Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Cadillac SRX owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
When I start the car and place it into reverse (from its parking spot) and let it idle backwards about 12-18 ft, it abruptly comes to a halt and makes a hard thump noise. If I then shift it into drive and allow it to idle forward, it will barely idle upto about 6-8 feet. I am hearing a plethora of different things and have not been able to drive it since October, 2025. I need help, please.
brought car to shop and after 3 months trying to figure out problem gave up. I towed it to dealership and after another month finally said car proved to be a mystery but extensive damage due to water leakin the rear shorting out entertainment module.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Cadillac SRX. While the vehicle was preparing to stop at a stop sign, the vehicle began to sputter into traffic and all the warning lights illuminated. The engine stalled and smoke appeared. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the positive cable wire failed and needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact also mentioned that the parts to repair the failure were on back order. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
My wife was backing out of the drive way when she saw smoke coming off the cracks of the drivers side in the front of the vehicle. The hood was closed and had lots of black smoke gushing out of the cracks and it smelled like burning plastic. I tried starting the vehicle and to my surprise the vehicle started but most of the electronic controls were showing errors in the dash. I was able to drive it carefully to the nearest Cadillac dealer (lavery auto) in alliance, oh. When I stopped the car I was unable to take off the keys from the ignition because the security system also had an error. They diagnosed the problem and found that the electrical system in the ac compressor had caught fire and also melted the wiring. This had also destroyed the computer ECM of the vehicle. They repaired it and I brought the SRX back home in the evening of 10/14/11 and parked it in my drive way. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Cadillac SRX. While driving at 35 MPH, the traction light illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle restarted, but lost acceleration and the stability light illuminated. The contact merged to the side of the road. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the connection wire from the computer to the accelerator pedal was not connected and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 108,295.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 MPH, the heater was activated and there was an abnormal noise. The contact also stated that there was a burning odor emitting from the vents and the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.
Turning right or left occasionally ''' service stability system '' warning comes up...stabilizing engage causing vehicle to come to grinding stop.........this happens while vehicle is moving.....'''starting enabled'' ''remove key'' comes on ....cannot remove key immediately ...must jungle key several times then remove it... This happens before vehicle is started.... On city streets....
Car rapidly speed up at full and little time after that heard loud noise in back as driving .today took to mechanic and didn't even get power starting up and then speed up again at full stop and started smoking to. Said power steering went out thought it was that got almost home problem still occurred so did some research and found this recall .
Driver door latch stays in the open position, preventing the door from latching closed. After sitting for a while, over night or a few days, door will latch closed again. This is a interment problem. Concerned will occur while driving as it appears to be effected by the electric lock system. Checked on web several others have had this problem also.
Do you really believe placing 2 plastic caps on a key solves this ignition recall? The recall is for the ignition switch! I took the car in today and this is how they addressed the issue. This was a complete waste of my time and I am no more safer now than before I went in.
Related recalls
Electrical system › Ignition
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.
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.
Electrical complaints in other SRX years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2005 Cadillac SRX?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the electrical system of the 2005 Cadillac SRX, 18% of the model year's 122 complaints. The component named most often is ignition › switch (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Cadillac SRX electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 14V-394 (ignition, Jul 2, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2005 Cadillac SRX electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 84,000 miles, and 20% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 3 fires and 0 injuries to electrical system 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.