AI DamageCadillac SLS: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Cadillac SLS across 4 model years: 27 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 37% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 22% of all complaints
- 3 Structure 11% of all complaints
- 4 Electronic stability control 7% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 7% of all complaints
- 6 Engine 4% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 4% of all complaints
- 8 Steering 4% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 10 complaints (37% of all).
- Electrical system: 6 complaints (22% of all).
- Structure: 3 complaints (11% of all).
- Electronic stability control: 2 complaints (7% of all).
- Service brakes: 2 complaints (7% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 27 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 2 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
No power steering or brakes, all electrical in the vehicle stops working. The vehicle will start again once stopped, placed in park often having to remove the key and putting it back.
While my wife was driving the car at about 38 miles an hour the car just died or cut out ( the ignition system quit ), on her. This happened on two different times for her and once for myself.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 cadillac sls.the contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the battery warning light illuminated as the vehicle stalled. The contact stated that once he was able to restart the vehicle, the check engine light was still illuminated.
One further note: when the engine cut off today, only * key was in the ignition, so it was * a matter of the switch being "weighed down" by an overloaded key chain. I will take the car to my mechanic on monday and suggest that a new ignition switch be installed.
It was determined by my local cadillac service department that the alternator was faulty, drawing excessive current while the engine was off. I mentioned the recall on this model and they said it had already been replaced so it is not covered.
I have a 2004 cadillac sls that I purchased new in 2004.... The steering column had to be replaced on it approx. A year or so ago but approx. A month ago, we had a heavy rain and I was attempting a right turn into my neighborhood and the steering got real tight and instead of turning right into the right hand lane, I…
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Electronic stability control. ABS/ESC sensors, steering angle, codes after suspension repair.
Other models of this make
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.