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2007 Cadillac CTS and CTS-V

69 messages,  Last post on May 07, 2010 at 11:58 AM

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What is this discussion about? Cadillac CTS, Cadillac CTS-V, Sedan

Messages Page 8 of 8

#69 of 69 CTS: Raven Black with a Lemony Flavor by oharamj

May 07, 2010 (11:58 am)

I've been meaning to post my experience with an "04 CTS 3.6l- so here goes
 
Bough 2.5yrs ago as a certified used car from Cad. dealer in Milwaukee. I'm an engineer (exactly the demographic Cadillac are trying to market to - 35yrs old). It was a leap of faith buying a Cadillac but I thought I'd try it - the CTS looks great- mine is black with a regular base leather interior.
 
Here what has been done to it: (out of necessity- it recently hit 100k- so warranty expired)
 
2 Rear ends (complete diff ass'y)- Note last one was put in in Oct last year (when car was serviced recently dealer told me the oil from ass'y was black on one side of diff- so new fluid etc. put in). The car got stuck in grass at side of my driveway during bad snow in Wi in Dec - 2 min.s of trying to get it out- has almost killed the diff. clutch (nothing heroic- gently tried to one wheel onto tarmac) - I understand CTS's have an appetite for diff.s - either a design or Mexico AMM manufacturing problem- but this is a big ticket item.
 
1 Half shaft - drive to axle from diff.
1 new seal- wheel hub (radial shaft seal)
New engine chains & sprockets - complete timing chain replacement
 
Water pump gasket-#1 Coolant leak #1 (Dealer told me it was the gasket - took it to another dealer closer to home because 100k warranty was looming
 
Water Pump gasket#2 - Coolant leak#2 (I've worked in auto. selaing industry for large German company- know that seals/probabilities don't go bad twice in a relatively short space of time) - took it to a Chevy dealer closer to home- turns out the gasket was fine- the cylinder head was leaking
 
1 cylinder head job gasket and water pump- see above
 
AC - two trips to delaer to fix bad gaskets
3 struts in front end ( one set only lasted a year)
2 radios (stopped working)
Leak in trunk
Leak in floor well - driver's side - 2 trips to resolve
Broken Vent switch, loose trim, peeling paint m ball joints, starting disabled because of sftware issue , bushings.....................etc
 
this is just what I can remember- there is no room in glove box for the encylopedia of invoices generated by dealer to fix problems- and I have no idea what was done to it by prior owner. (note each line item represents trip to dealer.
 
At 103k - the transmission / radiator closed loop cooling failer - send trans. fluid to red. and coolant to trans. - cost $4300 to fix. When car was picked up at dealer a few weeks ago- I'm told it developed a brake assist problem right there in the servicing bay and needs a new sensor- and the thermostat is lazy- all happened at dealer.
 
I had the car serviced at a Cadillac dealer religuously ( being an engineer I can appreciate maintenance) and also paid the $500 shoe and rotor regrind without complaint when the economy was in the toliet and the dealer was obviously balancing the books.
 
GM- with a serious push put 25% toward parts in the transmission fiasco- and more or less stated you are on your own- which is a major disappointment to say the least. I believe the official line was - " there are too many miles on the car and it's an 2004" - all of which is true- but the car was 3k over it's warranty (with what is a design fault), with a meticulously maintained car..............
 
GM have a lot of catching up to do quality wise.... I've driven the new CTS - and on the surface like it's earlier sibling- everything looks in order- but I can't take the risk again with this brand.
 
I don't believe in Lemons - systems failure happen because of just that- but all these items I've dealt with are isolated systems- which means exceptionally poor quality.- plain and simple I'm afraid.

Messages Page 8 of 8

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