Is the 2004 Cadillac CTS a bad year?
224 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 52, 5.2× a quiet CTS year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 7k–52k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2004 CTS owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 22,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 52 (23%) | 7k–52k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Suspension | 16 (7%) | 8k–61k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Fuel system | 9 (4%) | 20k–103k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 38 (17%) | 47k–101k miles · ahead | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Electrical system | 34 (15%) | 57k–122k miles · ahead | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 26 (12%) | 47k–117k miles · ahead | — |
| Body structure | 17 (8%) | 25k–99k miles · ahead | — |
| Steering | 14 (6%) | 52k–102k miles · ahead | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Engine | 12 (5%) | 62k–103k miles · ahead | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Speed control | 11 (5%) | 26k–86k miles · ahead | — |
| Exterior lighting | 7 (3%) | 56k–90k miles · ahead | — |
| Stability control | 6 (3%) | 57k–110k miles · ahead | — |
| Wheels | 8 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 6 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 22,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 224 complaints: 25 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 21 report an injury · 3 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Sep 2024.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
The differential was fine up until the time of casing failure. On a rainy night, the car exhibited a bit of wheel hop inherent on that car with a small amount of throttle.
Wheel hop or axle tramp caused the rear to lose traction and the stability track and traction control failed to correct the problem.
Premature rear differential failure. Apx 5000 miles prior to failure the differential began to whine and during turns, the differential would grind horribly.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 22,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2004 Cadillac CTS: 6
In the affected vehicles, the electrical terminals of the fuel pump module may overheat resulting in the melting of the flange material. 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.
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. 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. 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.
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… The brake hose-tube interface may rupture suddenly without prior warning and increase vehicle stopping distance may occur increasing the risk of a crash.
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. A person positioned for driving may receive minor injuries, such as abrasions, from contact with a deploying air bag.
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. 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.
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. In some crash conditions, the seat could pivot rearward and its occupant or a rear seat occupant could be injured more severely.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Cadillac: 144
Repair instructions Cadillac sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2004 Cadillac CTS. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Proper way to install the pistons in an engine
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Rear drivetrain component failure
Failure of the rear differential
Neighbouring years
2003 CTS: 313 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine · 2005 CTS: 277 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Cadillac CTS year
2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · All CTS years side by side
Other Cadillac models: Cadillac ATS · Cadillac DTS · Cadillac Deville · Cadillac Escalade · Cadillac Escalade ESV · Cadillac Lyriq · Cadillac SRX · Cadillac STS · Cadillac Seville · Cadillac XT5 · Cadillac XTS. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2004 Cadillac CTS a bad year?
224 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 52, 5.2× a quiet CTS year. At 22,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 7k–52k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Cadillac CTS?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (52), suspension (16), fuel system (9), brakes (38), electrical system (34). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 7k–52k miles.
How many recalls does the 2004 Cadillac CTS have?
6 recall campaigns list this model year: Fuel system (NHTSA 14V-542), Electrical system (NHTSA 14V-394), Brakes (NHTSA 10V-105), Air bags (NHTSA 05V-024) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.