2003 Cadillac CTS Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 22about this part
- Share
- 7%of 313 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 70,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 22 complaints about the body and structure of the 2003 Cadillac CTS, 7% of the 313 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 70,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My 2003 Cadillac CTS caught on fire. Fireman said that it was the windshield wiper module that caught on fire. The car was parked for hours and fire started while we was sleeping. The whole engine is burnt up and the car is totaled. Now I have no car and no money to get another car.”
NHTSA complaint #11066874, filed 2018-02, 130,000 miles“Driving down a highway w/ brand new sumitomo tires for rear purchased on 1/10/15, the rear right tire blew causing me to loose control sending me into the guardrail then spun out into the highway landing horizontal across all lanes of traffic with my trunk end in the hov lane. I was then struct by a box truck, spinning me back around and totaling the vehicle. The sidewalls to the tire we still attached to the rim and the tread face had detached.”
NHTSA complaint #10681903, filed 2015-02, 146,000 miles“At about approximately 4:22 am this morning my car was engulfed in flames in my driveway. I was awakened by my Cadillac CTS 2003 car alarm as the flames we're visible thru my bedroom window. At which time I ran outside to turn on the water hose to turn off the fire as my family was sleeping in the house. My husband's car was right next to my cadi that had a full tank of fuel. I called 911 and the fire department arrived to turn off the fire on the Cadillac CTS 2003. And for more than ten minutes the fire was still blazing as the firemen unable to control the flames. …”
NHTSA complaint #11186250, filed 2019-03, 157,000 miles“My car has been garaged kept for 13 years, only came out in the summer and weekends. The last 2 years I have been using it as a daily driver.. In 2012 my mechanic noticed a lot of corrosion on my chasis rails, I notified Cadillac, they sent me to the dealer to inspect my complaint and offered me 3,000 off a new vehicle. 2 weeks ago I went for an oil change and my mechanic noticed how worse the got. I called Cadillac and they told me the corrosion warranty was over. My Cadillac only has 113,000 miles, now that I noticed how bad they got I will not put my family in the car.”
NHTSA complaint #10994435, filed 2017-06, 70,000 miles“Dashboard went out intermittently. Consumer took vehicle to dealer and repairs were made. However, the problem kept coming back. On one occasion the consumer had to have the vehicle towed for uncontrolled acceleration. Dashboard problems and vehicle has died 3 times. Enclosed here with the customer claim form for details and the towed truck report and service documents from car dealer.”
NHTSA complaint #10115564, filed 2005-04, 400 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10213818May 31, 2022This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint…
- 10197294May 12, 2021This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint…
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 | 10% |
| 2015 | 1 | 2% |
| 2014 | 4 | 3% |
| 2013 | 2 | 3% |
| 2012 | 5 | 8% |
| 2011 | 9 | 9% |
| 2010 | 8 | 12% |
| 2009 | 9 | 5% |
| 2008 | 14 | 8% |
| 2007 | 8 | 4% |
| 2006 | 4 | 1% |
| 2005 | 7 | 3% |
| 2004 | 17 | 8% |
| 2003 | 22 | 7% |
Other parts of the 2003 Cadillac CTS
56 complaintsBrakes
47 complaintsEngine cooling
38 complaintsExterior lighting
37 complaintsAir bags
36 complaintsEngine
29 complaintsSteering
28 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
25 complaintsVehicle speed control
24 complaintsElectronic stability control
22 complaintsOther or unknown
16 complaintsFuel system
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2003 Cadillac CTS
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology