Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2006.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008 | 3 | 0 |
| 2007 | 2 | 0 |
| 2006 XLR | 9 | 0 |
| 2005 XLR | 31 | 2 |
| 2004 XLR | 34 | 4 |
| 2003 | 0 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Structure26
- Fuel system, gasoline8
- Exterior lighting8
- Electrical system8
- Power train7
- Fuel/propulsion system7
- Visibility5
- Unknown or other5
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 6 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 13.0–13.3 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | XLR · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 15.7 | 9.6 | 13.0 |
| 2008 | XLR · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 15.7 | 9.6 | 13.0 |
| 2007 | XLR · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 15.7 | 9.6 | 13.0 |
| 2006 | XLR · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 15.7 | 10.1 | 13.2 |
| 2005 | XLR · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 15.9 | 10.2 | 13.3 |
| 2004 | XLR · Two-seater · Regular gasoline | 15.9 | 10.3 | 13.3 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
3 XLR cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the United Kingdom
1 XLR cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 | — |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
New registrations in Europe
4 new Cadillac XLR cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2010 and 2014, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2014 the largest markets were Spain (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 1 | — |
| 2011 | 1 | — |
| 2010 | 2 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Recalls
4 campaigns cover the XLR.
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.
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.
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.
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.
NHTSA recalls