What are the most common problems with the 2004 Cadillac CTS?

The power train group has the most complaints at 52, followed by brakes with 40 and the electrical system with 35. See the problems section above for what owners describe.

Does the 2004 Cadillac CTS have recalls?

Yes. The count is in the by-year facts. The full list is in the Recalls section of this page.

How many complaints does the 2004 Cadillac CTS have?

NHTSA has 229 owner complaints on file. These are unverified reports and are not adjusted for sales.

What is the gas mileage of the 2004 Cadillac CTS?

See the fuel economy section of this page. It is built from EPA data.

Is the 2004 Cadillac CTS reliable?

Owners filed a lot of complaints about the power train, brakes and electrical system. Read the problems section and check the recalls section before you decide.

2004 Cadillac CTS Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 229 owner complaints on file for the 2004 Cadillac CTS^[1]. The power train group is the biggest, with 52 complaints^[2].

229owner complaints^[1]

7recalls^[3]

17–19MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Owners filed complaints across several parts of the car. Here are the groups, biggest first.

Power Train. 52 complaints^[2]. In the stories we read, owners describe a loud hum or whine from the back of the car, rear differential parts that failed or needed replacing, and a violent hopping of the rear wheels when they accelerate hard.
Brakes. 40 complaints^[5]. Owners describe a pedal that sinks to the floor, long stopping distances and repairs that did not cure it. Some say the master cylinder was replaced more than once, and a few say a crash followed.
Electrical System. 35 complaints^[6]. Owners describe sudden power loss to the dash, windows and locks, cars that stall or refuse to start, and a rear seat latch that would not hold a belt.
Air Bags. 26 complaints^[7]. Owners describe air bags that stayed shut in serious crashes. This group links to more crashes than any other here, with 14^[7]. One owner describes a bag that went off when the key was turned.
Suspension. 18 complaints^[8].
Engine. 17 complaints^[9].
Structure. 17 complaints^[10].
Steering. 16 complaints^[11].

These are unverified reports sent to NHTSA, and one complaint can name more than one part.

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2004 CTS is necessarily included.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings (15V225), April 2015. About 4,907 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[12]
Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump (14V542), September 2014. About 10,005 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: fire, a crash, stalling. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Electrical System › Ignition (14V394), July 2014. About 554,328 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings (10V105), March 2010. About 139,131 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]
Air Bags (05V024), January 2005. About 87,000 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[16]
Steering › Linkages (04V273), June 2004. About 41,928 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking, parts separating.^[17]
Seats (03V346), September 2003. About 6,771 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury.^[18]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
CTS, 3.2L 6-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive^[4]	16 / 23 / 19	$4,350
CTS, 3.2L 6-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive^[19]	17 / 24 / 19	$4,350
CTS, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[20]	16 / 25 / 19	$3,550
CTS-V, 5.7L 8-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive^[21]	14 / 23 / 17	$4,850

Safety ratings

NHTSA lists these versions as not rated: 4 DR None^[22].

How 2004 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each CTS model year. The 2004 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
2003	313	4
2004	229	7
2005	284	7
2006	272	7
2007	218	7
2008	175	2
2009	167	5
2010	68	3
2011	108	2
2012	67	2
2013	73	2
2014	146	7
2015	50	4
2016	31	4
2017	27	2
2018	8	2
2019	10	0

NHTSA's counts for the CTS show 229 complaints and 7 recalls for 2004^[3]. Among the 17 model years listed, 13 have fewer complaints than 2004 and 3 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2018 (8) and the most are for 2003 (313)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2004 CTS?

The 2004 CTS has a real record of owner complaints, with 229 on file^[1]. Power train and brakes lead the list, and owners describe problems that affected how safely the car drove^[2]^[5]. The air bag group is smaller, but it has the most crashes attached to it^[7]. Recalls exist for this year too, so check the recalls section on this page^[3]. If you are shopping for one, get the rear end and brakes inspected by a mechanic you trust.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2004 Cadillac CTS?: The power train group has the most complaints at 52^[2], followed by brakes with 40^[5] and the electrical system with 35^[6]. See the problems section above for what owners describe.
Does the 2004 Cadillac CTS have recalls?: Yes. The count is in the by-year facts^[3]. The full list is in the Recalls section of this page.
How many complaints does the 2004 Cadillac CTS have?: NHTSA has 229 owner complaints on file^[1]. These are unverified reports and are not adjusted for sales.
What is the gas mileage of the 2004 Cadillac CTS?: See the fuel economy section of this page. It is built from EPA data.
Is the 2004 Cadillac CTS reliable?: Owners filed a lot of complaints about the power train, brakes and electrical system^[2]^[5]^[6]. Read the problems section and check the recalls section before you decide.

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Cadillac CTS

2004 this page
2005 284 complaints, 7 recalls
2006 272 complaints, 7 recalls
2007 218 complaints, 7 recalls
2008 175 complaints, 2 recalls
2009 167 complaints, 5 recalls
2010 68 complaints, 3 recalls
2011 108 complaints, 2 recalls
2013 73 complaints, 2 recalls
2014 146 complaints, 7 recalls
2015 50 complaints, 4 recalls
2016 31 complaints, 4 recalls

Compare all model years of the Cadillac CTS

All Cadillac models

Similar cars from 2004: midsize cars

2004 Acura RL 11 complaints, 0 recalls
2004 Acura TL 551 complaints, 4 recalls
2004 BMW 5 Series 321 complaints, 6 recalls
2004 Pontiac Grand Prix 454 complaints, 7 recalls

All midsize cars we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 229 owner complaints on file for the 2004 Cadillac CTS (26 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 25 injuries, 1 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
52 complaints name the power train component group (3 crashes, 0 fires, 3 injuries, median mileage at failure 21,827). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Cadillac CTS model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for CTS, 3.2L 6-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 23 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
40 complaints name the brakes component group (4 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 77,177). NHTSA vehicle records
35 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 91,438). NHTSA vehicle records
26 complaints name the air bags component group (14 crashes, 0 fires, 16 injuries, median mileage at failure 41,000). NHTSA vehicle records
18 complaints name the suspension component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 19,572). NHTSA vehicle records
17 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 90,000). NHTSA vehicle records
17 complaints name the structure component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, median mileage at failure 51,750). NHTSA vehicle records
16 complaints name the steering component group (1 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 70,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 15V225, filed April 15, 2015: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines / Piping, And Fittings. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V542, filed September 9, 2014: Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump. NHTSA recall database
Recall 14V394, filed July 2, 2014: Electrical System › Ignition. NHTSA recall database
Recall 10V105, filed March 17, 2010: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines / Piping, And Fittings. NHTSA recall database
Recall 05V024, filed January 20, 2005: Air Bags. NHTSA recall database
Recall 04V273, filed June 9, 2004: Steering › Linkages. NHTSA recall database
Recall 03V346, filed September 29, 2003: Seats. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for CTS, 3.2L 6-cyl, Manual 5-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 17 city / 24 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,350. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for CTS, 3.6L 6-cyl, Automatic 5-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 25 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for CTS-V, 5.7L 8-cyl, Manual 6-spd, Premium, Rear-Wheel Drive: 14 city / 23 highway / 17 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $4,850. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, 4 DR None: not rated. NHTSA vehicle records

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2004 Cadillac CTS: problems, recalls and fuel economy