The 2005 Cadillac Xlr has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 12,914 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 39 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the structure. Last updated July 5, 2026.
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.
Consequence
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.
Remedy
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, HYDRAULIC04V5250002004-11-035,225 affected
Defect
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.
Consequence
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…
Remedy
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…
Complaints by component
STRUCTURE:BODY
10
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
3
AIR BAGS
2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2
SERVICE BRAKES
2
STRUCTURE
2
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
Total complaints39
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“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…”
“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 ?”
“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 ?”
“Tl* the contact owns a 2005 cadillac xlr. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the sunroof detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to capital cadillac (2210 cobb pkwy se, smyrna, ga 30080) but was not diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE19001 Opened 2019-02-01 · closed 2019-12-12
Roof Skin Separation While Driving
On August 23rd, 2018 - the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a media inquiry pertaining to a motorist experiencing separation of the roof skin from their Cadillac XLR while driving.Based on the data in-hand at that time and a subsequent (December) consumer complaint, ODI opened PE19-001 on February 1,…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2005 Cadillac Xlr as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
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