2005 Cadillac Srx

Routine

Owners filed 122 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the electrical system. It has been recalled 3 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k

99 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 60,00075,000 miles; the median is 75,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Electrical System16
030
Engine14
000
Electronic Stability Control (esc)13
111
Steering11
100
Engine and Engine Cooling7
000
Air Bags7
607
Unknown or Other6
001
Visibility › Sun/Moon Roof Assembly5
009
Service Brakes5
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine5
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Electrical System › Ignition14V394000
Filed Jul 2, 2014554,328 vehiclesGeneral Motors Llc

Defect. This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured August 16, 2001, to April 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured March 20, 2003, to August 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Risk. If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14172.

Power Train › Axle Assembly › Axle Shaft › Seal07V589000
Filed Dec 20, 2007275,936 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR AXLE PINION SEAL DOES NOT MEET ALL OF THE SPECIFICATIONS AND MAY EXPERIENCE A FLUID LEAK.

Risk. A REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILURE MAY CAUSE LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER AND POSSIBLY LOSS OF CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PINION SEAL FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 1, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006 OR HTTP://WWW.CADILLAC.COM; PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668 OR HTTP://WWW.PONTIAC.COM; AND SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR HTTP://WWW.SATURN.COM.

Suspension › Rear06V125000
Filed Apr 20, 200623,077 vehiclesGeneral Motors Corp.

Defect. CERTAIN VEHICLES HAVE A LEFT OR RIGHT REAR SUSPENSION TOE LINK THAT COULD SEPARATE BECAUSE OF AN INCORRECT WELD.

Risk. IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR, THE AFFECTED REAR WHEEL WOULD BE ABLE TO TURN IN OR OUT, AFFECTING VEHICLE CONTROL, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE RIGHT AND LEFT TOE LINK AND REPLACE AS REQUIRED. IF A TOE LINK IS REPLACED, THE DEALER WILL PERFORM A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Power Train
Filed Feb 21, 2026KY

When I start the car and place it into reverse (from its parking spot) and let it idle backwards about 12-18 ft, it abruptly comes to a halt and makes a hard thump noise. If I then shift it into drive and allow it to idle forward, it will barely idle upto about 6-8 feet. I am hearing a plethora of different things and have not been able to drive it since October, 2025. I need help, please.

Electrical System
Filed Oct 22, 2022CA

Brought car to shop and after 3 months trying to figure out problem gave up. I towed it to dealership and after another month finally said car proved to be a mystery but extensive damage due to water leakin the rear shorting out entertainment module.

Unknown or Other
Filed Mar 17, 2022MI

I noticed this car has several recalls that were never corrected on my vehicle.

Air Bags
Filed Sep 23, 2020200,000 milesFL

WHEN IT RAINS WATER LEAKS FROM THE TOP OF THE VEHICLE AND LEAKS INSIDE THE CAR THROUGH A PLASTIC PIECE THAT SAYS AIR BAG AND IN THE REAR WATER LEAKS IN AND FILLS UP WHERE THE JACK IS LOCATED AND I'M AFRAID THAT THE AIRBAG WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY WITH THE WATER LEAKING INTO IT WHEN IT RAINS OR I GO THROUGH THE CAR WASH. ALSO THE REAR AXLE MOUNT IS BROKE AND IT CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO MAKE A LOT OF NOISE AND I'M HOPING THE REAR END DOESN'T COME OFF WHILE I'M DRIVING BECAUSE IT WILL DEFINITELY CAUSE A WRECK.

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 12, 2020147,000 milesFL

TIMING CHAIN LEAKING OIL. STATIONARY SAW OIL IN DRIVEWAY NOISE IN FRONT WHILE DRIVING TURNED OUT TO BE 2 STRUTS NEED REPLACEMENT

Unknown or Other
Filed Jan 21, 2020150,000 milesND

REAR TRUNK DON'T LOCK

Service Brakes
Filed Dec 10, 2019182,000 milesIL

MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN ONTO MY WORK PARKING LOT, APPLIED BRAKES TO PULL INTO MY PARKING SPACE AND I HEARD A TERRIBLE GRINDING/SHUDDERING NOISE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. I DIDN'T THINK I WAS GOING TO BE ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT HITTING THE CONCRETE WALL. THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED AND THEN I SAW THE "SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM" APPEAR ON THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER. SINCE I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED I LOOKED THIS UP AND IT APPEARS THIS "SHOULD" HAVE BEEN CONSIDERED AS A RECALL GM NEEDS TO MAKE BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY HURT OR KILLED.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Sep 23, 2019135,000 milesMA

AT RANDOM TIMES, WHILE ACCELERATING THE TRACTION ENGAGE MESSAGE WILL APPEAR AND THE CAR WILL NOT ACCELERATE FOR 2--3 SECONDS. VERY DANGEROUS. THE LAST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS WHEN I WAS TRYING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN IN A BUSY INTERSECTION.

Engine
Filed Jul 9, 2019160,000 milesTX

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC SRX. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AFTER A COMPLETE STOP, A LOUD VIBRATION/RUMBLE EMITTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO COVERT CADILLAC BUICK GMC (11750 RESEARCH BLVD, AUSTIN, TX 78759, (512) 583-3000), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

Electrical System
Filed May 1, 2019FL

THE CAR HAS A REAR LEAK THAT BUILDS UP IN THE TRUCK AND HOLDS WATER THERE WHERE THE JACK IS LOCATED WHICH IS NOW STUCK TO THE CARPET AND LOTS OF MOVEMENT IN THE REAR END OF THIS VEHICLE IS DEFECTIVE AND NEED TO HAVE A RECALL ON BOTH OF THESE ISSUES ALONG WITH THE REAR TRUNK NOT LOCKING OR REAR WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING AT ALL AND COULD BE FROM THE WATER LEAKING INTO IT FROM THE REAR SOMEWHERE THAT NEEDS A RECALL ON.

Electrical System
Filed Dec 19, 201884,000 milesCA

LEFT FRONT TURN SIGNAL KEEPS GOING OUT. 5 TIMES SINCE OWNING THE CAR. REPAIR COSTS TO CHANGE BULB $250. HAPPENS WITH OUT WARNING. CADILLAC HAS NO FIX FOR PROBLEM. NEED TO BE A RECALL, AND SOLUTION TO PROBLEM. HAPPEN WHEN CAR IS IN MOTION, WHEN TURN SIGNAL IS USED.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 10, 2018152,000 milesOH

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2005 CADILLAC SRX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND CRASHED HEAD ON INTO AN ONCOMING SEMI TRUCK. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE FRONT END WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT IMMEDIATELY DEPLOY. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED MOMENTS AFTER THE COLLISION OCCURRED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED FACIAL LACERATIONS AND CONTUSIONS ALONG WITH CONTUSIONS AND ABRASIONS TO THE ARMS, LEGS, AND TORSO. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,000.

Engine
Filed Oct 4, 2018125,000 milesNE

'TAKATA RECALL' WHEN I WAS DRIVING MY DASH, STEREO AND LIGHTS STARTED TO FLICKER AND ALL THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WERE NOT WORKING. THEN. I TRIED CHANGING LANES ON THE INTERSTATE TO EXIT BUT LOST POWER STEERING. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS AT THOSE HIGH SPEED!. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF BEFORE MY CAR COMPLETELY DIED.. IT TOOK A WHILE FOR IT TO TURN BACK ON BUT ONCE IT DID THE CAR WAS NOT WORKING PROPERLY, SUCH AS THE TEMP AND GAS GAUGE, TRACTION CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING AND LIGHT WAS LIT ON DASH. POWER STEERING WASN'T WORKING, AND THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHIFTING WEIRD. I TOOK IT IN TO THE GM DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE 'ECM THAT WENT BAD' AND IT WASN'T COMMUNICATING WITH THE REST OF THE VEHICLE PROPERLY. IT WAS ABOUT 900$ IN TOTAL WITH THE TOWING AND 'DIAGNOSE AND FIX'. IT WAS FIXED BUT EXACTLY 6 MONTHS LATER IT HAPPENED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING, I HAD TO PULL OVER. WENT BACK AND HAD TO PAY LIKE 400$ MORE TO GET IT 'FIXED' AGAIN AND THAT ONLY LASTED 1 MONTH. SO NOW WE TOOK IT TO THE CADILLAC DEALERSHIP AND THEY LOOKED AT IT AND COUKDNT TELL ME WHY IT WAS HAPPING OTHER THEN THEY THINK IT WAS THE 'ECM REPLACEMENT THAT WERE BAD'. SO NOW I WILL HAVE TO PAY 950$ FOR THAT STEALERSHIP FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND TO REPLACE THE ECM. WITH THEM THEY SAID THEY HAD A LIFETIME WARRANTY ON PARTS AND LABOR WITH IS WHY WE WENT THERE. BUT STILL ALL THAT MONEY PAID FOR A DEFAULT OF CADILLAC. THEY NEED TO RECALL IT.

Suspension › RearCrash3 injured
Filed Sep 17, 2018WA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND AN INTERMITTENT FAILURE REGARDING THE REAR SUSPENSION. IN ADDITION, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWAYED BACK AND FORTH. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL FAILED, WHICH CAUSED DIFFICULTY WHEN TURNING THE VEHICLE IN EITHER DIRECTION AT LOW OR HIGH SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SWAYED IN BOTH DIRECTIONS. AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE SPUN OUT OF CONTROL ACROSS FOUR LANES OF TRAFFIC AND CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY, NECK AND BACK PAINS, AND HEADACHES. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A SPRAINED LEFT THUMB, AND NECK AND BACK PAINS. THE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED BACK AND MUSCLE PAINS, AND FEET INJURIES. ALL THE OCCUPANTS RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BY THE POLICE TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Catalytic Convertor
Filed Apr 12, 2018108,000 milesMO

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CADILLAC SRX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED AND WAS UNABLE TO ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Mar 29, 2018142,347 milesAZ

WHILE DRIVING OUR 2005 CADILLAC SRX A SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM ERROR MESSAGE APPEAR ON CONSOLE DISPLAY SCREEN ALONG WITH TC AND ABS LIGHT COMING ON THE DASH. VEHICLE'S BRAKE SYSTEM BEGINS TO WORK ON ITS OWN FOR NO APPARENT REASON (NO ICE, SNOW, RAIN OR GRAVEL). VEHICLE NEEDS TO COME TO A COMPETE STOP, SOMETIMES SHUT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY DOWN AND RESTART TO GET THE TC AND ABS LIGHT TO GO OUT ON THE DASH. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS. NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE HELPFUL?

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Mar 18, 2018550,000 milesFL

SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM CODE COMES ON REAR WHEELS LOCK UP AFTER MAKING LOUD GRINDING NOISE, FIRST TIME I HAD IT TOWED TO DALE EARNHARDT CADILLAC DEALERSHIP THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG. IT NOW DOES IT WHEN I TURN RT OR WHEN DRIVING STRAIGHT.

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Mar 13, 2018135,000 milesGA

TURNING RIGHT OR LEFT OCCASIONALLY ''' SERVICE STABILITY SYSTEM '' WARNING COMES UP...STABILIZING ENGAGE CAUSING VEHICLE TO COME TO GRINDING STOP.........THIS HAPPENS WHILE VEHICLE IS MOVING.....'''STARTING ENABLED'' ''REMOVE KEY'' COMES ON ....CANNOT REMOVE KEY IMMEDIATELY ...MUST JUNGLE KEY SEVERAL TIMES THEN REMOVE IT... THIS HAPPENS BEFORE VEHICLE IS STARTED.... ON CITY STREETS....

Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Filed Dec 3, 2017185,000 milesFL

STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM ENGAGES DURING NORMAL DRIVING AND DRY, LEVEL, LOW-SPEED CONDITIONS SUCH AS PULLING ONTO HIGHWAY FROM A STOP. THIS HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES, IN EACH INSTANCE STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP TO MAKE A TURN. WHEN THE SYSTEM ENGAGES THE DRIVER HAS LITERALLY NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE - BRAKES ENGAGE ABS WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT, ENGINE POWER IS SUDDENLY REDUCED, AND VEHICLE IS BROUGHT TO AN IMMEDIATE CRAWL AND THEN STOP, UNTIL IT DISENGAGES. THUS FAR I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH THAT THIS HAS NOT OCCURRED WHERE ANY ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAS POSED A THREAT OF COLLISION, BUT THE POTENTIAL FOR A MAJOR ACCIDENT IS OBVIOUS. RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ONLINE INDICATES THAT IT IS NOT AN UNCOMMON EXPERIENCE WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND REPORTED DEALER RESPONSES ARE NOT ENCOURAGING. AN ELECTRONIC SAFETY SYSTEM SHOULD BY DEFINITION NOT BE A LETHAL THREAT; THERE APPEARS TO BE NO PROTECTION AGAINST A HARDWARE/FIRMWARE FAILURE MODE CAUSING UNWARRANTED AND WHOLLY UNPREDICTABLE DEPLOYMENT OF THE SYSTEM WITH VERY HIGH RISK OF CAUSING COMPLETE LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT I READ DOZENS AND DOZENS OF REPORTS OF THIS ISSUE WITHOUT THERE HAVING BEEN A RECALL? I GRANT THAT MY VEHICLE HAS 185K MILES...BUT COMPETENT ENGINEERS KNOW HOW TO DESIGN S/W THAT WOULD DISABLE THE STABILITY CONTROL IF ANY FAULT IS DETECTED, IE STEERING POSITION SENSOR, YAW SENSOR, ECM. IT'S STAGGERING TO IMAGINE THAT A FEW LINES OF CODE COULDN'T BE ADDED DOING JUST THAT, INSTEAD OF ALLOWING THE SYSTEM T

Steering
Filed Nov 3, 201780,000 milesMA

MY 05 CADILLAC SRX HAVE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE IN THE FRAME WHERE AS A METAL PICE ON LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT HAVE ROTTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH. I HAVE PICTURES OF THE PROBLEM. I NEED SOMEONE TO HELP ME BECAUSE NO CAR SHOULD HAVE THIS PROBLE WITH ONLY 80 THOUSAND MILES ON IT. HOW CAN I SEND THE PICTURE TO.

20 of 122 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2010
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20191000Routine
2016168213Do not drive
2015442430Do not drive
2014390220Do not drive
2013393550Do not drive
2012416342Do not drive
2011446710Do not drive
2010474650Do not drive
200927000Routine
200847010Routine
200752110Routine
200668320Routine
2005 — this page122340Routine
2004216720Above average

Compare every Srx year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jul 2, 2014. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.