Major Problems with Cadillac XLR Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used Cadillac XLR to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

Cadillac XLR complaint overview

63 recorded complaints across model years
Years covered 2004–2009
Most recorded categories BODY (12), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (7), FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (7)
Highest recorded count 25 in 2005, 2004

Complaint counts are reports, not confirmed defect rates. Older model years have had more time to accumulate reports, and sales volume and reporting coverage differ by year. A higher count does not by itself make a year the least reliable, and these figures are not a failure probability.

Compare two model years

Year A Year B

Problem category

Cadillac XLR FlawScore

Best and Worst Years for Cadillac XLR

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of Cadillac XLR.

Model Year	Complaints
2009 XLR	1
2008 XLR	3
2007 XLR	2
2006 XLR	7
2005 XLR	25
2004 XLR	25

Worst 3 Cadillac XLR complaints

2006 Cadillac XLR POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

2008 Cadillac XLR ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL Mileage: 19786 miles

2005 Cadillac XLR SERVICE BRAKES Mileage: 53000 miles

Browse Cadillac XLR complaints by category

Problems with BODY, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Cadillac XLR owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
BODY > STRUCTURE automatic trunk mechanism would lift the trunk but immediately settle back to the closed and locked position. it nearly caught	12 ~ 66197 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM when car is stationary in our garage the gasoline vapors are way too strong! literally can knock you over as...	7 ~ 47029 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM opened car with key fob but it would not start. upon pressing the start button the dash readout stated 'no...	7 ~ 17685 miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING tl*the contact owns a 2008 cadillac xlr. the contact stated that a portion of the brake lights would no longer...	6 ~ 43496 miles
POWER TRAIN when car is stationary in our garage the gasoline vapors are way too strong! literally can knock you over as...	5 ~ 51212 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE i currently own the above cadillac vehicle which i purchased privately in august 2010 with less than 40 000...	5 ~ 40482 miles
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL traveling 65mph on a freeway my cadillac xlr suddenly was uncontrollable it then started to spin was hit b a...	5 ~ 44197 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER dt*: the contact stated the electric windows slid up and down on their own. this continuously occurred but the service...	4 ~ 50711 miles
SERVICE BRAKES while driving my 2005 cadillac xlr on the interstate highway at approximately 70 mph dry highway my car dipped to...	3 ~ 60000 miles
ROOF AND PILLARS > BODY > STRUCTURE tl* the contact owns a 2005 cadillac xlr. while driving 35 mph the roof panel detached from the vehicle without...	2 ~ 122000 miles
AIR BAGS vehicle displayed warning indicator in dash that air bags were not armed when vehicle was moving. vehicle was taken to...	2 ~ 52222 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL tl* the contact owns a 2004 cadillac xlr. the contact stated that the steering wheel would emit an abnormal noise...	2 ~ 81600 miles
STEERING while driving my 2005 cadillac xlr on the interstate highway at approximately 70 mph dry highway my car dipped to...	2 ~ 81500 miles
STRUCTURE pre-litigation statement for settlement & compromise purposes only pursuant to nrs**cc as the consumer was attempting to exit her driveway...	2
WINDSHIELD > VISIBILITY tl* the contact owns a 2005 cadillac xlr. while driving more than 40 mph the contact heard a loud noise...	1 ~ 144000 miles
ENGINE engine quits during normal driving this condition occurs intermittently. after pulling over and shifting into "park" engine will restart normally....	1
HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING tl* the contact owns a 2004 cadillac xlr. while the vehicle was being pulled into the garage the contact noticed...	1 ~ 42000 miles
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE 2006 cadillac xlr roadster. consumer writes in regards to defective electric door release buttons. ld tr...	1
WHEELS i replaced my front hubs on 12/29/2015 and less then 4 months later they needed replacing again. is their a	1 ~ 108000 miles
VISIBILITY/WIPER tl* the contact owns a 2004 cadillac xlr. the contact stated that the headlight lenses became frosted and caused the...	1 ~ 47000 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl* the contact owns a 2005 cadillac xlr. the contact noticed that the vehicle had been running for several hours...	1 ~ 40000 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC i have a 2004 cadillac xlr that has the exact same problem as the 2005-2009 corvettes have. the service stabilitrak...	1 ~ 26000 miles
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES traveling 65mph on a freeway my cadillac xlr suddenly was uncontrollable it then started to spin was hit b a...	1 ~ 19786 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC tl*the contact owns a 2004 cadillac xlr. while driving 5 mph the vehicle accelerated on its own to approximately 55...	1 ~ 10500 miles
TURN SIGNAL > EXTERIOR LIGHTING drl turn signal parking lamp failure. recall reported to dealer by me in july 2006. i was told after some...	1
POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS > VISIBILITY dt*: the contact stated the electric windows slid up and down on their own. this continuously occurred but the service...	1
HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM > STEERING dt*: the contact stated the electric windows slid up and down on their own. this continuously occurred but the service...	1
RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT dt*: the contact stated the electric windows slid up and down on their own. this continuously occurred but the service...	1
CRUISE CONTROL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL dt*: the contact stated the electric windows slid up and down on their own. this continuously occurred but the service...	1
LOCK > TRUNK LID > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES dt*: the contact stated the electric windows slid up and down on their own. this continuously occurred but the service...	1
TIRES fax request assistance with gmac company refuses to buy back defective vehicle *cc. the vehicle is equipped with run flat...	1
SEATS driver's side power seat is unstable on track and moves back and forth during acceleration and/or braking. this is an...	1 ~ 50 miles
POWER ADJUST > FRONT ASSEMBLY > SEATS driver's side power seat is unstable on track and moves back and forth during acceleration and/or braking. this is an...	1 ~ 50 miles
SIDEWALL > TIRES i have a 2004 cadillac xlr with 8031 miles. the car has michelin pilot zeropressure tires. the sidewalls bubble when...	1
TANK ASSEMBLY > STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE the car started emitting gasoline fumes throughout the garage and house. the dealer removed the gasoline tank and discovered a	1 ~ 779 miles

FAQ

What year Cadillac XLR is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 6 years, Cadillac XLR models of 2009, 2007, 2008 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for Cadillac XLR?

Cadillac XLR models of 2004 and 2005 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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