MODULE.IF INDEED LIGHTNING/POWER SURGE DID NOT CAUSE THIS PROBLEM, IMPROPERLY LOCATED BOLT OR DESIGN WOULD SEEM TO BE DEFECTIVE. *TR
Mileage: 112,000
20070317CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
CAR SCRAPES FRONT END GOING INTO OR OUT OF DRIVEWAYS EVEN AT SLOW SPEED 1 TO 2 MILES AN HOUR. ALSO HITS CURB PARKING STOPS. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER I PRUCHASED IT FROM AND THE WARRANTY SHOULD COVER IT. THE CAR IS APPROXIMATLY 7-8 INCHES FROM THE GROUND AND THE REAR END IS ABOUT 15-16 INCHES HIGH OFF THE GROUND.
Mileage: 16,251
20060201ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS BETWEEN 5 TO 50 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. THE DEALER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. UPDATED 02/21/06. *JB
Mileage: 19,000
20060201ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS BETWEEN 5 TO 50 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. THE DEALER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. UPDATED 02/21/06. *JB
Mileage: 19,000
20050706SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS
ON JUNE 30, 2005, I BROUGHT MY 2003 CADILLAC SEVILLE TO CREST CADILLAC IN SYRACUSE NY COMPLAINING OF BRAKE PULSATION AND RUMBLING. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE DISK BRAKE PAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM ITS BACKING PLATE, AND A SECOND SET OF PAD AND BACKING PLATE WAS ABOUT TO SEPARATE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I THINK IT COMPROMISES THE BRAKING SYSTEM OF THE CAR. THE CAR ONLY HAS 12,350 MILES ON IT.
Mileage: 12,350
20031027ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD STALL. *AK
Mileage: 14,300
20030324STEERING:COLUMN
WHILE DRIVING THE BOLT CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. *NLM THERE WERE ENGINE PROBLEMS/STALLING, AIR BAG LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE RADIO CUTS ON BY ITSELF, HORN WAS INOPERATIVE, ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. RECALL #0311500 IN RE: CADILLAC CTS. SCC
20030324ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING THE BOLT CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. *NLM THERE WERE ENGINE PROBLEMS/STALLING, AIR BAG LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE RADIO CUTS ON BY ITSELF, HORN WAS INOPERATIVE, ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. RECALL #0311500 IN RE: CADILLAC CTS. SCC
20030324ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING THE BOLT CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. *NLM THERE WERE ENGINE PROBLEMS/STALLING, AIR BAG LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE RADIO CUTS ON BY ITSELF, HORN WAS INOPERATIVE, ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. RECALL #0311500 IN RE: CADILLAC CTS. SCC
20030324ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN
WHILE DRIVING THE BOLT CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. *NLM THERE WERE ENGINE PROBLEMS/STALLING, AIR BAG LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE RADIO CUTS ON BY ITSELF, HORN WAS INOPERATIVE, ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. RECALL #0311500 IN RE: CADILLAC CTS. SCC
20030324EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
WHILE DRIVING THE BOLT CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. *NLM THERE WERE ENGINE PROBLEMS/STALLING, AIR BAG LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE RADIO CUTS ON BY ITSELF, HORN WAS INOPERATIVE, ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. RECALL #0311500 IN RE: CADILLAC CTS. SCC
20030307EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES
THE HEADLIGHT LENSES WERE DIM, WHICH CAUSED LESS LIGHT.*JB
Compare 2003CADILLACSTS 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 STS have?▼
The 2003 CADILLAC STS has 15 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 CADILLAC STS?▼
The most-complained component for the 2003 CADILLAC STS is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:CONCEALMENT DEVICES.
Is the 2003 CADILLAC STS 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.