There are 8 owner-reported suspension complaints for the 2003 Cadillac CTSin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE VEERED FROM SIDE TO SIDE, MADE A LOUD SNAPPING NOISE, AND THE FRONT END VIBRATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE CARRIER BEARING HOUSING AND BRACKETS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 225,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STABILIZATION WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO FIND A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 166,000. UPDATED 8/28/14*CN UPDATED 9/10/2014 *JS
2003 CADILAC CTS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE SYSTEM *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE METAL BRAKE LINE HAD TO BE REPLACED, DUE TO SEVERE CORROSION. THE CONSUMER STATED HE RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER TWO DAYS LATER. ALSO, THE STRUTS, THREE WHEEL BEARINGS, RADIATOR, TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION. THE CRUISE CONTROL AND GAS TANK, WHICH WAS LEAKING HAD TO REPLACED. *JB
I HAVE A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY SEIZED WHILE DRIVING APPX 55MPH CAUSING THE REAR OF THE CAR TO LOCK UP AND SKID OFF OF THE ROAD.... THIS VEHICLE ALSO HAS A RECURRING "BODY CONTROL MODULE" FAILURE WHICH RENDERS THE AIRBAGS USELESS....CANNOT BE CLEARED BY MYSELF OR DEALERS.. *TR
THERE NEEDS TO BE AN IN-DEPTH INVESTIGATION REGARDING THE NUMBER OF CTS AND CTS-V REAR DIFFERENTIALS THAT HAVE BEEN REPLACED. I HAVE NOW BEEN THROUGH 2 PERSONALLY, AND AN ONLINE POLL OF 65 CTS-V OWNERS SHOWED THIS: 26% HAVE HAD 1 REPLACEMENT, 5% HAVE HAD 2 OR MORE REPLACED, AND 8% HAVE HAD 3 OR MORE REPLACED. THE LINK FOR THIS POLL IS: HTTP://CADILLACFORUMS.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?P=305662&POSTED=1#POST305662. PLEASE CONTACT ME REGARDING ANY INFORMATION LEARNED. THANK YOU. *AK!
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ALL KINDS OF SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. SHE COULD NOT DRIVE VEHICLE ON AN OPEN ROAD BECAUSE IT WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE. ALSO, TIRES WOBBLED. DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL ITEMS ON THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WAS STILL DOING THE SAME THING. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. *AK THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE, ROUGH JERKS AT SHIFTS, VIBRATION AT MID TO HIGH SPEEDS, LOUD NOISE FROM BACK TIRES WHEN RIDING OVER BUMPS, BURNING SMELL FROM UNDER THE HOOD ALONG WITH SMOKING, WATER IN THE TAIL LIGHT, BLACK EXHAUST DUST/DIRT IN THE TAIL PIPE, THE ENGINE WOULD SHAKE. THE JERKING WAS AS IF THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WHILE IN DRIVE. *SC *JB
STEERING WHEEL VIBRATION. *AK
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026