What breaks most · 2004 to 2009 model years
Cadillac XLR problems by year
Owners have filed 59 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Cadillac XLR across model years 2004 to 2009. Three years stand out: 2005 for body and structure complaints, 2004 for body and structure complaints and 2006 for electrical system complaints. The quietest years are 2007.
- Years to check closely: 2005, 2004, 2006
- Fewest complaints: 2007
- Complaints on file
- 592004 to 2009, all trims
- Worst year
- 200524 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 31 fires · 0 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 46kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 12Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 23 | 2 | 5 | Body and structure (5) | |
| 24 | 0 | 3 | Body and structure (8) | |
| 7 | 0 | 1 | Electrical system (2) | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | Body and structure (1) | |
| 3 | 1 | 1 | Powertrain and transmission (1) | |
| 1 | 0 | 1 | Electrical system (1) |
What fails on the 2005 Cadillac XLR
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Body and structureDoors, latches and body hardware | 33% |
8 | 0 | Shop body and structure parts for the 2005 Cadillac XLR |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights, tail lights and bulbs | 13% |
3 | 0 | Shop exterior lighting parts for the 2005 Cadillac XLR |
| Fuel systemFuel pumps and injectors | 13% |
3 | 0 | Shop fuel system parts for the 2005 Cadillac XLR |
| Unknown or other | 8% |
2 | 0 | — |
| Air bags | 8% |
2 | 0 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| Fuel systemFuel pumps and injectors | 8% |
2 | 0 | Shop fuel system parts for the 2005 Cadillac XLR |
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 4% |
1 | 0 | Shop steering parts for the 2005 Cadillac XLR |
| BrakesBrake pads, rotors and calipers | 4% |
1 | 0 | Shop brakes parts for the 2005 Cadillac XLR |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
Convertible top has separated from the frame. Did not come completely off, but cannot drive car with top up (closed) as it will most likely detach at highway speeds.
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The retractable roof flew off while the car was moving. GM offered no assistance with this and denied any negligence. Case #8-2866250293
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 30, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Cadillac XLR years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2005, 2004, 2006 carry the most filings on the Cadillac XLR. The 2005 alone has 24 complaints, led by body and structure.
What is the most common Cadillac XLR problem?
On the 2005 model year, the most-reported component is body and structure with 8 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Cadillac XLR problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Cadillac XLR complaints that include mileage is about 46,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.