Vehicle Data Hub

2004 Cadillac XLR problems

Owners have filed 45 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Cadillac XLR. Body & structure is the most reported problem area, at 24% of complaints. After that come fuel system (18%) and brakes (9%).

At a glance

Complaints
45 filed with NHTSA
Most reported
Body & structure 24% of complaints
Crashes and fires
5 and 0
Injuries and deaths
0 and 0
Typical mileage
45,000 miles 38 complaints with mileage

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

Where the complaints are

Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.

  • Body & structure 24%
  • Fuel system 18%
  • Brakes 9%
  • Lighting 9%
  • Electrical system 7%
  • Stability control 7%
  • Wipers, windshield & visibility 7%
  • Cruise control 4%
  • Drivetrain & axles 4%
  • Engine 2%

When problems show up

Complaints by mileage, 2004 Cadillac XLR Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 45,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 9 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 5 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 10 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 5 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 2 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 7 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 0 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 0 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 0 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 0 complaints 200k+ miles: 0 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 45,000 miles
Based on 38 complaints that include mileage. 63% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles9
20k to 40k miles5
40k to 60k miles10
60k to 80k miles5
80k to 100k miles2
100k to 120k miles7
120k to 140k miles0
140k to 160k miles0
160k to 180k miles0
180k to 200k miles0
200k+ miles0

What the data shows

Among the 38 complaints that report mileage, the typical (median) problem appeared at about 45,000 miles.

Safety-related details: 5 complaints mention a crash.

It is also covered by 4 safety recall campaigns.

What owners wrote

A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.

Tl*the contact owns a 2004 cadillac xlr. 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 vehicle was towed to the dealer and was in the repair shop from november 6, 2006 to february 23, 2007. The contact called onstar over 50 times due to the failure.

Reported at 10,500 miles, November 2006 Crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2004 cadillac xlr. The contact stated that the steering wheel would emit an abnormal noise when turned in either direction. 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. The ABS traction control warning light also illuminated after the failure occurred.

Reported at 110,000 miles, November 2013 Crash

I bought this used vehicle on the date shown above at the "incident date". I don't know when the actual problem began on this car, but it was probably years earlier. The safety problem is that the lenses of both right and left driving/parking/directional lamps have apparently been heat affected...the plastic lenses have begun to melt. The lamps are part of the headlight cluster.

Reported at 76,474 miles, April 2013

The contact owns a 2004 Cadillac XLR. The contact stated there were strong fumes coming from the vehicle. The contact parked his vehicle in the garage and then leave it partially cracked due to the fumes. The contact changed the gas cap; however, the fumes continues. 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.

Reported at 70,000 miles, July 2022

Other model years of the XLR

  • 2009
  • 2008
  • 2007
  • 2006
  • 2005
  • 2004