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Cadillac STSModel year report

2003 Cadillac STS Problems

Complaints
8filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
17,626miles, 6 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Cadillac STS (complaints, recalls, investigations). Report an error

NHTSA recorded 8 consumer complaints for the 2003 Cadillac STS. The part named most often is electrical system, with 3 complaints (38% of the total), followed by engine cooling (3) and brakes (2). 6 of the complaints include a mileage, and 67% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 17,626 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 89 technical service bulletins for this model year. Electrical system complaints overlap with 17 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 17 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Electrical system: “Vehicle was idling in driveway during strong electrical storm. Lightning appeared to hit a tree nearby. Simultaneously, several dash warning lights came on and stayed on, including anti-lock brake, traction and stability control warnings. Call was made to insurance company and vehicle towed to Cadillac dealership. …”

NHTSA complaint #10473982, filed 2012-09, 112,000 miles

Engine cooling: “The contact stated while driving the vehicle at various speeds between 5 to 50 MPH the engine stalled without warning, this incident occurred four times. The vehicle has not been to the dealership to be inspected. The manufacturer has not been alerted. The dealer corrected the problem by replacing the battery and crankshaft sensor. Updated 02/21/06.”

NHTSA complaint #10149199, filed 2006-02, 19,000 miles

Brakes: “On june 30, 2005, I brought my 2003 Cadillac seville to crest Cadillac in syracuse ny complaining of brake pulsation and rumbling. It was discovered that one disk brake pad had completely separated from its backing plate, and a second set of pad and backing plate was about to separate. I believe this is a safety issue because I think it compromises the braking system of the car. The car only has 12,350 miles on it.”

NHTSA complaint #10127675, filed 2005-07, 12,350 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

67% of the 6 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 14,300 and 63,000 miles.

0%0–1067%10–250%25–5017%50–750%75–10017%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (6 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 17,626 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

2003320052006200720122014
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2003 Cadillac STS in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 89 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 89 bulletins →

Other model years of the Cadillac STS

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2011745,5000—21—Not enough data
20091570,0000—18—Stable
20085057,5001—18Not compared (fewer than 3 comparable model years)Falling
20075255,0002—18Not compared (before 2008)Rising
200613972,5004—18Not compared (before 2008)Falling
200510157,0003—18Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200477,6750———Not enough data
2003817,6260———Not enough data
20027100,0000———Not enough data
20011232,7140———Not enough data
20001281,0001———Not enough data
19991398,5870———Not enough data

All Cadillac STS model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Cadillac STS have?

NHTSA recorded 8 consumer complaints for the 2003 Cadillac STS as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2003 Cadillac STS is reported most often?

Electrical system is named most often, in 3 complaints (38% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 3.

Has the 2003 Cadillac STS been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Cadillac STS reported?

Among the 6 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 17,626 miles and the middle half falls between 14,300 and 63,000 miles; 67% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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.

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.