2004 Cadillac SRX: problems, recalls and reliability
7 recalls and 216 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is electronic stability control (esc) (14% of complaints); the 2005 and 2006 model years look more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jul 2014
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 216 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle stalled, and the power steering and power brakes were inoperative. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The contact researched and became aware of an unknown recall related to the failure; however, the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was taken back to the residence, and a dealer was contacted. The contact was informed that the electronic stability control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”Owner report · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · Feb 2026
“2004 Cadillac SRX had emissions recall work completed in 2008. Since that time GM and Cadillac have had numerous recalls in subsequent model years with the same issue. Emissions problems have reoccurred. The problem is actually not being fixed if it keeps reoccurring. This affects the air we breathe. Vehicle has been inspected.”Owner report · Engine · Jul 2023
“The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac SRX. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle the check engine warning light would remain illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the fuel system was faulty, a yaw sensor was faulty, and a battery sensor was faulty. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 156,000.”Owner report · Engine · Apr 2022
Show 7 more owner reports
“While sitting at a friend's house on a hill my brakes went completely out once I hit them they went to the floor and we eended up hitting a tree stump that saved us from going off a steep cliff to possibly hurting each and everyone of us in the car.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jan 2022
“While driving down the road the sunroof detached causing me to have to grab it to stop from flying off while going 75mph down the highway. And then hold it on while I operated the vehicle to a safer place to duck tape it back down. This caused the sunroof to obviously not operate properly any longer as well obviously...”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Oct 2021
“Ran out of gas after putting gas in the car tried to start it and the ignition got stuck and continued to try to start on its own I had to pull the back to the off position I tried to start it again and it would not start and the lights on the dash And the radio control center did not come on. And car will not even try to start before this the car had been cutting off while driving down the road for no reason and it kept showing a check stability control warning and low tire pressure even though tires were not low at all”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Jun 2021
“This car has a panoramic sun roof. The entire roof of the car is glass. As I was driving on the highway the entire sunroof (the glass panels, the tracks, the sunroof motors, the rack) completely flew off and the entire assembly almost hit another car behind it. . I guess the wind got under it and ripped the sunroof from the car. The sunroof was closed. Upon further inspection I come to find out that the panoramic roof is installed and secured with only glue. There are no bolts that secure the roof to the car. The glue must've been getting old and allowed the wind to tear the rest of it apart.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jan 2021
“I was driving and the vehicle just cut off on me every thing locked up even the brakes I couldn't stop so I chunked the gear in park to avoid from smashing into anyone I was so afraid but it crank right up after but I noticed the temperature gauge and the gas gauge was no longer working..”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Jul 2020
“My car was sitting in the driveway when I started to drive off the car jerked a little then I applied the break. Still in the driveway,I tried to continue on but noticed the car wouldn't move. Ahad it placed on a code reader,p2122,accelerator position sensor circuit d low .replaced pedal,still the same thing. *tr”Owner report · Electrical System · Jun 2020
“Vehicle has been making a loud clicking sound when I'm stopped and take off took to my local mechanic and was diagnosed as the transfer case slipping! I have to small children I drive daily and have read this is a ongoing issue with these vehicles”Owner report · Power Train · Feb 2020
When filing, owners marked a crash in 16 of these complaints and injuries in 17 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 7 campaigns
CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." ONE OR BOTH FRONT ANCHOR TABS FOR THE FRONT BUCKET SEATS ARE NOT ENGAGED IN THE FLOOR PAN REINFORCEMENT SLOTS. A SEAT WITH ONLY ONE TAB ENGAGED OR NEITHER ENGAGED WOULD NOT MEET THE STATIC REARWARD LOADING TEST REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL ENSURE THAT BOTH FRONT ANCHOR TABS ARE FULLY SEATED IN THE FLOOR PAN REINFORCEMENT SLOTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT GM AT 1-800-458-8006.
GM IS RECALLING 17,301 MY 2004 CADILLAC SRX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER CAN BE MOVED FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION "ON" AND WITHOUT THE OPERATOR DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL OR, IN SOME CASES, THE SHIFTER CAN BE MOVED FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION TURNED OFF.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PAWL STOPPER AND A BUSHING WITHIN THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 3, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-982-2339 OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE, THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MAY IMPROPERLY TEMPORARILY ISOLATE THE DRIVER FROM THE FOUNDATION BRAKE SYSTEM FOR A MAXIMUM OF 1.25 SECONDS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ABS TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM CONTROLLER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MAY 10, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.
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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
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.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, AN INTERACTION BETWEEN THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE AND VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG AND/OR ROOF-MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG TO DEPLOY WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED TO THE "ON" POSITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 20, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.
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.
Remedy: 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.
How other years compare
Check your exact SRX by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Cadillac SRX reliable?
NHTSA has 216 owner complaints and 7 recall campaigns on record for the 2004 Cadillac SRX. The most complained-about area is electronic stability control (esc) (14% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2004 Cadillac SRX problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 70,000 miles or less.
Does the 2004 Cadillac SRX have open recalls?
7 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning seats. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.