Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Cadillac XLR
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Cadillac XLR has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 34 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #11E009000 AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06V263000 DRL/TURN SIGNAL/PARKING LAMP BULB NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #05V046000 FMVSS 124/ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V525000 GM/HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #04V273000 GM/LOWER CONTROL ARM BALL NUT/WASHER NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Structure 11 complaints
- Fuel System, Gasoline 5 complaints
- Exterior Lighting 4 complaints
- Electrical System 3 complaints
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 3 complaints
- Fuel/Propulsion System 3 complaints
Of the 34 complaints on file, 2 report a crash (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $18,000–$24,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Cadillac XLR has multiple recalls and reports of component failures, particularly with fuel systems and lighting. These issues, combined with a moderate frequency of owner complaints regarding various vehicle components, suggest reliability concerns.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel pump | 70,000–100,000 miles | $800–$1,500 | common |
| Lighting system | 60,000–90,000 miles | $100–$300 | common |
| Brake lines | 80,000–110,000 miles | $300–$600 | occasional |
| Ball joint | 90,000–120,000 miles | $400–$700 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Replace brake pads and rotors
- Change transmission fluid
- Inspect timing chain for wear
- Flush and replace coolant
- Change oil and filter regularly
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Fuel pump noise or failure
- Unresponsive accelerator pedal
- Burnt-out exterior bulbs
- Soft or failing brakes
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Cadillac XLR at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.