2003 CADILLAC CTS Engine Problems

Everything was really grate no problems. My brakes sounds like there is LOTS of AIR Coming from somewhere. My key ignition sometimes want turn over or easy to come out. Than the car started running hot. I've had it looked at Few times and can't seem to fix the problem. I've even brought a new coolant box or another name for it.. so now I can't drive it because my fluids keep coming out of the coolant tank please help me I don't know what to do. To complete this message I've even had a smog twice nonpassable. - Thank you any Questions [XXX] call/ text INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

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.

Mileage: 121,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF. AFTER RESTARTING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE OPERATED NORMALLY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,900.

Mileage: 128,900

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.

Mileage: 25

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. MY CAR IS GONE AS IT BURNED DOWN. PLEASE HELP ME TO UNDERSTAND WHY THIS HAPPENED. I ONLY CARRIED LIABILITY AS THIS WAS ALL I COULD AFFORD. I THANK THE LORD THAT EVEN WHEN WE WERE IN HARM'S WAY, HE JEHOVAH GOD PROTECTED US. ALL THE GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST THAT THEIR WAS NO LOST OF LIFE. MATERIAL THINGS CAN BE REPLACED. I AM GRATEFUL TO GOD FOR HIS MERCY AND GRACE. HE HAS TOTAL CONTROL AND I KNOW THAT HE WAS WITH US. I WAS NOT AWARE THAT THESE CARS HAVE A HISTORY OF CATCHING ON FIRE. I AM GLAD THAT WE WERE NOT ON THE ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED. MY MOTHER SUFFERED A STROKE AND THIS COULD OF BEEN MORE DETRIMENTAL BUT GOD DID NOT PERMIT THE HAND OF THE ENEMY TO TOUCH US PHYSICALLY, HALELUJAH TO THE LAMB OF GOD! I AM BLESSED TO BE A CHILD OF GOD! I KNOW THAT HE WILL GIVE US JUSTICE BECAUSE HE DOES NOT FORSAKE HIS CHILDREN AND HE IS A GOD THAT DOES NOT LIE. HE IS GOD EMANUEL! HE IS MY SHALOM!

Mileage: 157,000

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.

Mileage: 193,000

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.

Mileage: 70,000

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.

Mileage: 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?

Mileage: 145,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE CONTACT TURNED SHARPLY TO AVOID AN ANIMAL. THE ENGINE STALLED, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO COAST AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE CONTACT WAS LAUNCHED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED LOWER BACK, NECK, AND HEAD INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS ALREADY EXPERIENCED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

Mileage: 50,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE HAD TO COOL DOWN COMPLETELY BEFORE THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V394000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 67,000.

Mileage: 67,000

MY CAR JUST SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF EXCELERATION.........THIS HAPPEN TO ME 2X... ONCE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC!!! AND THE OTHER JUST BEFORE A BLUE LINE TRAIN ...DEALERSHIP TAKES THIS VERY LIGHTLY.I GUESS SOMEONE HAS TO DIE FIRST..IT IS IN THE SHOP RIGHT NOW. I HAVE SO MANY ISSUES THAT I DON'T THINK I SHOULD BE HAVING OR HAD WHEN NEW TOO. .I ALSO NOTICED THAT WHERE MY AIRBAG ON MY STEERING WHEEL .IS LOOKS LIKE IT IS SEPARATING...NOT SURE BUT IT IS NOT FLUSH....I'M AFRAID TO ASK ABOUT THAT SINCE ALL IT DOES IS COST ME$$$$$$$ ALSO I HAD BRAKES FIXED THAT WEREN'T THAT BAD BECAUSE OF NOISE BUT THE NOISE IS STILL THERE NOT ALL THE TIME BUT MORE FREQUENT AND IT SOUNDS LIKE ITS FROM SOME PART OF CLUTCH PART NOT THE BRAKES..... NEW BRAKES DIDN'T FIX ANYTHING.. I AM FIXING THIS CAR MORE THAN WHAT I AM WRITING ABOUT. THE 1ST MONTH I BOUGHT IT I HAD TO RETURN FOR A BOLT WAS COMING LOOSE ON MY STEERING COLUMN...FOUND OUT IT WAS A RECALL. I NEED TO TALK TO SOMEONE FOR WORK THAT WAS DONE TO MY CAR THAT LATER I FOUND WAS NOT MY WORK ORDER OR MY VIN #. OR MY MILEAGE... AFTER I PAID FOR HALF THE WORK SINCE MY CAR WASN'T BROUGHT IN FOR ANY OF THAT STUFF.. ONLY A STABILITY LIGHT TO BE CHECKED... WHICH AFTER 11MONTHS WHEN I TOOK IT BACK AGAIN... FOUND THAT WAS NEVER TAKEN CARE OF.. THATS WHY IT WOULD COME OFF AND ON ... I WAS JUST TIRED OF BEING TAKEN... THATS HOW I FELT.. BEING THAT I AM A WOMEN........

Mileage: 79,000

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

Mileage: 75,000

THE PCV VALVE SYSTEM DESIGN IS DEFECTIVE. ON (4) OCCASIONS THE PRESSURE BUILD-UP CAUSING MASSIVE OIL LEAKS AT THE VALVE COVER. I EXPERIENCED SMOKE FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AS OIL LEAKED ONTO A HOT ENGINE. A POTENTIAL ENGINE FIRE. IT TOOK YEARS FOR THE CADILLAC DEALERS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A EXTREME COLD WEATHER ISSUE. THE AUTOMOBILE WAS IN ARIZONA FOR A FEW YEARS AND THE ISSUE WAS NOT A PROBLEM BUT ONCE RETURNED TO MICHIGAN, THE PROBLEM GOT SERIOUS. I HAVE ALL OF MY REPAIR DOCUMENTS. THIS CAR SHOULD HAS BEEN RECALLED. IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I WAS LUCKY AS I WAS NEAR DEALERS WHEN THIS OCCURRED. *TR

Mileage: 104,492

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR LATCH BECAME INOPERABLE, AND THE BRAKE, CHECK ENGINE, AND TRACTION CONTROL INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAITED FOR A FEW MINUTES AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

Mileage: 104,000

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

Mileage: 96,000

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.

Mileage: 102,000

MY CTS HAVE BEEN IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIME FOR SMOKE AND THE SMELL OF OIL BURNING COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.AFTER YEARS OF TAKING MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVING PARTS REPLACE THE PROBLEM STILL OCCUR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER SIX MINUTES, BUT IT SHOOK AND IDLED ROUGHLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED TWENTY TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,197.

Mileage: 145,197

WHILE DRIVING TURNING LEFT ONTO AN EXPRESSWAY ENTRANCE MY ENGINE SHUT DOWN I BELIEVE IT WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH. I'VE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY CAN'T SEEM TO FIND A SOLUTION. I AM IN FEAR THAT ONE DAY THIS CAR WILL LOSE POWER AT THE WRONG TIME AND CAUSE A SERIOUS IF NOT FATAL ACCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE THE PROBLEM FIXED OR A REIMBURSEMENT TO INVEST IN A NEW VEHICLE BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE ENGINE LOW POWER WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT THE ENGINE LOSS POWER WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT FOUR YEARS AFTER THE REPAIR THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AT THE FIRST ATTEMPT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,579. UPDATED 8/12/14*CN UPDATED 08/20/2014 *JS

Mileage: 72,579

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

Mileage: 83,397

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED A RECURRING STALLING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WHERE SEVERAL UNKNOWN REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,730 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 79,000. UPDATED 06/30/14 MA UPDATED 07/3/2014 *JS

Mileage: 59,730

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.

Mileage: 65,000

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

Mileage: 80,000

STARTING AROUND SEPTEMBER, MY CAR WOULD RANDOMLY SHUT OFF WHILE IN MOTION, AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. AFTER HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN DIAGNOSTIC FEES, I FOUND SOME CADILLAC FORUMS STATING IT WAS A CRANK SHAFT SENSOR MALFUNCTION, WHICH IS COMMON IN 2003 MODELS. MY CAR WOULD ALSO SHOW THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS OFF WITH NO WARNING, AND NOT GET OUT OF GEAR WHILE BEING ON, WITH NO WARNING AS WELL. THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WOULD SHOW LOW OIL PRESSURE AND OTHER WARNINGS ALTHOUGH NOTHING WAS WRONG. AND LASTLY, AT AROUND 78,000 MILES, WHILE DRIVING 70 ON A HIGHWAY, THE CAR MAKE A HUGE BANG, AND SMOKE ERUPTED, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO CRASH ON THE HIGHWAY. ALL THE OIL LEAKED OUT, AND THE CAR WON'T START. I'M BEING TOLD TO REPLACE MY ENTIRE ENGINE BECAUSE OF A POSSIBLE HEAD GASKET, WHICH ACCORDING TO MULTIPLE FORUMS, TENDS TO BE FAULTY IN THE '03 MODELS. THESE SHOULD OBVIOUSLY BE RECALLED IF SO MANY CARS ARE AFFECTED. I'M PAYING OVER 5000 DOLLARS IN REPAIRS AND COSTS FOR THIS. I REFUSE TO EVER LET ANYONE I KNOW, AS WELL AS MYSELF, PURCHASE ANOTHER CADILLAC, UNLESS THIS GETS RESOLVED. *TR

Mileage: 73,000

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

AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON, THEN THE BRAKES SEEMED TO JERK A LITTLE AND THE CAR LOST MOST OF IT'S POWER. I HAD A MECHANIC TEST IT, AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A REASON FOR IT. THE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT STAYED ON, BUT I DIDN'T SEEM TO HAVE THE PROBLEM AGAIN UNTIL ABOUT 2-3 MONTHS LATER WHEN I WAS GOING 70 DOWN THE HIGHWAY, LOST ALL POWER AND THE MOTOR SHUT DOWN. CADILLAC WOULD NOT RESTART, HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED OVER 2 HOURS BACK HOME, ONLY TO FIND THAT THIS TIME THE TIMING BELT HAD BROKEN AND THE MOTOR IS BLOWN SINCE THESE CARS HAVE INTERFERENCE MOTORS WHICH CAUSES THE VALVES TO GET BENT WHEN THE TIMING BELT BREAKS. I AM NOW WITHOUT A VEHICLE AND WAS ALMOST IN 2 ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS. ANOTHER ISSUE IS THE LIGHT COVER FROM THE LIGHTS ON THE TRUNK CAME OFF IN THE CAR WASH AND BROKE. APPARENTLY THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE YET CADILLAC REFUSES TO FIX IT. THEIR ADHESIVE WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD ON THE PLASTIC. THIS WAS MY FIRST CADILLAC, AND WILL BE MY LAST. THEY ARE DANGEROUS AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX THEIR FAILURES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT EMITTED SMOKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VALVE COVER GASKET WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE VALVE COVER GASKET WAS REPLACED A SECOND TIME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.

Mileage: 72,000