KnownCarProblems2004 Cadillac Xlr Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Cadillac Xlr, most often about the body and structure (32% of complaints, typically around 42,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Xlr model year since 2000 and has 4 recalls.
Most common 2004 Cadillac Xlr problems
Body and structure
11 complaints · 32%Half of these problems showed up before 42,000 miles. Parts named most often: body.
Several Xlr owners have reported that their roof panel has separated and flown off the car at highway speeds. My top began emitting a whistling noise at highway speeds. When inspecting it, the center front of the top has begun to separate. These tops were apparently only glued as the only securement. Not mechanical…
When driving I noticed a severe whistling sound coming from just above the rear view mirror. Upon inspecting, I noticed that the roof panel had a 8' section that had separated. When googled, I saw several people had reported that their Xlr's had a roof panel separate while driving. I immediately took it to a body shop…
Fuel system
8 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 39,000 miles. Parts named most often: storage, delivery.
2004 Cadillac Xlr strong fuel smell after filling up gas tank. Mechanic said there is a leak in the crossover tubes leading to the fuel tank.
I purchased a 2004 Xlr in 2019 from an agent in fl. I immediately or with-in 200 miles I began to receive messages on my dash! First it was traction control that applied the brakes and caused the car to vet violently to the left as soon as I hit 65 miles an hour. Then the check gas cap followed by check engine lights…
Lights
4 complaints · 12%Parts named most often: headlights.
I bought this used vehicle on the date shown above at the "incident date". I don't know when the actual problem began on this car, but it was probably years earlier. The safety problem is that the lenses of both right and left driving/parking/directional lamps have apparently been heat affected...the plastic lenses…
The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac Xlr. The contact smelled a burning odor around the turn signal and informed an authorized dealer and the manufacturer. The dealer diagnosed that the socket was melting and the plastic housing was warped. The failures were related to NHTSA recall campaign 06v263000 exterior lighting…
Brakes
3 complaints · 9%Tl contact owns a 2004 Cadillac Xlr. While driving 5 MPH, the vehicle accelerated on its own to approximately 55 MPH. The contact attempted to engage the brakes, but was unsuccessful. On november 6, 2006, the contact's vehicle crashed into nine parked vehicles. All of the vehicles were damaged. There were no injuries.…
The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac Xlr. The contact stated that the steering wheel would emit an abnormal noise when turned in either direction. Also, the contact was traveling approximately 40 MPH when the stability control warning light illuminated. The contact applied the brakes for a traffic stop and the brakes…
Electrical
3 complaints · 9%Tl contact owns a 2004 Cadillac Xlr. While driving 5 MPH, the vehicle accelerated on its own to approximately 55 MPH. The contact attempted to engage the brakes, but was unsuccessful. On november 6, 2006, the contact's vehicle crashed into nine parked vehicles. All of the vehicles were damaged. There were no injuries.…
Parked in a parking lot & placed it in park. Upon returning I started the car & placed it in drive. I took foot off brake & car moved rearward. Put car in neutral & car moved rearward. I tried all gears including park & car moved rearward, turned car off. Car would not restart because it was not in park. Because car…
Stability control
3 complaints · 9%I would like to second the complaint below regarding my 2004 Cadillac Xlr. I am also experiencing the same problems described below. Make : Cadillac model : Xlr year : 2004 manufacturer : general motors corp. Crash : no fire : no number of injuries: 0 odi id number : 10342498 number of deaths: 0 date of failure: july…
My 2004 Cadillac Xlr applied the front left brake only and illuminated the stability control light causing a brief and severe swerve for about 1 second. I pulled over and shut the car off and restarted. Everything was fine for about 4 months when it did it again, luckily no one in my path of travel. Most recently it…
Visibility and wipers
3 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: sun/moon roof assembly.
The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac Xlr. The contact stated that the headlight lenses became frosted and caused the color to change. The dealer inspected the vehicle and was unable to determine what caused the lenses to change color. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN…
The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac Xlr. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, there was an abnormally loud whistling sound coming inside the vehicle. The contact looked up and noticed that the sunroof glass had detached from the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and retrieved the sunroof glass.…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Cadillac Xlr recalls
Lights: turn signal
Risk: If this were to occur, the driver would notice that the arrow in the instrument panel would flash faster than normal when the turn signal is activated. The loss of the drl and turn signals could fail to warn others of the driver's presence or intentions and could lead to a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the socket and bulb in both lamps free of charge. The recall began on july 31, 2006. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, the daylight running lights (drl), turn signal, and parking lamps use the same bulb. The bulb may become damaged from vibration within a loose fitting socket or air entering the bulb due to an inadequate seal. Both of these conditions will cause the bulb to burn out prematurely.
Speed control: accelerator pedal
Risk: If this were to occur, greater brake pedal force and a longer distance may be required to stop the vehicle.
Fix: Dealers will replace the accelerator pedal assembly. This recall began on march 8, 2005. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339 or pontiac at 1-800-620-7668.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 124, 'accelerator control systems.' if one of the two accelerator pedal return springs fails and the temperature is -22 degrees f to -40 degrees f, the engine may not return to idle within three seconds, as required.
Brakes: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Risk: If the brake fluid boils in a rear brake line, the effectiveness of the rear brake system would be reduced which could result in a brake line leak and loss of brake fluid. If enough fluid leaks from the rear brake system so that brake pedal application can no longer build pressure to the rear brakes. The operator of the vehicle will experience limited braking which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will (1) inspect the left engine exhaust manifold clip for proper alignment and placement on the body-mounted stud. If incorrect, they will reposition the clip on the brake lines and reinstall the clip on the stud; (2) the dealer will verify that both rear brake lines have the proper clearance to the left exhaust pipe. They will reposition the lines by bending as necessary; (3) dealers will remove the machining tab from the rear differential housing. Also, dealers are to inspect the brake lines for wear in these related areas and repair or replace if there is any sign of wear-through o
Full defect summary
Certain passenger vehicles were produced with one or both rear brake hydraulic lines that can come in contact with or be affected by heat from the left engine exhaust manifold and the left exhaust pipe. The brake fluid could reach elevated temperatures and boil.
Steering: linkages
Risk: If the control arm separates from the knuckle, the affected corner of the vehicle will drop and the control arm would be forced downward, contacting the wheel. The affected wheel could tilt outward and create a dragging action that would tend to slow the vehicle and create a tendency for the vehicle to turn in the direction of the affected wheel. In extreme situations, the affected wheel assembly could separate from the vehicle. Separation of the wheel assembly would also sever that wheel;s hydraulic brake hose and result in diminished braking performance of the vehicle, which could result in
Fix: Dealers will inspect the ball stud joints and measure the torque of the nut for all front lower control arms in all models affected as well as the rear lower control arms on the xlr and corvette. If the torque is not at specification, the dealers will replace the ball stud, the knuckle, and the nut. If the torque is at specification, the dealers will replace the nut/washer assembly only. The recall will begin on august 25, 2004. Owners should contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339 or chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles involved in this campaign, the lower control arm ball stud nut/washer assemblies with washers were made of the wrong material. The washers may fracture and become loose or fall away from the vehicle, reducing clamp load. Separation of the control arm ball stud and steering knuckle, due to disengagement of the tapered attachment and retaining nut, is possible.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Roof skin separation while driving
Summary
On august 23rd, 2018 - the office of defects investigation (odi) received a media inquiry pertaining to a motorist experiencing separation of the roof skin from their cadillac xlr while driving.based on the data in-hand at that time and a subsequent (december) consumer complaint, odi opened pe19-001 on february 1, 2019 to evaluate the scope of this condition in the 2004 - 2005 xlr population.the subject vehicle model is a two-seat roadster equipped with an electrically powered retractable roof system. The outer roof skin is a sheet molded composite (smc) which is adhered to the magnesium alloy roof frame.odi's february 7, 2019 information request (ir) letter to general motors (gm) covered th
Questions about the 2004 Cadillac Xlr
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Cadillac Xlr?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: body and structure (11 complaints, typically around 42,000 miles); fuel system (8 complaints, typically around 39,000 miles); lights (4 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Cadillac Xlr have?
- 4 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from July 19, 2006 (lights). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Cadillac Xlr?
- It is the most complained-about Xlr model year since 2000, with 34 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.
Other Cadillac Xlr years
- 2004
- 2005