2003 Cadillac CTS Engine Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that when driving at various speeds the vehicle would suddenly stalled and the instrument panel would illuminate. The message stating "starting disabled remove key" would display. The contact stated that they would be able to coast and restart the vehicle. Other times the contact would have to pull over to the side of the road and restart the vehicle. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer who was unable to diagnose the vehicle. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 121,000.

I BOUGHT THIS CAR FOR MY SON THAT GO TO COLLEGE AT SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY, HIS BEEN USING THIS CAR SINCE 2015 TILL 2019. RECENTY ABOUT A MONTH AGO HIS COMPLAINING THE CAR HAS BEEN OVERHEATING FOR NO REASONS, HE SAYS THAT THE GAUGE GOES ALL THE WAY UP EVERYTIME HE DRIVE IT BUT ITS OK IF THE CAR ENGINE IS RUNNING BUT IN PARK MODE. WE ENDED UP GOT THE CAR TOWED TO MERCED. SINCE JULY OF 2019, THE CAR IS THE GARAGE AND NEVER DRIVE. WE ONLY START THE CAR MOSTLY TO WARP UP THE ENGINE BUT NOT DRIVE. WE HAVE A FRIEND MECHANIC LOOK AT IT AND CAN'T POINT OUT THE RIGHT PROBLEM, A LOT OF ASSUMPTION POSSIBLE THE THERMOSTAT, OR RADIATOR, WATER PUMP, OR THE FAN, ETC.

I WAS DRIVING DOWNHILL ON DALLAS RD IN WEST RICHLAND, WA I STARTED TO APPLY BRAKES TO TURN INTO QUAIL SPRINGS APARTMENT COMPLEX, IDK WHETHER IT WAS DUE TO THE ROAD OR THE WAY I HIT THE BRAKES BUT IT MOVED MY KEY OUT OF THE RUN POSITION CAUSING THE ENGINE TO TURN OFF, I WAS SLOWING DOWN PROGRESSIVELY FROM 55 MILES AN HOUR AND HEARD SOMETHING THAT SOUNDED LIKE MY ENGINE HAD FALLEN APART. AFTER GETTING IT STOPPED I POPPED THE HOOD AND NOTICED DAMAGE TO MY TENSIONER PULLEY IT HAD CAME OFF AND MY SERPENTINE BELT HAD SHREDDED, I CALLED AND GOT IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST PLACE I COULD TO GET IT LOOKED AT. WHEN REPLACING THE SERPENTINE BELT THEY SAID IT'D BE GOOD TO CHECK THE TIMING BELT AS WELL JUST IN CASE. UPON CHECKING IT THEY NOTICED PIECES OF SERPENTINE BELT HAD GOTTEN INSIDE OF THERE SOMEHOW CAUSING THE TIMING BELT DAMAGE. WITH THIS TYPE OF ENGINE IF TIMING BELT GETS RUINED 98% VALVES AND PISTONS KISS WHICH CAUSES BENT VALVES ON THE HEAD. I WAS TOLD THE CAR WOULD NOT RUN ANYMORE UNLESS I PUT A BRANDNEW ENGINE IN AND THEY WANTED TO CHARGE ME 6000 FOR THAT, I LOOKED UP A USED ENGINE ON EBAY FOR 650 THEY STILL WANTED 3000, I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF MONEY SITTING AROUND AND HAVE BEEN SUFFERING WITHOUT MY VEHICLE SINCE THIS HAPPENED. I'VE MISSED WORK AND AM LUCKY ME OR CHILD WEREN'T HURT DURING THIS SITUATION. I CALLED THE LOCAL CADILLAC DEALERSHIP THIS MORNING AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAPPENED THE GUY I SPOKE WITH WAS VERY RUDE AND TOLD ME THERES NOTHING THE COULD DO TO HELP ME, I ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL AGAIN AND HE SAID I NEED TO CALL CORPORATE I DIALED THE NUMBER HE GAVE ME AND DIDN'T GET THRU TO ANYBODY. LUCKY I LOOKED UP THE NUMBER MYSELF EXPLAINED THE SITUATION TO THEM THEY GAVE ME A CASE # AND SAID I'D BE CONTACTED WITHIN 1TO 2 BUSINESS DAYS BY A SENIOR ADVISOR. BOTTOM LINE IS I'M STILL STUCK WITHOUT A WORKING VEHICLE DUE TO THIS RECALL.

THE CRANK AND CAM SENSORS HAVE CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL OUT WHILE DRIVING OR BEING STOPPED. I HAVE SEEN SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ONLINE REGARDING THIS ISSUE IN MY CAR AND OTHER GM CARS. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE YOU RECEIVED FOR THIS ISSUE IN GM CARS. IT SEEMS THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS SINCE IT IS A WELL KNOWN AND DOCUMENTED ISSUE AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE WITH CARS STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING AND WHILE BEING STOPPED. I STALLED ON A FREEWAY ON RAMP, AT A STOP SIGN AND WHILE BEING PARKED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT LEFT THE VEHICLE AT THE DEALER OVERNIGHT FOR AN OIL CHANGE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER THAT, DUE TO A STRIPPED SCREW IN THE OIL PAN, THE OIL CHANGE COULD NOT BE PERFORMED. THE CONTACT OBSERVED A LARGE AMOUNT OF OIL UNDER THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS RETRIEVED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 140,000.

PURCHASED CAR FROM DEALERSHIP IN OCT 2015. WHILE DRIVING, I BEGIN TO SMELL BURNING OIL AND NOTICED OIL LEAK UNDER VEHICLE ON LEFT SIDE. TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC TO SEE WHERE LEAK IS COMING FROM AND HE STATED THAT VALVE COVER GASKET IS LEAKING OIL OUT AS WELL AS OIL IS PRESENT IN THE SPARK PLUG RESERVOIRS. WILL HAVE TO GET GASKETS REPLACED BEFORE FURTHER DAMAGE IS CAUSED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL VEHICLE AND I RECENTLY SAW ON NEWS WHERE GM RECALLED OTHER MODELS AND YEARS OF VEHICLE WITH SAME ISSUE. WHY WASN'T THIS MODEL CADILLAC INCLUDED IN THE RECALL WHEN IS SHOULD HAVE?

I HAVE HAD MY CAR STOP RUNNING SEVERAL TIMES DURING THE TIME I HAVE OWNED IT... IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. I HAVE TO RESTART IT AGAIN. IT DOES IT ON OCCASION , SOMETIMES MONTHS APART. I AM JUST HOPING THAT IT WILL NEVER SHUT OFF LIKE THAT WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL LEAK IN THE ENGINE AND THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 102,000.

LEAKING VALVE COVER GASKETS RESULTING IN OIL ON COILS, OXYGEN SENSOR AND RISK FOR OIL RELATED FIRES. THE SMELL OF BURNING OIL IS PREVALENT BECAUSE OF OIL ON HOT ENGINE PARTS. A REVIEW OF VARIOUS INTERNET FORUMS SHOWS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THIS MAKE/MODEL. A CONSENSUS OPINION APPEARS TO BE THE VALVE COVER GASKETS WERE MADE FROM INFERIOR MATERIALS. SINCE THIS IS A FIRE SAFETY ISSUE AND/OR A RESULT OF THE MANUFACTURER'S NEGLIGENCE, THIS CAR SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS AND INTERMITTENTLY FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 65,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TSB 05-06-01-007A THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MY CADI ON AT LEAST THREE OCCASIONS. FIRST TIME, CADILLAC DEALER CHARGED TO REPLACE THERMOSTAT. DIDN'T WORK. NEXT TIME, REPAIR SHOP REPLACED OIL GASKET. DIDN'T WORK. THIS TIME I FOUND THE BELOW DESCRIPTION ON LINE AND WILL ASK MY REPAIR SHOP TO FIX. IF THIS IS RECURRING TO CTS OWNERS, THERE REALLY SHOULD BE A RECALL. IT IS ALSO A FIRE HAZARD. IRRITATING. MY RESEARCH FOUND THE BELOW AND IT IS RIGHT ON TARGET.....IT RARELY HAPPENS BECAUSE IT IS RARELY BELOW 10 DEGREES IN MY NECK OF THE WOODS.... THE CAR INVOLVED WAS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. STARTED VEHICLE IN APPROXIMATELY 7 DEGREE WEATHER. AFTER STARTING VEHICLE AND RUNNING FOR APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES NOTICE SEVERE POWER LOSS. WITHIN NEXT COUPLE OF MINUTES BLACK SMOKE WITH EXTREME BURNING SMELL FLOODED VEHICLE INTERIOR COMPARTMENT ALSO SMOKE STARTS TO COME FROM UNDER HOOD OF VEHICLE. PULLED INTO SAFE LOCATION FOUND HUGE OIL LEAK ON LEFT SIDE OF ENGINE AROUND VALVE COVER. COULD HAVE POSSIBLY STARTED A FIRE DUE TO HIGHLY COMBUSTIBLE OIL BEING BLOWN ON ENGINE BUT LUCKILY DID NOT CATCH ON FIRE. CHECK ON-LINE FOUND TSB 05-06-01-007A STATING GM KNOWS THIS IS A PROBLEM. "WHEN OPERATING IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHERCONDITIONS, SOME 2003-2004 VEHICLES WITH 3. 2L V6 ENGINE MAY LEAK ENGINE OIL FROM THE CAM/VALVE SEALS, ESPECIALLY FROM THE LEFT SIDE JUST BELOW THE OIL FILL HOLE IN THE CAM/VALVE COVER. " THIS IS QUITE A BIT MORE THAN A LEAK SINCE APPROXIMATELY A QUART OF OIL WAS BLOWN ON THE ENGINE IN ONLY A COUPLE MINUTES. IF THE ENGINE WOULD HAVE BEEN HOTTER THERE COULD EASILY HAVE BEEN A FIRE. SINCE THIS IS A KNOW ISSUE WITH A KNOWN CAUSE SHOULDN'T THIS BE TAKEN CARE OF BY GM OR AT LEAST THE SAFETY OF THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS SHOULD BE CONSIDERED. IT COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE. *TR

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER. I WAS ALMOST HIT BY THE CARS BEHIND ME. THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN, AND THE MOTOR IS NOW BLOWN DUE TO THE VALVES BEING BENT. THIS WAS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND MY FAMILY, BUT IS VERY VERY COSTLY. I HAD PREVIOUS ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE LOSING POWER ONCE WHILE DRIVING, ALSO ALMOST GOT INTO ACCIDENT, BUT THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. THIS WAS ABOUT 3 MONTHS EARLIER. IT ONLY HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY GOING BETWEEN 60 - 70 MPH. THIS IS SO DANGEROUS! I WAS OVER 2 HOURS FROM HOME, AND HAD TO PAY A RIDICULOUS AMOUNT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED BACK HOME. *TR

AN OIL LEAK AFTER DRIVING ABOUT 35 MILES, COMPLETELY DRAINED OIL. BROUGHT CAR TO CADILLAC DEALER WHO CHARGER ME $4500 TO REPAIR. LOOKED ON MYCARSTATS.COM WEB SITE AND SAW ANOTHER OF THE SAME PROBLEM...CASE #[XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

UNDER 33,000 MILES ON THIS CAR. WHILE DRIVING DOWN A HILL I HEARD A LOUD CLANK NOISE. CAR LOST ALL STEERING AND BRAKE POWER COMPLETELY LOCKED UP. HAD TOWED TO SHOP AND THEY SAID TIMING CHAIN IS BROKEN AND PASSENGER SIDE OF ENGINE IS LOCKED UP WITH BENT VALVES. NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NEVER CAME ON. NOW THIS CAR NEEDS A NEW ENGINE. *TR

ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. WOULD NOT RESTART. HAD TO HAVE VEHICLE TOWED TO AUTHORIZED CADILLAC SERVICE CENTER (GREEN BUICK GMC, DAVENPORT, IA). GREEN REPLACED PARTS (THROTTLE BODY, PART 9128412, CONNECTOR PART 15306420, SEAL PART 90412566) WITH NEW ONES AND THEN CLEANED, AT A COST OF $1,425.82. TO BE FAIR, IN RETROSPECT, GREEN SHOULD HAVE CLEANED OLD PART TO SAVE CUSTOMER UNNECESSARY COSTS. NOW, THREE YEARS LATER, THIS EXPENSIVE FIX IS NEEDED AGAIN. ACCORDING TO LUJACK NORTHPARK AUTO, DAVENPORT, IOWA, (INVOICE NO. CVCS863235) DATE 05/05/14, MILAGE: 113716, THESE PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN ALREADY. (48000 MILES LATER) THAT MEANS THAT THE $1,425.82 WE PAID TO GREEN WAS LOST TO EITHER INFERIOR QUALITY PARTS (PLANNED OBSOLESENCE) OR SABOTAGE BY THE AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTERS. THIS CAR WAS IN LUJACKS THREE TIMES THIS YEAR. TWICE THEIR TECHNICIAN REMOVED & REPLACED V/C & VIT GASKETS. (PARTS VS50628R & MS96103. SEE CVCS854609 & 855596) WHICH MEANS REMOVING THESE PARTS. GM REFUSED TO MAKE ANY GOOD FAITH EFFORT AT RESOLVING ISSUE (SEE GM FILE # 71-1305208758) UPDATED 11/24/2014 *JS

WHILE TRAVELING AT MODERATE SPEED VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY AND LOOSING POWER. THE ENGINE WAS MISSING ON ONE OR MORE CYLINDERS. DEALER RECOMMENDED REPLACING COIL, SPARKPLUG, VALVE COVER GASKETS AND OIL COOLER. THIS SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY A DEFECT MENTIONED IN CAD CTS TSB ID # 1609265 DATED 2005. THIS TSB STATES THAT THE CRANKCASE VAPORS AND ENGINE OIL WILL VENT THROUGH THE CAM/VALVE COVER SEALS WHEN THE CRANKCASE VENTILATION SYSTEM BECOMES BLOCKED. THE OIL ON THIS VEHICLE EVIDENTLY VENTED AND LEAKED SEVERAL PLACES INCLUDING INTO THE IGNITION COILS CAUSING A SHORT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED IN INTERSTATE TRAFFIC AT HIGH SPEEDS THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR IF THE OIL HAD LEAKED ON VERY HOT SURFACES POSSIBLY A FIRE. THE TSB SPECIFIED KITS THAT WERE TO BE INSTALLED TO PREVENTED THIS FROM HAPPENING. EVIDENTLY, THESE WERE NEVER INSTALLED ON THIS VEHICLE.

2003 CTS - SERVICE TRACKING SYSTEM BEGAN TO DISPLAY AND ENGAGE FREQUENTLY. TOOK TO LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH VEHICLE. PROBLEM CONTINUED AND BEGAN VIBRATING BADLY AND PULLING TOWARD LEFT (UNABLE TO BRAKE). RETURNED VEHICLE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THEY REPLACED "STEERING SENSOR" $650.00. TWO MONTHS LATER BEGAN TO LOSE POWER IMMEDIATELY AFTER START UP, DEALER REPLACED BATTERY. WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE HOME PROBLEM BEGAN AGAIN. DISPLAYED LOW BATTERY, THEN MULTIPLE WARNING LIGHTS FOR SERVICE (ABS, TRACKING, AIRBAG ECT...). RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY ARE CURRENTLY REPLACING ALTERNATOR. I HAVE NO CONFIDENCE THAT THIS IS THE REAL PROBLEM BASED ON WHAT I HAVE READ ON-LINE REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE. I ALSO HAVE SAME LEAKAGE ISSUES FROM BOTH COOLANT AND OIL SOURCES THAT I HAVE READ ON-LINE. DEALER CONTINUES TO TELL ME TO REPLACE BOTH GASKETS AND THERMOSTAT. THESE AGAIN ARE COMMON ISSUES THAT ARE POSTED CONSISTENTLY ON-LINE BY CONSUMERS. THESE ARE SERIOUSLY DANGEROUS FAILURES BASED ON PEOPLE'S PERSONAL SAFETY. GM MUST STEP UP AND HONOR THESE SAFETY ISSUES BY RECALLING THESE ITEMS. INABILITY TO CONTROL VEHICLE DUE TO TRACKING SYSTEM ENGAGING AND NOT ABLE TO BRAKE, VEHICLE LOSING POWER AND STALLING WHILE DRIVING 50 MILES AN HOUR, AND LASTLY FIRE HAZARD DUE TO LEAKING PLASTIC VALVE COVER GASKETS. *TR

2003 CADILLAC CTS ALL I CAN SAY IS IM DISGUSTED WITH THIS CAR NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT LEAKAGE THAT IS REPORTED ON HERE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHAT HAPPENED BUT NOW I HAVE A CAR SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY WHICH I CAN'T USE BECAUSE IT HAS A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE. WHICH MOST THAN LIKELY NEEDS REPLACED WHICH IS VERY EXPENSIVE CAN I SAY FIRST CADILLAC AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER ONE EVER.. *TR

DRIVING OUR 2003 CTS IT WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT NOTICE. IT WAS PUT ON A MACHINE AND NOTHING SHOWED WRONG SINCE 2003. EVENTUALLY IT SHUT OFF AND WOULD STARTUP FOR 45 MIN (2010) THE CRANK SENSOR WAS REPLACED AND 2 WEEKS LATER IT SHUT OFF AGAIN.. *TR

OIL IN COOLANT RESERVOIR DUE TO OIL COOLER LOCATED UNDER THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, BETWEEN THE CYLINDER HEADS LEAKING. CADILLAC 2003 CTS WITH 6 CYLINDER OPEL MOTOR WITH ONLY 62,000 MILES. *TR