2005 Cadillac XLR Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other XLR years
- Far more complaints than other years 2nd of 6 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 2 recalls: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Cadillac XLR. That ranks 2nd out of 6 XLR model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is structure (13 complaints, 42%), typically at around 79,000 miles. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.
- 31owner complaints
- 2safety recalls
- 1NHTSA investigations
- 0complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 2005 Cadillac XLR problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 13 | 42% | 79,000 | — | — |
| Exterior Lighting | 3 | 10% | 44,750 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 10% | 42,300 | — | — |
| Air Bags | 2 | 6% | 104,443 | — | — |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 6% | — | — | — |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 6% | 69,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 6% | 53,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 2 | 6% | 58,000 | — | — |
| Visibility | 2 | 6% | 116,500 | — | — |
| Electrical System | 1 | 3% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 3% | 53,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 3% | 40,000 | — | — |
| Power Train | 1 | 3% | 74,000 | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 3% | 50 | — | — |
| Steering | 1 | 3% | 53,000 | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
2005 Cadillac XLR recalls (2)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Exterior lighting:turn signal
Problem: On certain passenger vehicles, the daylight running lights (drl), turn signal, and parking lamps use the same bulb. The bulb may become damaged from vibration within a loose fitting socket or air entering the bulb due to an inadequate seal. Both of these conditions will cause the bulb to burn out prematurely.
Risk: If this were to occur, the driver would notice that the arrow in the instrument panel would flash faster than normal when the turn signal is activated. The loss of the drl and turn signals could fail to warn others of the driver's presence or intentions and could lead to a vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the socket and bulb in both lamps free of charge. The recall began on july 31, 2006. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339.
Service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Problem: Certain passenger vehicles were produced with one or both rear brake hydraulic lines that can come in contact with or be affected by heat from the left engine exhaust manifold and the left exhaust pipe. The brake fluid could reach elevated temperatures and boil.
Risk: If the brake fluid boils in a rear brake line, the effectiveness of the rear brake system would be reduced which could result in a brake line leak and loss of brake fluid. If enough fluid leaks from the rear brake system so that brake pedal application can no longer build pressure to the rear brakes. The operator of the vehicle will experience limited braking which could result in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will (1) inspect the left engine exhaust manifold clip for proper alignment and placement on the body-mounted stud. If incorrect, they will reposition the clip on the brake lines and reinstall the clip on the stud; (2) the dealer will verify that both rear brake lines have the proper clearance to the left exhaust pipe. They will reposition the lines by bending as necessary; (3) dealers will remove the machining tab from the rear differential housing. Also, dealers are to inspect the brake lines for wear in these related areas and repair or replace if there is any sign of wear-through on the nylon overcoating. The recall began on january 18, 2005. Owners should contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2239 or chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
NHTSA defect investigations
- Roof Skin Separation While Driving (PE19001) — opened Feb 1, 2019, closed Dec 12, 2019.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Brake were dragging I came to a stop .Checked the parking brake. Then after releasing the parking brake. The car wouldn't move until I pushed the traction control button. Drove 1/2 mile stopped and again the brakes were locked up. Call [XXX] Thanx INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF…
Driving home and the roof came off. Didn't realize what had happened thought the seal was broken
Will Cadillac do a recall on roof coming off as driving? Cost me $759.00 for the roof and $550.00 for the Vera the Cadillac dealer to install the roof And NO RECALL ON A $120,000.00 DOLLAR CAR I'M MAD AS HELL
My 2005 Cadillac XLR Was Being Towed To Vera Cadillac Dealership And The Roof Flew Off The Car [XXX] Why Was This Not A Recall ? Thank You [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
I broke down with a bad shifter cable so I called a tow truck 4 hr later he gets to the car, he puts on the tow truck and takes off for the Vera Cadillac dealer. AND THE ROOF BLUE OFF CAME OFF THE CAR AND BROKE And Cadillac knew they had the problem but NEVER RECALLED THEM NOW WHAT DO I DO ?
Other Cadillac XLR years
See all Cadillac XLR problems by year, every Cadillac model, or the Cadillac VIN decoder.
Similar Cadillac models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Cadillac XLR?
Owners most often report structure, exterior lighting, fuel system, gasoline problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 13 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 2005 Cadillac XLR?
Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 2005 Cadillac XLR a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other XLR model years, the 2005 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.