Total Complaints
2 filings
CADILLAC V-SERIES · model year
2004 CADILLAC V-SERIES
2 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2004CADILLACV-SERIES carries 2 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 2004 V-SERIES is power train:driveline:differential unit with 1 filings, followed by steering:hydraulic power assist:pump (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 V-SERIES, 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.
2
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 |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080424STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 30 MPH THROUGH A LEFT TO RIGHT S-CURVE THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. WHEN PARKING THE CAR A FEW MINUTES LATER THE POWER ASSIST FAILED AGAIN AND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY LOUD CHATTERING SOUND. APPROXIMATELY 8 HOURS LATER I DROVE THE CAR AGAIN. A CONTINUOUS, LOUD WHINING SOUND WAS HEARD UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE. AS THE VEHICLE WARMED UP THE WHINING WAS REDUCED. THE DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE WHINING NOISE WAS STILL PRESENT IN THE NEW PUMP. A SECOND REPLACEMENT PUMP WAS INSTALLED AND THE TYPE OF FLUID WAS CHANGED IN ACCORDANCE WITH A GM TSB. THE STEERING PUMP CONTINUES TO WHIN WHEN EVEN A SLIGHT TORQUE IS APPLIED TO THE HANDWHEEL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR TRAVELING AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS, I.E., WHEN PARKING. THE DEALER NOW CLAIMS THAT THE NOISE IS NORMAL. HOWEVER, AFTER WORKING FOR GM'S SAGINAW STEERING COMPANY AS AN ENGINEER FOR MANY YEARS, I KNOW THAT WHAT I'M HEARING IS NOT NORMAL. *TR
Mileage: 37,723
20080208POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL IN MY 2004 CADILLAC CTS-V FAILED(EXPLODED). MY OPINION IS THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS NOT PROPERLY ENGINEERED TO HANDLE THE POWER OF THE CTS-V. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT IT IS THE SAME REAR DIFFERENTIAL THAT IS IN THE 6 CYLINDER CTS MODEL. THE CTS-V HAS 400 HP AND 395 FT/LBS OF TORQUE. WHEEL HOP AND/OR AXLE TRAMP ARE THE PRIMARY REASON THE DIFF. FAILS BUT IT GOES BACK TO POOR ENGINEERING OR THE LACK THERE OF AS THE BASE MODELS REAR SUSPENSION AND THE CTS-V'S ARE IDENTICAL. WHEEL HOP CAN BE INDUCED AT ALMOST ANY TIME IN THE FIRST 3 GEARS AND IS NOT, UNLIKE WHAT THE GM WILL TELL YOU, ONLY CAUSED BY SIDE STEPPING THE CLUTCH. THIS IS NOT TRUE , AND EVEN IF IT WAS, THE REAR DIFF. SHOULDN'T EXPLODE FROM WHEEL HOP. IT EXPLODES BECAUSE OF HOW IT IS FASTENED TO THE CHASSIS AND THE AMOUNT OF MOVEMENT ALLOWED AT ITS MOUNTING POINTS. AS FAR AS A SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS NOT OUT OF THE REALM TO BREAK A REAR DIFF. WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC ON A DAMP ROADWAY AND BEING POWER
Mileage: 8,750
Compare 2004CADILLACV-SERIES 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 V-SERIES have?▼
The 2004 CADILLAC V-SERIES has 2 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 CADILLAC V-SERIES?▼
The most-complained component for the 2004 CADILLAC V-SERIES is POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:PUMP.
Is the 2004 CADILLAC V-SERIES 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.