Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Cadillac CTS owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
Driving down a highway w/ brand new sumitomo tires for rear purchased on 1/10/15, the rear right tire blew causing me to loose control sending me into the guardrail then spun out into the highway landing horizontal across all lanes of traffic with my trunk end in the hov lane. I was then struct by a box truck, spinning me back around and totaling the vehicle. The sidewalls to the tire we still attached to the rim and the tread face had detached.
My 2003 Cadillac CTS caught on fire. Fireman said that it was the windshield wiper module that caught on fire. The car was parked for hours and fire started while we was sleeping. The whole engine is burnt up and the car is totaled. Now I have no car and no money to get another car.
My car has been garaged kept for 13 years, only came out in the summer and weekends. The last 2 years I have been using it as a daily driver.. In 2012 my mechanic noticed a lot of corrosion on my chasis rails, I notified Cadillac, they sent me to the dealer to inspect my complaint and offered me 3,000 off a new vehicle. 2 weeks ago I went for an oil change and my mechanic noticed how worse the got. I called Cadillac and they told me the corrosion warranty was over. My Cadillac only has 113,000 miles, now that I noticed how bad they got I will not put my family in the car.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that the frame underneath the front driver seat was rusted out, causing holes. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was informed that the failure was due to the age of the vehicle and that there was no remedy available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 86,000.
Tl contact owns a 2003 Cadillac CTS. On numerous occasions, the trunk would slam down on its own. The trunk slammed down on the contact's head and back on several occasions. She also stated that the trunk was difficult to lift. The dealer informed her that the failure was common among that year, make, and model vehicle. The dealer stated that they would replace the component, but the contact had to pay the labor fees. The purchase date was unknown. The current mileage was 41,990 and failure mileage was 38,000. Updated 3/4/08 the consumer was told the lift supports were defective. Updated
Tl contact owns a 2003 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated whenever the vehicle was not started for a few days it would only start with a jump start. The vehicle was taken to the dealer at least three times who stated the battery caused the failure to occur. A brand new battery was installed but the vehicle would not start. The contact also stated that the trunk was too heavy to stay in the up position each time she opened it. The trunk had fallen onto her head but there were no injuries. The manufacturer stated that there were no recalls and offered no assistance. The failure mileage was 90,100.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Cadillac CTS. While driving approximately 60 to 70 MPH, the rear license plate cover fractured from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the rear light module was replaced with a new, improved module. The back up lamps and the rear finish panel was also replaced with a safer panel. The manufacturer advised that the failure was not considered a safety hazard and would not provide any assistance. The contact believed the failure to be a manufacturing defect. The failure mileage was 50,556 and the current mileage was 50,700.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Cadillac CTS. The contact stated that the rear tag panel detached from the vehicle, as a result water sip in and damage the wiring of the brake lamps. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that the adhesive that was used to hold the panel was defective as a result it needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance and referred her to NHTSA. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 85,000 and current mileage was 95,000.
Dashboard went out intermittently. Consumer took vehicle to dealer and repairs were made. However, the problem kept coming back. On one occasion the consumer had to have the vehicle towed for uncontrolled acceleration. Dashboard problems and vehicle has died 3 times. Enclosed here with the customer claim form for details and the towed truck report and service documents from car dealer.
Body complaints in other CTS years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2003 Cadillac CTS?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the body & structure of the 2003 Cadillac CTS, 7% of the model year's 313 complaints. The component named most often is body (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Cadillac CTS body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2003 Cadillac CTS, though it has 4 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Cadillac CTS body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 70,000 miles, and 24% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 2 fires and 2 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.