Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2004 Cadillac SRX, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electronic stability control (esc)43
- Electrical system36
- Power train34
- Steering25
- Engine and engine cooling20
- Vehicle speed control17
- Service brakes16
- Unknown or other15
- Engine15
- Visibility14
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 17 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 11 2004 SRX vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 8 people died inside them, and 5 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2004 Cadillac SRX failed the safety check 1.25% of the time — 43% less often than the average 2004 passenger car (2.21%). Median odometer at inspection: 115,928 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In Finland
8 of these cars first registered in 2004 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 223,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 13.8–15.6 L/100 km (about 15–17 mpg US), CO₂ 317–359 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRX · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 16.1 | 11.0 | 13.8 |
| SRX AWD · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 16.5 | 11.4 | 14.2 |
| SRX · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 17.7 | 12.6 | 15.4 |
| SRX AWD · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 18.0 | 12.7 | 15.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
7 Transport Canada recalls for the 2004 Cadillac SRX.
| 2014273 2 Jul 2014 | Electrical On certain vehicles, there is a risk that some drivers may bump the ignition key with their knee and unintentionally move the key from out of the "run" position… |
| 2008373 10 Oct 2008 | Other On certain vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission, the transmission shift lever can be moved from the PARK position with the ignition ON and without t… |
| 2005034 15 Feb 2005 | Other Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 124 - Accelerator Control Systems. The Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) accelerator pedal assemb… |
| 2005015 21 Jan 2005 | Airbag On certain CTS, CTS-V and SRX vehicles, an interaction between the Sensing and Diagnostic Module (SDM) and the vehicle electrical system may cause the driver's … |
| 2004206 7 Jun 2004 | Suspension Certain vehicles were produced with lower control arm ball stud nut/washer assemblies with washers made of the wrong steel material. The washers may fracture a… |
| 2004118 1 Apr 2004 | Brakes On certain vehicles equipped with All-Wheel Drive, the Antilock Brake System (ABS) may temporarily isolate the driver from the foundation brake system for a max… |
| 2003228 18 Sept 2003 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles, one or both front anchor tabs for the front seats may not be engaged in the floor pan reinforcement slots. In a vehicle crash, the seat(s)… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Cadillac told its dealers about the 2004 Cadillac SRX: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 631799 | INFORMATION ON 5L40E AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS. *SLC *AR |
| 11009156 | This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update. |
| 11007744 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature. |
| 11007743 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature. |
| 11007208 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about changing the tire and wheel size on vehicles. General Motors will only support a tire calibration for tires that have been sized, tested and designed for the vehicle in question and its applications. Technician should not use the information that is provided by the antilock braking system tire size selection. |
| 11006621 | Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers. |
| 11006421 | GM is receiving damaged (cracked or broken) transmission cores returned to the reman facilities. The damage is being caused either in the removal process by the technician, or inadequate packaging or shipping. This bulletin advises the dealers to be more careful not to damage the transmissions during removal and to package the core properly for return. |
| 11004761 | This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up. |
| 11004557 | This bulletin provides information for use on a Product Assistance Claim (PAC), which is formerly known as a Product Allegation Resolution (PAR) claim. |
| 11002312 | This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Service Programming System (SPS) Error Codes E4398, E4399, E4401, E4403, M4404, M4413, M6954, M6955, E4414, E4423, E4491, E4492, or E6961 and resolution information. |
| 11000576 | This Warranty Administration bulletin provides retail and wholesale service personnel with the policies/procedures and the warranty transaction submission procedures that support the Personal Property Damage process. |
| 10254209 | Magnetically Controlled Suspension Electrical Connector Not Seated. |
| 10252735 | This bulletin provides information for electrical ground repairs using new General Motors replacement fasteners with conductive finish. |
| 10252163 | XM Audio Traffic And Travel Link Availability And Operation. |
| 10251890 | This technical bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce carbon build-up. |
| 10250775 | This service bulletin provides service information to technicians on guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system. |
| 10249980 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vibration complaints that are one of the most challenging complaints to accurately diagnose and repair. Technician will need to use Pico Oscilloscope Diagnostic Kit to effectively diagnosis vehicles. Technician should drive the vehicle will using the Pico Oscilloscope to record data. After the data is recorded it should be reviewed to determine the root cause of the concern. If a repair attempt made the concern better but not eliminated or had no affect at all, and are requesting assistance from General Mot |
| 10249590 | This bulletin provides information for use on a Product Assistance Claim (PAC), which is formerly known as a Product Allegation Resolution (PAR) claim. |
| 10249579 | This PI bulletin advises the technician on the proper way to install the pistons in an engine. |
| 10249011 | This informational bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Headlamp, Tail Lamp, License Lamp or Fog/Driving Lamp Damage. |
| 10248444 | Vehicle Recalls |
| 10247780 | This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature. |
| 10247715 | Terminal Test Probe And Replacement Terminal. |
| 10247681 | Information On Requests To Add OnStar Bluetooth Option. |
| 10247552 | This service bulletin provides information on Concerns or Questions Regarding Installation of Dealer Installed Accessories. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SUNROOF GLASS FAILURE
SUN ROOF GLASS FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation