2003 Cadillac CTS Air Bags Problems

NHTSA component category: AIR BAGS · data through 07/12/2026

30Air Bags complaints

9.6%Of all 313 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How air bags ranks on this vehicle

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM48 · 15.3%

AIR BAGS30 · 9.6%

ENGINE29 · 9.3%

STEERING22 · 7%

SERVICE BRAKES21 · 6.7%

Share of the 313 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2003 Cadillac CTS overview page.

What owners report

“I AM AND HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING NUMEROUS FAILURES WITH MY VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED GM NUMEROUS TIMES BEGINNING APPROXIMATELY A FEW MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED…”NHTSA complaint 10197185 — filed 07/23/2007

“: THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED; ALONG WITH THE 'SERVICE AIR BAG' MESSAGE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL…”NHTSA complaint 10161634 — filed 07/06/2006

“AIRBAG DEFECT ON GOING FOR 2 YEARS. I HAVE BEEN TAKING THIS CAR TO THE DEALER OVER AND OVER AND NO ONE CAN SEEM TO…”NHTSA complaint 10100208 — filed 11/19/2004

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Air Bags complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Cadillac CTS have air bags problems?

Air Bags is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 2003 Cadillac CTS: 30 of 313 complaints on file (9.6%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2003 Cadillac CTS have in total?

313 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 29 involved a crash, 12 involved a fire, 21 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's air bags category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the AIR BAGS category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.