2003 CADILLAC CTS Power Train Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION ASSEMBLY MADE AN ABNORMAL SOUND AND THE GEARS SLIPPED WITHOUT WARNING. MARTIN BUICK GMC (12101 W OLYMPIC BLVD, LOS ANGELES, CA 90064, (310) 622-9334) WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A PERMANENT REMEDY; THEREFORE, THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AFTER SEVERAL EXTENSIVE REPAIRS FROM THE DEALER. THE CONTACT WAS PROVIDED WITH A LOANER VEHICLE FOR MORE THAN THREE MONTHS. THE DEALER RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE CONTACT WITHOUT IT BEING REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN SAFELY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CASE MANAGER WAS TO FOLLOW-UP WITH THE DEALER AND OWNER TO DETERMINE IF THERE WERE GUIDELINES FOR A REPAIR. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

Mileage: 59,000

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 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000. UPDATED 2/24/15*CN UPDATED 9/15/2017*CN

Mileage: 65,000

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CADILLAC CTS. WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND CRASHED INTO A DUMPSTER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

DRIVING DOWN ROAD IT JUST CUT OFF OTHER TIMES IT JUST WOULD NOT START I HAVE HAD IT 3YRS AND ONLY GOT TO DRIVE IT 2 MTHS I REALLY WANTED THIS CAR BUT NEVER KNEW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN!ALSO SOME KIND OF SEAL WE HAD FIXED BLEW MAYBE A WEEK AFTER IT WAS FIXED. *TR

Mileage: 92,000

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

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

REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHINE ON MY 2003 CADILLAC CTS. THE SLIGHTEST PRESSURE UNDER LIGHT ACCELERATION CAUSES THE WHINE. DEALERS ARE USELESS. *TR

Mileage: 25,000

WHINING DIFFERENTIAL. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

INNER DIFFERENTIAL BEARING NOISES ARE GETTING PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. WITH SO MANY COMPLAINTS WHY IS THE COST TO REPAIR/REPLACE NOT COVERED BY GM/CADILLAC. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR NOW THAT IT IS LEAKING. *TR *JB

Mileage: 10

I AM AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING NUMEROUS FAILURES WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM NUMEROUS TIMES BEGINNING APPROXIMATELY A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE TO INFORM THEM THAT THE VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE, ONLY TO BE TOLD MY VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, SO THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT OR GIVE MY ONE THAT IS NOT DEFECTIVE. MY VEHICLE IS STILL DEFECTIVE TO THIS DATE. *TR

Mileage: 2,000

2003 CADILLAC CTS - I BOUGHT THIS CAR ON 03/10/07, WITHIN 1 MONTH THE FIRST FAILURE WAS DUE TO A TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE $370.00. THE NEXT FAILURE WAS A MONTH LATER WHEN THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY WENT BAD $752.12

Mileage: 79,000

WE OWN A 2003 CTS CADILLAC WITH 40,000 MILES AND STILL UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE HAD THE CAR IN FOR REPAIR SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE SAME REASON. THE CAR SHAKES AT CERTAIN SPEEDS. EG. 47, 59,65,69, AND 75 MILES PER HOUR. THE WHEEL ACTUALLY SHAKES IN MY HANDS. IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. CADILLAC STATED IT WAS CHARACTERISTIC OF THE 2003 CTS. MAYBE AN ESCORT BUT NOT A CADILLAC. THEY OFFERED TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY ON THE TRANSMISSION TO 100,000 MILES. WHOOPIE. I NOW MUST DRIVE A CAR THAT I FEEL IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I REALLY BELIEVE THE TRANSMISSION WILL TOTALLY FAIL AND SOON. IT GETS WORSE AND WORSE. THANKS FOR VIEWING THIS LETTER. *JB

Mileage: 30,000

DT: VEHICLE LOST POWER WHEN THE CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKES. THE TRANSMISSION JOLTS AND THEN THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. IT HAS BEEN TO THE DEALER 6 TIMES SINCE JANUARY. THE DEALER TRIED SOMETHING DIFFERENT EVERY TIME SHE TOOK IT IN. MANUFACTURER SAID SHE COULD HAVE A NEW VEHICLE IF SHE PAID FOR IT. SHE WANTED TO GET RID OF THE VEHICLE.*AK THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. *JB

Mileage: 20,170

HAVE 2003 CADILLAC CTS, HAD THE DIFFERENTIAL REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS HOWLING & GETTING WORSE (THIS IS COMMON COMPLAINT BY OWNERS OF 2003 - 2005 CTS MODELS - SEE CADILLAC USERS GROUP, CTS FORUM). PICKED UP CAR AFTER DIFFERENTIAL WAS REPLACED. DROVE APPROXIMATELY 2 MILES FROM DEALER WHEN DIFFERENTIAL LOCKED UP AT 50 MPH. MANAGED TO CONTROL SLIDE/SKID AND SLIDE OFF FOUR-LANE ROAD SURFACE WITHOUT HITTING OTHER VEHICLES, BUT HAD IT HAPPENED A MILE FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD, I'D HAVE BEEN ON I-85 IN HEAVY INTERSTATE TRAFFIC AT 70 MPH... DEALER REPLACED FAILED REAR END WITH ANOTHER NEW ONE WHICH, THUS FAR (500 MILES OR SO) IS TROUBLE-FREE, BUT IN VIEW OF THE PROBLEMS I & OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THESE UNITS, I HAVE LITTLE CONFIDENCE THAT THE BASIC PROBLEM HAS BEEN RESOLVED. UNCOMFORTABLE AT THOUGHT OF DEPENDING ON VEHICLE FROM BOTH SAFETY & BASIC TRANSPORT ASPECT - RELUCTANT TO CONTEMPLATE A LONG DISTANCE TRIP FOR THESE REASONS. CALLED CADILLAC & THEY SENT A WARRANTY RIDER EXTENDING COVERAGE OF THE DIFFERENTIAL/CARRIER ASSEMBLY TO 2010 OR 100,000 MILES, WHICH IS USEFUL. HOWEVER, GM MINDSET SEEMS TO BE THAT IT IS CHEAPER TO REPLACE THESE UNITS AS THEY FAIL WITH NEW UNITS WITH THE SAME FLAW , THAN IT IS TO DETERMINE WHY THEY ARE FAILING, CORRECT THE FLAW & PROVIDE OWNERS WITH REDESIGNED, SAFE UNITS. I MAY BE OFF A BIT ON THE ACTUAL DATE OF THE INCIDENT INVOLVING FAILURE OF DIFFERENTIAL AS MY DEALER, CLASSIC CADILLAC IN MONTGOMERY, AL, HAS NOT AS OF YET PROVIDED ME A COPY OF THE PAPERWORK DOCUMENTING THE INCIDENT & INSTALLATION OF THE THIRD DIFFERENTIAL. I CALLED MY SERVICE REP YESTERDAY & HE APOLOGIZED FOR THE "OVERSIGHT" & SAID THEY'D MAIL ME THE DOCUMENTATION. THE DIFFERENTIAL THAT SEIZED IS NOT AVAILABLE - I TOLD THEM I WANTED TO SEE IT, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THEY HAD TO SEND IT BACK IN ORDER TO GET ANOTHER REPLACEMENT. *NM

Mileage: 18,698

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!

Mileage: 26,000

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!

Mileage: 26,000

BOUGHT CAR IN AUGUST OF 2004, THIS IS THE FOURTH TIME CAR HAS BEEN PUT IN SHOP. CAR WOULD BE STILL RUNNING BUT "ENGINE REDUCE POWER DISPLAYED ON SCREEN", NO GAS WOULD GO TO PEDAL I WOULD HAVE TO COAST TO A SAFE LOCATION. DEALER CLAIMS IT IS THE THROTTLE BODY, EACH TIME THEY SAY THEY HAVE REPAIRED IT BUT THIS IS NUMBER 4. REPLACED A COMPUTER CHIP, FLUSHED OUT THROTTLE BODY COMPONENT, REPLACE CRAKED CRANK SHAFT CASE, HAVEN'T HEARD WHAT NOW THEY ARE REPLACING.

NOTICED A HIGH-PITCHED WHINE COMING FROM REAR AT 50000 MILES. STOPPED BY THE DEALERSHIP, THE SERVICE MANAGER DROVE THE VEHICLE AND STATED IT WAS THE TIRES CAUSING THE NOISE. CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, SOUND BECAME MORE PRONOUNCED. A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED, SO NEEDED TO SERVICE THE CAR. THIS REPAIR WAS UNRELATED TO THE WHINE, AN EMISSION CONTROL VALVE HAD FAILED. WHILE AT THE DEALERSHIP REQUESTED THEY CHECK, AGAIN, THE WHINE FROM THE REAR. WAS NOTIFIED THAT INDEED IT WAS THE DIFFERENTIAL THAT NEEDED REPLACING. HAVE NOT TAKEN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE, BUT AM CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING IT NOW. MUCH CONCERNED ABOUT THE RELIABILITY OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

Mileage: 72,300

LOUD HIGH PITCH HOWLING NOISE HEARD FROM INSIDE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH AND OVER. THE FIRST TRIP TO THE DEALER I WAS TOLD IT WAS A WIND NOISE. THE SECOND TIME AT THE DEALER'S I WAS TOLD IT IS A NORMAL CHARACTERISTIC OF THE 2003 CTS. *AK

Mileage: 7,000

MY VEHICLE DEVELOPED A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL AT 30,000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP FOUND THAT MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS FULL OF METAL AND STATED THAT THE WHOLE DIFFERENTIAL MUST BE REPLACED SINCE THE METAL CHURNING THROUGH THE GEARS RUINS THE WHOLE UNIT. 7,000 MILES LATER THE NOISE RETURNED. THE DEALER AGAIN FOUND METAL IN THE DIFFERENTIAL, BUT THIS TIME CADILLAC TOLD THEM TO SIMPLY PUT SOME SPECIAL LUBRICANT IN IT! ALL THIS, AFTER THEY TOLD ME LAST TIME THAT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM REQUIRES REPLACEMENT, AND NOTHING LESS. I WAS TOLD TO DRIVE MY CAR FOR A FEW WEEKS AND SHOCKINGLY ENOUGH, THE MAGIC LUBE DID NOTHING FOR THE PROBLEM. AFTER READING SEVERAL REPORTS FROM PEOPLE WHO HAD THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL OF THIS CAR SIEZE UP(EVEN CAUSING ACCIDENTS), I APPROACHED THE DEALERSHIP FOR A LOANER. I WAS DENIED A LOANER, AND THE MANAGER HAD THE NERVE TO TELL ME THE NOISE WAS NORMAL. WHY ON EARTH THEY FIXED A "NORMAL" CAR THE FIRST TIME IS BEYOND ME. WHEN I ASKED THEM TO SHOW ME ANOTHER CAR ON THE LOT THAT MAKES THE SAME NOISE, THEY BACKED DOWN. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS ISSUE. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR! *JB

CAR WAS PUT IN REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF PARKING SPACE BUT WENT FORWARD INSTEAD, JUMPED CURB AND HIT LIGHT POLE.*AK

WHEN PULLING FROM A LIGHT THERE WAS A CLUNK NOISE COMING FROM SOMEWHERE ON VEHICLE. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND THE BOLTS FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL WERE LOOSE AND CAUSED A LEAK. *NLM

Mileage: 5,000

THE DIFFERENTIAL IN MY 03 CADILLAC CTS DEVELOPED A SERIOUS LEAK. THE DEFECT REQUIRED (3) TRIPS TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR. THE LAST REPAIR, (APPEARS TO BE THE RIGHT ONE) WAS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE DIFFERENTIAL. THIS TYPE OF DEFECT CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF DIFFERENTIAL FLUID RESULTING IN FAILURE OF THE UNIT AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. I HAVE FOUND THIS LEAK ON SEVERAL OTHER "03" CTS.*JB

Mileage: 17,500

THE ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED AT 600 MILES DUE TO A RATTLING NOISE IN 2ND AND 5TH GEAR. AT 800 MILES THE NOISE REOCCURRED IN THE NEW TRANSMISSION. CADILLAC CLAIMS TO BE WORKING ON A FIX, HOWEVER NO ONE IN THE CADILLAC ORGANIZATION CAN COMMENT ON WHEN THE FIX WILL TAKE PLACE. THE NOISE CONTINUES TO GET WORSE AND CONTINUES TO GET LOUDER.*AK

TRANSMISSION 5TH GEAR KEEPS GOING OUT, ORIGIONAL AND NEW TRANS. HAVE BOTH GONE OUT, ALL WITHIN 200 MILES. GM WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THEY HAVE TOLD ME THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. THEY WANTED ME TO CONTINUE DRIVING IT, BUT I REFUSED AND AFTER COMPLAINING FOR A WEEK I WAS GIVEN A LOANER. THEY DON'T EVEN KNOW IF THERE IS A SAFTY ISSUE OR NOT.