The Lemon Index
2005Complaints only. Too few sold to score: 9,484 in the U.S. in 2004 (sales source), under the 20,000 a fair per-car score needs. Owners filed 5 complaints in its first 3 years.
5 owner complaints, first 3 years — combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2004 Volvo S402004 Jaguar X-Type 1802004 Acura TL 136
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
When problems show up
No complaints for this year listed a mileage, so we can't say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Do all the headlights, taillights and turn signals work?
- Is the airbag light off, and were any airbag recalls done?
- Any oil burning, leaks or check-engine lights? Ask for oil-change records.
- Cadillac sent dealers 106 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Engine oil leak from front of vehicle”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Cadillac's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 5 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
Problems Cadillac told dealers about
Cadillac sent dealers 106 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Engine oil leak from front of vehicle
- Buick/cadillac/chevrolet/gmc/pontiac/saturn: there may be an intermittent engine hesitation or…
- This informational bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing…
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 0
No safety recalls on record.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Every Cadillac STS year. 2004 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average or too few complaints to score. #1, #2… = that year's YouTube rank among the 5 Cadillac STS years with enough videos (#1 = the year owners and reviewers talk about most positively). It is not a reliability rank.
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Put this chart on your site, blog or forum. Free, with the credit line built in; the 2004 bar is highlighted.
<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/cadillac-sts/?y=2004" title="Cadillac STS reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="261" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/cadillac-sts/2004/">Lemon Index</a> (2004 Cadillac STS reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2004 Cadillac STS reliable?
We can't score it: only 9,484 were sold in the U.S. in 2004 (calendar-year sales), under the 20,000 we need for a fair per-car score. Owners filed 5 complaints with NHTSA in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2004 Cadillac STS problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are lights (20%), airbags (20%) and engine (20%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2004 Cadillac STS have?
None: NHTSA has no safety recalls on record for it.
Does the 2004 Cadillac STS have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works