Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Cadillac SRX owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
This vehicle needs a recall immediately as the issue can result in an accident or death to the driver/ passengers/ other drivers on the road. While driving this vehicle at any speed on both the highway and city streets, it abruptly shifts into another lane while driving straight and does not allow you to press on the brakes or move the steering wheel for a few seconds to gain control of the vehicle. A "service stability system" warning pops up on the screen directly afterwards and a loud warning sound constantly rings through the car until you stop the vehicle and turn it off for a few minutes. Driving the car again repeats the same problem. Research of the issue shows that many owners of this vehicle have the same issue and upon inspection at the mechanic, most are not given a solution. …
I was driving my vehicle once again, and the engine reduced power came up on the screen. This happened once on the freeway driving 70 miles per, the vehicle's speed went down all the way to 20 miles per hour, I had to pull over because it lost power then it shut off. This is very dangerous I could have been seriously hurt or another vehicle could hit me across the freeway. This also happened November 3, 2017, as I was rolling out of the driveway the vehicle cut off in motion. Something is wrong with this vehicle losing power without no notification to the driver until it happens. This needs to be recalled for these 2004 SRX Cadillac vehicles. Also the screens constantly says check stability system, or reduced engine power and traction control. Please this has to be a recall before someone gets killed.
The stability system engages and disengages on its own. I have seen several fourms and reports as to people having the same issue . Happens at least 1 time a day but usually several times a day. When you are driving down the road (which is the only time it physically engages it) the stability system warning like comes on and says to service stability system and the system will engage on it's own. This is extremely dangerous as when this happens the car applys the brakes on it's own and they get alot of vibrations and it pushes the car left or right from the front end , almost got into a wreck and would love for a recall to me published for this because this is a serious safety concern .
Dt: while driving consumer was turning in from an intersection and the power steering pump went out, and vehicle hit a parked car. Power steering failed twice prior to crash. Consumer found out there was a recall, but was not notified of the recall. The car was repaired since crash, but problem recurred. The insurance company and Cadillac said the problem was not the power steering pump. They offered me no investigative report.
System stability issues and it jerks my left rear out of wack when driving my 2004 SRX Cadillac I have small infants and I bought this car from dealership a few months ago and I beleive it is a GM recall according to other sites. I don't know what to do it scares me that I'm gonna lose control every time I drive it because its getting worse and I spent all the money I had saved so my wife could have her Cadillac.
While test driving a new cadilac SRX equipped with automatic all wheel drive, v-8 engine and 20" tires (oversided the reg 18" standard tires and wheels) vehicle steering froze making left hand turn going approx 10-12 MPH....right front tire and wheel . Failed...causing skid into curb....preliminary inspection showed failure of all wheel drive or right wheel lugs/tire failure causing loss of tire/wheel.
Power steering engages on its own and causes problems when I am turning into traffic. There is a problem with the power steering pump that is causing it to turn only when in motion and it is still hard to turn.
I own a 2004 Cadillac SRX with only 75,000 miles on it and the steering gear (rack-in-pinion) has to be replaced now for the 2nd time. The first time it had to be replaced was after the car just went out of warranty with only 57,000 miles on it and Cadillac would not repair it under warranty, only 7,000 miles out of warranty?? How often do you have to replace the steering gear on a bwm, Volvo, Lexus, infinity or even yet a yugo at only 57000 miles? The car has been perfectly maintained, serviced and kept in excellent condition. It was replaced with a brand new steering gear from classic Cadillac. Now only 18 months later and 17000 miles the steering gear has gone bad again. This is a very expensive repair and Cadillac/GM is telling me that the part only comes with only a 12 month, 12000 mile warranty??? This is obviously a defective in the design of your product. …
On several occasions the stability system has engaged on its own, causing my car to brake on its own and swerve and skid to the right and left, brakes shudder and goes from 70 MPH to 30 in a few seconds... It has happened at different speeds in different climate conditions. The message on screen says stability system engaged, then traction engaged, which I have turned off. I brought my car into a dealer after the first experience and they replaced the stability system sensor, at a cost near $600 to me! A couple weeks went by with nothing wrong, we moved across texas and now its happening daily!!! The dealerships don't know what is wrong and 'havent heard any complaints like mine', which I find very hard to believe after reading the complaints listed here and in other blogs/websites!! …
Having just received a full clean bill of health from a ase certified mechanic at plaza tire auto service 1 day before, and having had 1200 dollars of safety and maintenance replacements by the aforementioned business the same day, a very serious engineering design flaw has been found. Without heretofore any warning or symptoms whatsoever, the power steering pump seized (pump had been checked by mechanic and was full and in working order, as were all other equipment requiring fluids). This caused the idler pulley to self destroy the mounting by which it is attached to the northstar engine block. This mounting point, rather than consisting of a wholly separate mounting or timing cover, is in fact part of the cast aluminum engine block itself. This renders the part impossible to fix, and requires the entire engine to be replaced by me!!! …
Related recalls
Steering › Linkages
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.
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.
Steering complaints in other SRX years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2004 Cadillac SRX?
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the steering of the 2004 Cadillac SRX, 12% of the model year's 216 complaints. The component named most often is hydraulic power assist system (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Cadillac SRX steering problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 04V-273 (linkages, Jun 9, 2004). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2004 Cadillac SRX steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 67,000 miles, and 21% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 1 fire and 2 injuries to steering 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.