2003 Cadillac CTS Brakes Problems

THERE IS A OPEN RECALL EFFECTING THIS YEAR & MAKE ALTHOUGH MY VIN SAYS THERE'S NO RECALLS ON MY CTS. I HAD BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLIES FAIL WHILE DRIVING. LUCKILY WE DIDN'T WRECK. I'VE SINCE HAD BOTH REPAIRED. CURIOUS AS TO KNOW WHY CAR WAS NOT LISTED WITH OPEN RECALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AND THE LOW BRAKE FLUID WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT OBSERVED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE NEAR THE TIRE. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CONFIRMED THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REFILL THE BRAKE FLUID CONTAINER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE LINE FAILED AND THE CHECK BRAKE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V225000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC), WHICH HE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 144,000.

CUSTOMERS BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING TO REPAIR SHOP, 3 MILE TRIP, FLUID WAS LOW, P/S FRONT HOSE WAS SWOLLEN AND BUSTED LEAKING FLUID, D/S FRONT HOSE WAS SWOLLEN. LOSS OF BREAKING CONTROL EVIDENT WHILE PULLING CAR INTO SHOP. CONTACTED DEALER TO CHECK ON RECALL, WAS INFORMED VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. ALL SIGNS, INCLUDING VIN BREAK WERE THE SAME. REPAIR IS BEING DONE IN FACILITY, NOT UNDER RECALL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AFTER THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED TO THE FLOOR BOARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NOTICED OIL PUDDLE UNDER VEHICLE WHICH LEAD TO DISCOVERY OF TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. WHEN DISCUSSED WITH DEALER SERVICE MANAGER STATED "SO WHAT I HAVE A DENALI AT HOME WITH THE SAME PROBLEM". GM OFFERED NO RELIEF OR SOLUTION WHEN CONTACTED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE SERVICED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE TECHNICIANS THAT THE BRAKE LINES AND CALIPERS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V105000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 54,578.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SHIFTED INTO PARK IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP AND AVOIDED ROLLING AWAY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS BECOMING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED ABNORMALLY TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE CALIPER WAS CORRODED AND DETACHED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V105000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,000.

THIS MORNING WHEN I BACKED MY CTS OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT TO GO TO WORK I NOTICED THE BRAKES WERE A LITTLE SOFT. I THEN PARKED THE CAR AND OPENED THE HOOD TO LOOK AT THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR AND NOTICED IT WASN'T COMPLETELY FULL BUT THERE WAS STILL A SUFFICIENT LEVEL OF FLUID. I THEN LOOKED AT THE GROUND AND NOTICED A LINE OF LIQUID THAT TRACED MY MOVEMENT BACKWARDS OUT OF THE PARKING SPOT AND THEN BACK INTO THE PARKING SPOT, THIS LIQUID WAS BRAKE FLUID. IMAGINE MY SURPRISE AT HAVING A SECOND GM VEHICLE WITH A BRAKE LINE FAILURE 30 DAYS AFTER EXPERIENCING A BRAKE LINE FAILURE FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY 40+ YEARS OF DRIVING AND OWNING VEHICLES. THE FIRST WAS A 2001 TAHOE WHICH I REPORTED LAST MONTH TO NHTSA AND WHICH COST ME OVER $1,000 TO REPLACE ALL OF THE BRAKE LINES. AFTER WORK THIS EVENING I EXAMINED THE CTS AND DISCOVERED EXTREME CORROSION IN THE TWO BRAKE LINES RUNNING FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER TO THE ABS UNIT IN THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE BAY. THE CORROSION IS WORST WHERE THE LINES RUN BEHIND THE RADIATOR AND IT APPEARS BOTH LINES HAVE FAILED. THE LORD MUST HAVE BEEN LOOKING OUT AFTER ME BECAUSE LAST NIGHT I DROVE 37 MILES FROM BALTIMORE ON THE INTERSTATE. HAD THE BRAKES FAILED THEN I IMAGINE I WOULD HAVE BEEN IN A SPECTACULAR ACCIDENT ON I-95 THAT MAY HAVE TAKEN MY LIFE AS WELL AS OTHERS. GM RECALLED THE CTS FOR BRAKE LINE CORROSION BY THE CALIPERS WHERE THE LINE CONNECTS INSIDE A RUBBER PIECE. NHTSA IS INVESTIGATING BRAKE LINE CORROSION ON 1999 TO 2003 FULL SIZE GM TRUCKS AND PICKUPS AND I SUGGEST THE INVESTIGATION BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE ALL GM VEHICLES OF THIS VINTAGE AS IT APPEARS GM USED AN INFERIOR GRADE OF STEEL IN THEIR BRAKE LINES IN ALL OF THE VEHICLES. *TR

MY CAR FAIL TO STOP ON THE INTERSTATE I-80 CAUSED A CRASH . WITH ALOT INJURY ON MY BODY . *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY BOTH THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE PART WAS NOT BEING MANUFACTURED BY THEM ANY LONGER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.

WHILE BRAKING FOR SOME SLOW TRAFFIC, I FELT A POP FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. ONLY HAVING ABOUT 25% USE OF THE BRAKES I HAD TO PULL OF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC SHOWED ME THE BRAKE FLUID LEAKING FROM THE BRAKE LINE CONNECTION. WHEN HE CHECKED THE OTHER SIDE THE FITTING SNAPPED IN HIS HAND. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS WHY CADILLAC DID NOT NOTIFY ME ABOUT THIS RECALL. AFTER TALKING TO CADILLAC THEY DID CONFIRM THAT THIS VEHICLE IS COVERED UNDER THIS RECALL. I NOW HAVE TO TAKE THE PARTS TO A GM DEALER ALONG WITH MY REGISTRATION AND RECEIPT FOR REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD IT WILL TAKE 4 WEEKS TO BE REIMBURSED. *TR

NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 10V10500 RE; CADILLAC CTS MODELS BRAKE LINE CORROSION PROBLEMS DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH IN SCOPE, IN MY OPINION. OUR RECENTLY PURCHASED 2003 CTS HAD NO RECORD OF COMPLIANCE WITH THIS RECALL. IN FACT, BOTH OUR LOCAL DEALER AND CADILLAC CORPORATE CUST SERVICE SAID THEY SHOWED THIS RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO OUR VECHICLE. BEING SKEPTICAL OF THAT ASSERTION BECAUSE THIS VEHICLE HAD SPENT IT'S FIRST TWO YEARS IN CONNECTICUT ON LEASE, I HAD THE BRAKE SYSTEM INSPECTED AT A LOCAL SHOP. THEY FOUND (AND I WITNESSED) THE BADLY CORRODED BRAKE HOSE FITTINGS. AS THE MECHANIC PUSHED ON THE L.H. RUBBER SLEEVE COVERING THE HOSE TO METAL TUBE JUNCTION TO SEE THE EXTENT OF THE RUST, THE HOSE SEPARATED FROM THE TUBE !! THIS WITH ONLY THE PRESSURE APPLIED WITH ONE FINGER !! WE WERE ONE HARD BRAKING APPLICATION FROM A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT !! BUT THERE ARE OTHER AREAS OF CONCERN, AND THOSE ARE THE METAL TUBING LINES IN THE FRONT OF THE CHASSIS THAT ARE PART OF THE HYDRAULIC BRAKING ( AND ANTI-SKID) SYSTEMS. MANY OF THESE LINES ARE HEAVILY RUSTED, MAKING THEM AS MUCH A CONTRIBUTOR TO BRAKE FAILURE AS THE HOSES.! I BELIEVE THESE LINES SHOULD BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL OR EXPANSION OF THE HOSE RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE BRAKE HOSE FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLY. HE HAD TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE WITH THE BRAKE, TRACTION AND THE ABS WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. HE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING TO HIS RESIDENCE. THE RECEIVED GM RECALL NOTICE NO. 09149 FOR THE BRAKES WHICH IS RELATED TO NHTSA#10V105000; SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION COMPONENTS: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES BUT THE PARTS WAS NOT IN STOCK. THE DEALER INFORMED HIM THAT THEY WOULD ORDER THE PARTS WHENEVER THEY BECAME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY RISK AND THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE PARTS WERE NEVER ORDERED. HE WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER SINCE THE FAILURE HAD CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 96,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V105000 COMPONENT: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS WHICH WAS REPAIRED. HE IS NOW EXPERIENCING CORROSION UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE FOR THE SERVICE BRAKES HOSES AND FUEL HOSES. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13300. UPDATED 10/05/10 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER ONLY REPLACED THE CALIPERS. UPDATED 10/07/10

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT-END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V105000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION COMPONENTS: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR REPAIRS. FOLLOWING REPAIRS, THE ABNORMAL NOISE BECAME LOUDER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT CALIPERS WERE LOOSE. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HAVING THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED BEFORE DETERMINING IF THEY WOULD ASSIST WITH REPAIRS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,576 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000.

I HAVE A 2003 CTS SINCE NEW. THE BRAKES ALMOST COMPLETELY FAILED LAST WEEK. NO DASH LIGHT CAME ON. THE PROBLEM IS EASILY SEEN. ONE OF THE LINES FROM THE MASTER CYLINDER GOING TO THE ABS UNIT BADLY CORRODED AT THE LOWEST POINT IN ITS RUN WHERE THE LINE IS SUPPORTED. THE LINE AWAY FROM THE SUPPORT IS IN GOOD SHAPE SO IT LOOKS LIKE YOU HAVE A DESIGN FLAW OR IMPROPERLY IMPLEMENTED DESIGN WITH THAT SUPPORT. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY AND EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED. THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND MOST OF THE UNDERSIDE BODY AND HARDWARE LOOKS ALMOST NEW. MY DEALER SAYS THEY HAVE REPLACED A NUMBER OF CTS BRAKE LINES. YOU HAVE A PROBLEM I HAD A LOT OF TROUBLE WITH THE CTS WHEN IT WAS NEW AS YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE FROM YOUR RECORDS. ALTHOUGH REPLACED THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL STILL HOWLS. I EXPECTED BETTER FROM CADILLAC. WITH THAT SAID I THINK GM OUGHT TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THE CTS BRAKE LINES. *TR

POSSIBLY DUE TO REDUCED BRAKE FLUID LEVELS THE BRAKE PEDAL ON MY 2003 CADILLAC CTS WENT DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AT WHICH POINT THE BRAKE PEDAL ARM BECAME STUCK BEHIND A PLASTIC UNDER DASH TRAY, RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND NO BREAKING. LUCKILY, THIS ISSUE WAS DISCOVERED WHILE AT SLOW SPEEDS (BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY), SO THE VEHICLE COULD BE MANUALLY STOPPED. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DISLODGED FROM THE OBSTRUCTION, WHICH WAS EASY WHILE THE CAR WAS STOPPED AND THE OPERATOR COULD LEAN UNDER THE DASH AND MOVE THE PEDAL. AT SPEED, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO MOVE THE PEDAL. BRAKE SYSTEM WAS BLED AND ADDITIONAL FLUID ADDED TO REDUCE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL. PROBLEM HAS NOT RECURRED AS A RESULT. *TR

WHILE DRIVING IN FRAMINGHAM MASSACHUSETTS, THE FRONT BRAKES SUDDENLY FAILED MAKING THE CR VERY HARD TO STOP AND ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. A BRAKE SHOP CHECKED THE CAR AND CONFIRMED THAT THE BRAKE HOSE AND BROKEN LOOSE LEAVING ME WITHOUT ANY FRONT BRAKES. IT COST $800 TO REPAIR THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND I FEEL THAT GM SHOULD REFUND ME THAT MONEY AND ALSO CHECK MY CAR TO ENSURE THAT MY BRAKES ARE NOT AT RISK OF FAILING AGAIN. *TR