Body complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 3 | 2% | 60,000 miles |
| 2015 | 7 | 2% | 48,000 miles |
| 2014 | 5 | 1% | 60,000 miles |
| 2013 | 9 | 2% | 30,000 miles |
| 2012 | 19 | 5% | 60,000 miles |
| 2011 | 26 | 6% | 50,000 miles |
| 2010 | 24 | 5% | 50,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 4% | 41,000 miles |
| 2008 | 6 | 13% | 9,000 miles |
| 2007 | 5 | 10% | 98,000 miles |
| 2006 | 2 | 3% | 65,000 miles |
| 2005 | 4 | 3% | 110,000 miles |
| 2004 | 11 | 5% | 88,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2016 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, she could not see out of the rear window. Upon inspection, the contact discovered that condensation had accumulated on the inside of the rear window. The contact also discovered that he was unable to open the rear hatch from the outside and had to use a screwdriver to open the hatch. Once opened, he discovered that the spare tire and rear side compartments were all filled with water. The rear hatch module was also submerged in water which led to the hatch failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was given a case number. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 21,000.
Vehicle Body Exterior Paint Coating Peeling I am reporting widespread paint delamination/clear coat failure on my 2016 Cadillac SRX. The paint began peeling and flaking across multiple panels including the hood, roof, and additional body panels. The vehicle has been well maintained and has never been in an accident. A Cadillac dealership inspected the vehicle in February 2026, photographed the damage, and confirmed paint delamination affecting multiple panels. A case was opened with Cadillac/General Motors Customer Assistance and escalated to the Executive Office. Despite dealership confirmation and escalation to a District Manager, General Motors declined to provide meaningful repair assistance and only offered approximately $350 toward spot repair, which does not address the widespread failure. …
The trunk which operates by key fob only is no longer remaining open as it should. Instead the trunk will immediately upon opening begin to lower as very quickly. Once the automatic lowering hits the half way point, it will quickly close shut. This a liftgate issue/failure that has great potential to cause extreme harm to someone placing or retrieving items from the trunk; harm that has the potential to be fatal. This is the 2nd major safety issue that I've reported to GM (Cadillac) and no accountability has been taken. I've been told that they are aware of this issue (and the other) as they have been reported by other owners; however, they will love to offer money off if I purchased a new vehicle with them. This is absurd.
I am filing a formal complaint with Cadillac and the NTSB about the design of the 2015 Cadillac SRX sunroof drains and rear hatch. The issue is that the rear sunroof drains get clogged and water fills the rear compartment and destroys the rear hatch electronics. Further, there is no manual release on the rear hatch which creates a safety hazard as there is no access to the spare tire. The repairs are estimated at $3,091.09 as shown on the attached quote and diagnostic receipt.
1. Since owning the 2014 SRX the headlights are so dim to the point of not being able to use the vehicle at night or storms for fear of a crash. Now the Driver side HID Has failed along with the headlights housing to be cloudy on the inside. 2.Rear Door Hatch malfunction. Will not open or close with door switch , key fob or button on rear hatch door. I can open manually and close manually however this is a HUGE inconvenience as the rear door is so heavy. I've been told by the service department that it's a design flaw from Cadillac Sunroof drain?
The rear hatch door of my SRX has been not functioning properly. It opens and closes with erratic function. Regularly I've hit the button to open it and it has begun to close on me with shear force trying to crush my body while loading groceries. It has hit me in the head and the back causing pain. This is very dangerous because it isn't falling suddenly its closing with force. If I try to push it back up it pushes against my weight. I want to sell my car but I'm worried it will hurt someone.
Valentine day a car side swiped me on the 91 freeway my car went out of control but I was able to get control of the vehicle driver side got banged up from the back bumper all the way to the driver side front fender.
Moon roof drainage system is poorly designed. Drainage hose runs alongside moon roof then inside car to the rear tailgate area, directly over lift gate fuse and module. On numerous occasions it has backed up, leaked into left rear (driver's side) floor causing carpet to get wet. It tends to leak in rear tailgate area over the fuse panel and lift gate module shorting out the power or automatic tailgate feature. This has been an issue for the same problem more than once, including replacing the fuses and lift gate module. This problem is the same whether the car is stationary or moving. Other methods have been suggested and tried to eliminate wetness and odor from windows open, damp rid, even wet/dry vacuum. Now that my car is out of warranty, the repair bill is mine to settle for a known chronic problem and poor design.
Frequently asked questions
Which Cadillac SRX years have body problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2011 (26), 2010 (24), 2012 (19), 2004 (11) and 2013 (9) model years. Body complaints make up 6% of all complaints for the 2011.
Is there a recall for Cadillac SRX body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for any Cadillac SRX model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Cadillac SRX body problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 56,000 miles; 46% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the body (75 mentions), followed by the body › hatchback/liftgate (12).
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.