2004 Cadillac SRX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

324 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2004 Cadillac SRX, alongside 7 recall campaigns and 2 defect investigations. It scores 58/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Other leads the reports, typically around 75,662 miles.

324Complaints
58/100Trouble index
7Recalls
70,188Typical trouble mileage

Below average

Where 2004 sits among all SRX years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Other 73 complaints (23%) · typically ~75,662 miles
“Service theft system came on one day and it wont give me the key back i have to take it out manualy also wont read miles, temperature, fuel and sometimes while on the road it will die completely, it reads service theft system and service stability”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 SRX
Electrical 44 complaints (14%) · typically ~62,334 miles
“Ignition switch problems described in 2014 recall, but vin is not listed in the recall. Engine shuts off while driving down the freeway.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 SRX
Engine 35 complaints (11%) · typically ~72,500 miles
“Exhaust pipe so hot after driving that it burned my knee when brushed against it taking items out of rear storage area. 2004 srx cadillac”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 SRX
Transmission & drivetrain 34 complaints (10%) · typically ~84,450 miles
“Vehicle has been making a loud clicking sound when i'm stopped and take off took to my local mechanic and was diagnosed as the transfer case slipping! I have to small children i drive daily and have read this is a ongoing issue with these vehicles”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 SRX
Brakes & stability 30 complaints (9%) · typically ~83,000 miles
“2004 srx stability sys ready comes on and the steering pulls left or right abs light , brake light , comes on no one seems to know what it is or what to do help”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 SRX
Steering 27 complaints (8%) · typically ~63,500 miles
“Power steering engages on its own and causes problems when i am turning into traffic. There is a problem with the power steering pump that is causing it to turn only when in motion and it is still hard to turn.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2004 SRX

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 250 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 70,188 miles. Half of those reports fall between 38,000 and 108,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (7)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14V394000 2014

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring.…

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014.…

POWER TRAIN 08V527000 2008

GM IS RECALLING 17,301 MY 2004 CADILLAC SRX VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A CONDITION IN WHICH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER CAN BE MOVED FROM THE "PARK" POSITION WITH THE IGNITION "ON" AND WITHOUT THE OPERATOR…

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PAWL STOPPER AND A BUSHING WITHIN THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 3, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-982-2339 OR THROUGH THEIR…

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 05V046000 2005

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,…

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY. THIS RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 8, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

AIR BAGS 05V024000 2005

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, AN INTERACTION BETWEEN THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE AND VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MAY CAUSE THE DRIVER'S FRONTAL AIR BAG AND/OR ROOF-MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIR BAG TO DEPLOY WHEN THE IGNITION KEY IS TURNED TO THE "ON"…

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 20, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.

STEERING 04V273000 2004

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.…

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BALL STUD JOINTS AND MEASURE THE TORQUE OF THE NUT FOR ALL FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS IN ALL MODELS AFFECTED AS WELL AS THE REAR LOWER CONTROL ARMS ON THE XLR AND CORVETTE. IF…

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 04V151000 2004

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ALL WHEEL DRIVE, THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MAY IMPROPERLY TEMPORARILY ISOLATE THE DRIVER FROM THE FOUNDATION BRAKE SYSTEM FOR A MAXIMUM OF 1.25 SECONDS.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE ABS TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM CONTROLLER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MAY 10, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339.

SEATS 03V346000 2003

CERTAIN PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 207, "SEATING SYSTEMS." ONE OR BOTH FRONT ANCHOR TABS FOR THE FRONT BUCKET SEATS ARE NOT ENGAGED IN THE FLOOR PAN REINFORCEMENT…

Fix: DEALERS WILL ENSURE THAT BOTH FRONT ANCHOR TABS ARE FULLY SEATED IN THE FLOOR PAN REINFORCEMENT SLOTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 19, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT GM AT 1-800-458-8006.

Federal defect investigations

SUNROOF GLASS FAILURE EA06001 opened 2006, closed 2006
SUN ROOF GLASS FAILURE PE05052 opened 2005, closed 2006

Technical service bulletins

622 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2004 Cadillac SRX. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2004 SRX TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2003peak 50 in 20102026

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2004 Cadillac SRX reliable?

The 2004 Cadillac SRX drew 324 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 58/100, scored against the model's worst year (2010).

What are the most common 2004 Cadillac SRX problems?

The top reported problems for the 2004 Cadillac SRX are other (73 complaints), electrical (44), and engine (35).

At what mileage do 2004 Cadillac SRX problems show up?

Owners most often report 2004 Cadillac SRX problems around 70,188 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 38,000 and 108,000 miles.

Does the 2004 Cadillac SRX have recalls?

7 recall campaigns apply to the 2004 Cadillac SRX. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

All SRX years 2005 SRX →
Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.