AI Damage2004 Cadillac XLR: common problems
Owners of the 2004 Cadillac XLR filed 34 complaints with NHTSA, most often about structure and fuel system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 34
- involving a crash
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Structure 32% of all complaints
- 2 Fuel system 15% of all complaints
- 3 Exterior lighting 12% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 12% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 9% of all complaints
- 6 Electronic stability control 9% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel/propulsion system 9% of all complaints
- 8 Visibility 9% of all complaints
- Structure: 11 complaints (32% of all).
- Fuel system: 5 complaints (15% of all).
- Exterior lighting: 4 complaints (12% of all).
- Service brakes: 4 complaints (12% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 3 complaints (9% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 4.6 L · petrol · 8 cyl
- automatic, 5-speed
Drive: RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 34 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Engine | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Tires | 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.
Also, the contact was traveling approximately 40 mph when the stability control warning light illuminated. The contact applied the brakes for a traffic stop and the brakes seized, causing the contact to crash into the passenger's side of another vehicle.
While driving 5 mph, the vehicle accelerated on its own to approximately 55 mph. The contact attempted to engage the brakes, but was unsuccessful. On november 6, 2006, the contact's vehicle crashed into nine parked vehicles. All of the vehicles were damaged. There were no injuries.
The contact pulled over and observed that the retractable fiberglass roof panel had detached from the frame of the vehicle. The contact stated that the headliner, cables, and pulleys used to retract the roof were exposed. The contact was unable to recover the panel.
The roof panel that was only attached with adhesive has detached from the frame of the car. This has also caused the retractable convertible top to stop working. I have read about the roof of many of these cars flying off while driving down the road.
The roof panel then detached and separated from the vehicle. The contact pulled into a service station to get out of the rain. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 113,420.
The contact stated that fuel had begun to leak from the fuel pump without warning. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the failure and informed him that while the motor was running, the fuel would leak from the rear driver's side wheel; the leak would stop once the engine was shut…
There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer regarding the failure; however, it was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
The contact looked up and noticed that the sunroof glass had detached from the vehicle. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and retrieved the sunroof glass. The vehicle was then towed to an auto body shop to be inspected.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 6,426 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 18% most complained about).
On average one model year of the XLR has 13 complaints (6 years in the data). This year has 34, above average.
What to check before buying
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Exterior lighting. Headlamps, leveling, sensors and mounts after a frontal hit.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Cadillac XLR?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: structure, fuel system, exterior lighting. Total complaints: 34. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (18%), headlights and tail lights (15%), smoke, burning smell, fire (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 Cadillac XLR?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2004 Cadillac XLR from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2004 models
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.