NHTSA vehicle safety data

2003 Cadillac STS Recalls & Complaints

The 2003 Cadillac STS has no NHTSA recall campaigns and 8 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Cadillac dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2003 Cadillac STS. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2003 Cadillac STS owner complaints

Owners have filed 8 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Cadillac STS, describing incidents dated March 6, 2003 to August 21, 2012.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 3 complaints
Engine 3 complaints
Service Brakes 2 complaints
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 1 complaint
Equipment 1 complaint
Exterior Lighting 1 complaint

Of the 8 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10617211 · Filed July 29, 2014
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
ODI #10473982 · Filed September 5, 2012
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…
ODI #10185374 · Filed March 17, 2007
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…

Read all 8 complaints

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2003 Cadillac STS as of November 3, 2026. New recalls can be issued at any time, so check the specific VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before buying.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2003 Cadillac STS. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

8 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Cadillac STS.

Fuel/Propulsion System

ODI #10617211

Incident: January 13, 2010 · Filed: July 29, 2014

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

Electrical System; Electronic Stability Control (ESC); Service Brakes

ODI #10473982

Incident: August 21, 2012 · Filed: September 5, 2012

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

ODI #10185374

Crash

Incident: January 4, 2007 · Filed: March 17, 2007

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.

Engine and Engine Cooling; Electrical System

ODI #10149199

Incident: January 16, 2006 · Filed: February 1, 2006

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

ODI #10127675

Incident: June 30, 2005 · Filed: July 6, 2005

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

ODI #10044754

Incident: October 27, 2003 · Filed: October 27, 2003

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD STALL. *AK

Steering; Engine and Engine Cooling; Electrical System; Equipment

ODI #10012342

Incident: March 24, 2003 · Filed: March 24, 2003

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

ODI #10011133

Incident: March 6, 2003 · Filed: March 7, 2003

THE HEADLIGHT LENSES WERE DIM, WHICH CAUSED LESS LIGHT.*JB

Other Cadillac STS model years

Check your 2003 Cadillac STS VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Cadillac STS at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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