2004 Cadillac CTS 3.6 liter
Summary:
Get rid of it before the warranty is up; until then, enjoy!
Faults:
Tie rod let go of the driver side wheel (WHILE DRIVING), passenger side was nearly broken, so I had both replaced at the same time.
Was egged one night and the paint shattered where it was hit. This never happened with other vehicles I have owned.
Sunroof seems to have a mind of its own; it opens and closes without warning. I am waiting to be in the car wash when that happens next. The control has been replaced once already, and it hasn't leaked yet.
Selects its own user on occasion; I am user 1, and it will switch to my wife's settings (user 2). Give the driver side door a little love tap and it resets itself.
The brakes squeal like a banshee. The dealer says they are all steel and that it's natural. Caddis that squeal? Really?
General Comments:
I live in Canada, and it snows here. In the winter, the car is virtually useless (yes, I have snow tires). It takes great patience to get the car moving from a stop. Even though it has a 'snow' setting, it doesn't help, and the wheels just spin. Traction control is constantly coming on, and by the time I get to work, all I can smell is burning. Unless you have a good running start, forget about hills. Between the slipping, traction control and stability system, you may not make it up.
When it is first turned on, the revs run upto around 2,000 rpm. It takes several minutes (at idle) to come back down. It takes a couple full seconds to get into gear also.
It whines under low power. Someone asked my what was wrong with it. Its just the sound they make (right?)
BUT it does heat up quickly, and has great heated seats. You can program the thermostat to auto control the temp in the car (hot or cold).
The walnut and leather trimmed controls are very nice, and in the summer time it handles superbly. Its fast, it can corner and stop in a short distance too. Hit the gas and it makes a great roar, which impresses everyone.
It's comfortable, has a great stereo, lots of surprising features to make you happy, and mostly, it is a badass looking car.
The dealer is glad to look at anything you see them about; they treat me very nice, but when labour is a min. $80 per hour, they had better.
I love my CTS, but when the wheels fell off it, my total trust in it faded a bit.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No
Review Date: 25th November, 2008
21st Feb 2011, 10:38
My water pump blew, lots of coolant smoke from the engine compartment. That was the cheapest thing I have ever replaced on this junker.
The same week, my heater has stopped working on the driver's side, only the passenger side of the car gets warm air, at least the heated seats still work. For now.
When it is really cold outside, I get all of the warning lights and messages telling me that the Brake Assist, ABS, and Stability Control systems (all at the same time) need service. During heavy rains, the Air Bag warning light come on, saying that this system also needs service.
I can't wait to get rid of this hunk of crap.
22nd Dec 2011, 19:05
"So I took it to the Cadillac dealership to fix it, they called a hour later, because he didn't want to do it, the whole front end of the car has to come off so he can get at the bulbs. They didn't want to do it because it was such a pain in the ass. Great design GM..."
This is the best thing I have read in years! Really? I thought the whole reason GM did this kind of thing is to force you to take it to the dealer! And they don't want to do it? Get real.
3rd Sep 2010, 17:42
My CTS turn signals went out; turns out that the bulb harness had melted, and thus I have no turn signals. I tried to change the bulbs myself, but after several attempts, I couldn't get all of the plastic covering off to get at the bulbs.
So I took it to the Cadillac dealership to fix it, they called a hour later, because he didn't want to do it, the whole front end of the car has to come off so he can get at the bulbs. They didn't want to do it because it was such a pain in the ass. Great design GM..
The computer switches from user 1 or 2 to this 3rd setting, which locks out the windows, and refuses to go back to anything else. You have to turn the car off and start all over again.
Squeaky cheap plastic armrest, I HATE SQUEAKY PLASTIC! Cadillac should be ashamed of themselves. There is also a plastic on plastic vibration near the dash that I can't find. So I just turn the radio up louder..
The power steering blew, found out from the river of oil flowing down the driveway.
Oh, and if you don't check the oil frequently, it will run out. I don't know how many times I have gone for an oil change, and the mechanics give me heck because there isn't any oil in it. So obviously the 'low oil' warning system, surprisingly, doesn't work.