Model year record
2003 Cadillac STS recalls & problems
The 2003 Cadillac STS has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 8 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (4 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2003 Cadillac STS.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical systemHorn; 12v/24v/48v battery | 4 | — |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine | 3 | — |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights › Concealment devices | 1 | — |
| SteeringColumn | 1 | — |
| EquipmentElectrical › Radio/tape deck/cd etc. | 1 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Pads | 1 | — |
| SuspensionFront › Springs › Coil springs | 1 | — |
| Service brakes | 1 | — |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 1 | — |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Fuel/propulsion system
THE VEHICLE STALLS SOMETIMES WHEN STANDING AT A LIGHT OR WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS & SOMETIMES INTO A TURN WITHOUT WARNING, THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. *JS
- Service brakes
VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN DRIVEWAY DURING STRONG ELECTRICAL STORM. LIGHTNING APPEARED TO HIT A TREE NEARBY. SIMULTANEOUSLY, SEVERAL DASH WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON AND STAYED ON, INCLUDING ANTI-LOCK BRAKE, TRACTION AND STABILITY CONTROL WARNINGS. CALL WAS MADE TO INSURANCE COMPANY AND VEHICLE TOWED TO CADILLAC DEALERSHIP. SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID CAUSE OF THE WARNING LIGHT WAS A BOLT NEAR WIRE TO ANTI-LOCK BRAKE POWER CONTROL MODULE HAD WORN INSULATION OFF, CAUSING FAILURE OF POWER CONTROL MODULE.IF INDEED LIGHTNING/POWER SURGE DID NOT CAUSE THIS PROBLEM, IMPROPERLY LOCATED BOLT OR DESIGN WOULD SEEM TO BE DEFECTIVE. *TR
- Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springsCrash
CAR SCRAPES FRONT END GOING INTO OR OUT OF DRIVEWAYS EVEN AT SLOW SPEED 1 TO 2 MILES AN HOUR. ALSO HITS CURB PARKING STOPS. MY MECHANIC TOLD ME TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER I PRUCHASED IT FROM AND THE WARRANTY SHOULD COVER IT. THE CAR IS APPROXIMATLY 7-8 INCHES FROM THE GROUND AND THE REAR END IS ABOUT 15-16 INCHES HIGH OFF THE GROUND.
- Electrical system › 12v/24v/48v battery
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS BETWEEN 5 TO 50 MPH THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING, THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED. THE DEALER CORRECTED THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE BATTERY AND CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. UPDATED 02/21/06. *JB
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Pads
ON JUNE 30, 2005, I BROUGHT MY 2003 CADILLAC SEVILLE TO CREST CADILLAC IN SYRACUSE NY COMPLAINING OF BRAKE PULSATION AND RUMBLING. IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT ONE DISK BRAKE PAD HAD COMPLETELY SEPARATED FROM ITS BACKING PLATE, AND A SECOND SET OF PAD AND BACKING PLATE WAS ABOUT TO SEPARATE. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE I THINK IT COMPROMISES THE BRAKING SYSTEM OF THE CAR. THE CAR ONLY HAS 12,350 MILES ON IT.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD STALL. *AK
- Steering › Column
WHILE DRIVING THE BOLT CAME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. *NLM THERE WERE ENGINE PROBLEMS/STALLING, AIR BAG LIGHT HAD COME ON, THE RADIO CUTS ON BY ITSELF, HORN WAS INOPERATIVE, ENGINE LIGHT WOULD COME ON, AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. RECALL #0311500 IN RE: CADILLAC CTS. SCC
- Exterior lighting › Headlights › Concealment devices
THE HEADLIGHT LENSES WERE DIM, WHICH CAUSED LESS LIGHT.*JB
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.