YearToAvoid

2005 Cadillac SRX Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

42/100

#8 most-complained of 13 SRX years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2005 Cadillac SRX has 122 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 42 out of 100 — #8 highest of 13 SRX model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is engine (34 complaints, 28% of the total). Complaints report 10 crashes, 4 fires, and 22 injuries.

Complaints
122
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
10 / 4
Injuries / deaths
22 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
16.5
14 city / 20 hwy

Top 2005 Cadillac SRX problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine34 (28%)
  2. Brakes25 (20%)
  3. Electrical System24 (20%)
  4. Steering17 (14%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires14 (11%)
  6. Other13 (11%)
  7. Airbags7 (6%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain7 (6%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers7 (6%)
  10. Structure & Body6 (5%)
2005 Cadillac SRX complaints: complaints filed per quarter82004 Q32006 Q42010 Q22012 Q12014 Q12016 Q12018 Q22020 Q3
157 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2004 Q3 to 2026 Q1; peak 2011 Q4 (8).

2005 Cadillac SRX recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 14V394000Jul 2, 2014Electrical System554,328 vehicles

    Electrical system:ignition

    This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 2, 2014 that they are recalling 554,328 model year 2003-2014 Cadillac CTS vehicles manufactured August 16, 2001, to April 28, 2014, and 2004-2006 Cadillac SRX vehicles manufactured March 20, 2003, to August 11, 2006. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

    Risk: If the key is not in the run position, the air bags may not deploy if the vehicle is involved in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install two key rings and an insert in the key slot or a cover over the key head on all ignition keys, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14172.

  2. NHTSA 07V589000Dec 20, 2007Transmission & Powertrain275,936 vehicles

    Power train:axle assembly:axle shaft:seal

    On certain passenger vehicles, the rear axle pinion seal does not meet all of the specifications and may experience a fluid leak.

    Risk: A rear differential failure may cause loss of motive power and possibly loss of control increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the pinion seal free of charge. The recall began on february 1, 2008. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-800-458-8006 or http://www.cadillac.com; pontiac at 1-800-620-7668 or http://www.pontiac.com; and saturn at 1-800-972-8876 or http://www.saturn.com.

  3. NHTSA 06V125000Apr 20, 2006Suspension, Wheels & Tires23,077 vehicles

    Suspension:rear

    Certain vehicles have a left or right rear suspension toe link that could separate because of an incorrect weld.

    Risk: If this were to occur, the affected rear wheel would be able to turn in or out, affecting vehicle control, which could result in a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the right and left toe link and replace as required. If a toe link is replaced, the dealer will perform a wheel alignment. The recall began on may 3, 2006. Owners may contact cadillac at 1-866-982-2339.

2005 Cadillac SRX fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
20 MPG
Combined
16.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,400
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2005 compared with other SRX years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’19
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2005Good42122316.5
2006Good2568316
2007Best1752116.5

All Cadillac SRX years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2005 Cadillac SRX a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2005 Cadillac SRX ranks #8 of 13 among SRX model years (Complaint Index 42/100, verdict: Good). It has 122 complaints and 3 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Cadillac SRX?
The most reported problem areas are engine (34 complaints), brakes (25 complaints), and electrical system (24 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 75,000 miles.
Does the 2005 Cadillac SRX have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2005 Cadillac SRX, most recently reported 2014, covering electrical system, transmission & powertrain, and suspension, wheels & tires.
What is the fuel economy of the 2005 Cadillac SRX?
EPA rates the 2005 Cadillac SRX at 16.5 MPG combined (14 city / 20 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,400. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.