2004 Cadillac CTS

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Transmission & Drivetrain

Transmission & Drivetrain leads by volume: 52 of 229 complaints (23%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Suspension, Wheels & Tires include more deaths (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.

Complaints filed fell from 313 in 2003 to 229 in 2004.

Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 4 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.
Category2003200420052006vs. 2004 Midsize Cars
Annual fuel cost ($)4,1003,300–4,5503,300–4,8503,300–4,550
Combined MPG1917–1916–1917–19
City / Highway MPG16–17 / 2414–17 / 23–2513–16 / 21–2514–16 / 23–25
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)468468–523468–555468–523
Complaints filed313229284272Not compared
Recalls issued4777Not compared
Crash-involved complaints29262523Not compared
Fire-involved complaints12142Not compared
Injuries reported21253113Not compared
Deaths reported0121Not compared
Configurations compared2455

Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.

Common questions

How many recalls does the 2004 Cadillac CTS have?

7 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

What is the most common complaint about the 2004 Cadillac CTS?

Transmission & Drivetrain: 52 of 229 NHTSA complaints (23%) mention it.

What gas mileage does the 2004 Cadillac CTS get?

EPA rates it 17–19 MPG combined across 4 configurations.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2004 Cadillac CTS?

EPA estimates $3,300–$4,550 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

EPA-Rated Configurations (4)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
ConfigurationTransmissionCylindersDisplacementDrivetrainFuel TypeVehicle ClassCityHighwayCombinedAnnual Fuel CostCO₂
Configuration 1Automatic 5-spd63.2LRear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars16 mpg23 mpg (low)19 mpg (high)$4,100468 g/mi (low)
Configuration 2Manual 5-spd63.2LRear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars17 mpg (high)24 mpg19 mpg (high)$4,100468 g/mi (low)
Configuration 3Automatic 5-spd63.6LRear-Wheel DriveRegularMidsize Cars16 mpg25 mpg (high)19 mpg (high)$3,300 (low)468 g/mi (low)
Configuration 4Manual 6-spd85.7LRear-Wheel DrivePremiumMidsize Cars14 mpg (low)23 mpg (low)17 mpg (low)$4,550 (high)523 g/mi (high)

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
CategoryComplaintsCrash-InvolvedFire-InvolvedInjuriesDeaths
Engine170100
Transmission & Drivetrain523030
Fuel System90000
Electrical360010
Brakes506010
Steering161000
Suspension, Wheels & Tires294011
Airbags & Restraints29140160
Driver Assistance & Speed Control114030
Body, Seats & Latches220050
Visibility & Lighting100000
Other51000

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls (7)

  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · Campaign 15V225000 · Apr 15, 2015

    Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 Cadillac CTS-V vehicles manufactured between September 6, 2003, and June 11, 2007, currently registered, or originally sold, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin and the District of Columbia. In the affected vehicles, snow or water containing road salt or other contaminants may corrode the front brake hose fitting at the caliper.

    Consequence: Corrosion may cause the brake system to leak which could lengthen the distance needed to stop the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace both front brake hose assemblies, free of charge. The recall began on May 8, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 15149. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 10V-105.

  • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP · Campaign 14V542000 · Sep 9, 2014

    Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2004-2007 Cadillac CTS-V vehicles manufactured October 6, 2003, to March 15, 2007, and 2006-2007 Cadillac STS-V vehicles manufactured June 23, 2005, to March 15, 2007. In the affected vehicles, the electrical terminals of the fuel pump module may overheat resulting in the melting of the flange material.

    Consequence: If the flange melts, a hole may be created allowing the fuel pump to leak fuel, causing the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. Additionally, leaking fuel in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel module and fuel tank jumper harness, free of charge. GM sent out interim notices in late October. The recall began on March 12, 2015. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14405.

  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION · Campaign 14V394000 · Jul 2, 2014

    Defect: This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured August 16, 2001, to April 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured March 20, 2003, to August 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

    Consequence: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14172.

  • SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS · Campaign 10V105000 · Mar 17, 2010

    Defect: GENERAL MOTORS HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003-2007 CADILLAC CTS VEHICLES CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN OR ORIGINALLY SOLD IN CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WASHINGTON D.C., WEST VIRGINIA AND WISCONSIN. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE FRONT BRAKE HOSE FITTING AT THE CALIPER MAY CORRODE DUE TO SNOW OR WATER, CONTAINING ROAD SALT OR OTHER CONTAMINANTS, ENTERING AND BEING RETAINED IN THE ROUTING SLEEVE. IF THE FITTING CORRODES SIGNIFICANTLY, THE BRAKE HOSE-TUBE INTERFACE MAY DEVELOP A LEAK.

    Consequence: THE BRAKE HOSE-TUBE INTERFACE MAY RUPTURE SUDDENLY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING AND INCREASE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE MAY OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

    Remedy: DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE BOTH FRONT BRAKE HOSE ASSEMBLIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

  • AIR BAGS · Campaign 05V024000 · Jan 31, 2005

    Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, AN INTERACTION BETWEEN THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE AND VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG AND/OR ROOF-MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG TO DEPLOY WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED TO THE "ON" POSITION.

    Consequence: A PERSON POSITIONED FOR DRIVING MAY RECEIVE MINOR INJURIES, SUCH AS ABRASIONS, FROM CONTACT WITH A DEPLOYING AIR BAG.

    Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 20, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.

  • STEERING:LINKAGES · Campaign 04V273000 · Jun 16, 2004

    Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THIS CAMPAIGN, THE LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL STUD NUT/WASHER ASSEMBLIES WITH WASHERS WERE MADE OF THE WRONG MATERIAL. THE WASHERS MAY FRACTURE AND BECOME LOOSE OR FALL AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE, REDUCING CLAMP LOAD. SEPARATION OF THE CONTROL ARM BALL STUD AND STEERING KNUCKLE, DUE TO DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TAPERED ATTACHMENT AND RETAINING NUT, IS POSSIBLE.

    Consequence: IF THE CONTROL ARM SEPARATES FROM THE KNUCKLE, THE AFFECTED CORNER OF THE VEHICLE WILL DROP AND THE CONTROL ARM WOULD BE FORCED DOWNWARD, CONTACTING THE WHEEL. THE AFFECTED WHEEL COULD TILT OUTWARD AND CREATE A DRAGGING ACTION THAT WOULD TEND TO SLOW THE VEHICLE AND CREATE A TENDENCY FOR THE VEHICLE TO TURN IN THE DIRECTION OF THE AFFECTED WHEEL. IN EXTREME SITUATIONS, THE AFFECTED WHEEL ASSEMBLY COULD SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. SEPARATION OF THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY WOULD ALSO SEVER THAT WHEEL;S HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE AND RESULT IN DIMINISHED BRAKING PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

    Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BALL STUD JOINTS AND MEASURE THE TORQUE OF THE NUT FOR ALL FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS IN ALL MODELS AFFECTED AS WELL AS THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON THE XLR AND CORVETTE. IF THE TORQUE IS NOT AT SPECIFICATION, THE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BALL STUD, THE KNUCKLE, AND THE NUT. IF THE TORQUE IS AT SPECIFICATION, THE DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE NUT/WASHER ASSEMBLY ONLY. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON AUGUST 25, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 OR CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.

  • SEATS · Campaign 03V346000 · Sep 29, 2003

    Defect: CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." ONE OR BOTH FRONT ANCHOR TABS FOR THE FRONT BUCKET SEATS ARE NOT ENGAGED IN THE FLOOR PAN REINFORCEMENT SLOTS. A SEAT WITH ONLY ONE TAB ENGAGED OR NEITHER ENGAGED WOULD NOT MEET THE STATIC REARWARD LOADING TEST REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

    Consequence: IN SOME CRASH CONDITIONS, THE SEAT COULD PIVOT REARWARD AND ITS OCCUPANT OR A REAR SEAT OCCUPANT COULD BE INJURED MORE SEVERELY.

    Remedy: DEALERS WILL ENSURE THAT BOTH FRONT ANCHOR TABS ARE FULLY SEATED IN THE FLOOR PAN REINFORCEMENT SLOTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT GM AT 1-800-458-8006.