2004 Cadillac CTS: whining or grinding noise

Q: Is whining or grinding noise a common problem on the 2004 Cadillac CTS?

13 of 224 owner complaints about the 2004 Cadillac CTS (6%) mention whining or grinding noise. The model year with the most reports is 2005.

Q: Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2004 Cadillac CTS?

There are 0 recalls and 39 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

13 of the 224 complaints about the 2004 Cadillac CTS describe whining or grinding noise.

owner complaints: 13
of this car's complaints: 6%
typical mileage: 18,500
recalls: 0

Is there a fix? 39 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Whining or grinding noise by model year

2016
2
2015
2
2014
8
2009
1
2006
3
2005
18
2004
13
2003
6

What owners say

Filed Mar 2, 2010 · Steering · 70,000 miles · VA

Hello, I have heard reports of the gm recall for power steering in some vehicles. I just wanted to let you guys know you may want to check out cadillac's as well. I have a 04 cts that just recently started doing the exact same thing a few weeks ago. At low speeds the car is very hard to turn and when you turn the steering wheel right or left there is a whine sound. Looks like the power assist pump has gone out.

Filed Aug 27, 2008 · Transmission · 28,000 miles · IA

I have a 2004 cadillac cts 3.6l. I purchased the car with 28,000 mile on it and have noticed a whining and humming noise coming from the rear end. I brushed it off thinking it would not be anything. But then I did researched on it and noticed that there are numerous preliminary information bulletins the rear end problems. I have taken the car to the cadillac dealership about 6 times or more with complaints and they have heard the noise but tell me that it is normal gear rash noise yeah right!!. Here is a list of pi's take to ur dealership november 24, 2004 - pip3140 - abnormal noise and vibration while driving - kw accessory aftermarket axle buzz case growl groan howl moan prop rattle resonance shaft transmission whine body boom part modification no oem pip3051pi03-05 cadillac cts , cts-v and srx howl whine noise from rear axle - kw accelerate deceleratejuly 8, 2004 pip3140piabnormal noise and vibration while driving - kw accessory aftermarket axle buzz case growl groan howl moan prop rattle resonance shaft transmission whine body boom part modification no oemnovember 24, 2004 pip3152bpi 04-05 cadillac srx, cts, cts-v and 05 cadillac sts shudder or bind on low speed turns - kw differential groan growl moan noise rear slow vibration december 7, 2004 pip3152fpishudder or bind on low speed turns - keywords axle differential groan growl moan noise rear slow vibrationoctober 28, 2005 pip3051bpihowl whine noise from rear axle - keywords accelerate decelerate september 13, 2005 pip3051apihowl whine noise from rear axle - keywords accelerate decelerate may 20, 2005 pip3152epishudder of bind on low speed turns - keywords axle differential groan growl moan noise rear slow vibrationapril 26, 2005 they have extend a "rear end warranty to me for additional 3yrs". Check into this as it will save a lot of money when it does go out as we know it will http://reardiff.jon04ctsv.com/ <--- check this site out

Filed Feb 4, 2007 · Transmission · 11,234 miles · CA

2004 cadillac cts-v rear differential leak\noise. Howling differential replaced 2005. New one now leaks and whines.

Filed May 9, 2006 · Transmission · 41,000 miles · OH

The events leading up to this failure were daily normal driving. For the second time in two years, the rear end of my car began to exhibit a whining sound when accelerating in 4th gear, and the sound became progressively louder. The differential on my car was replaced under warranty.

Filed May 9, 2006 · Transmission · 14,500 miles · CO

The rear differential in my 2004 cadillac cts-v had been whining and grinding for about 5500 miles (starting when the car had 9000 miles on it). The differential fluid had been changed three (3) times in 4000 miles and the problem was not solved. Finally, took the car to the dealership with 14500 miles and cadillac agreed to change replace the differential with the 2006 part.

Filed May 2, 2006 · Transmission · 47,000 miles · OH

Premature rear differential failure. Apx 5000 miles prior to failure the differential began to whine and during turns, the differential would grind horribly.

Filed Apr 13, 2006 · Transmission · 18,500 miles · VA

I just purchased this vehicle and noticed a whine in the rear. Took it in to lindsay cadillac (great dealership) and they are now replacing the bearings. I hear this is a common problem with cts-v's and I'm worried about what will happen when the warranty ends....

Filed Feb 12, 2006 · Transmission · 21,654 miles · NV

Differential gear whine-crack in carrier. Carrier assembly replaced by dealer. 43 days in service department.

Filed Feb 6, 2006 · Transmission · 1,000 miles · CA

Rear differential whines.

Filed Feb 5, 2006 · Transmission · 3,220 miles · MD

I purchased the car new on 1/08/05. The car started to make a howling noise after several thousand miles, gm tech's indicated that it was coming from the rear differential. The original rear differential was replaced at 3220 (7/1/05) miles due to internal failure of differential assembly. The howling noise occurred again at 5.565 ( 12/08/05) miles. Again, the rear differential was replaced and the repair order noted that it was also leaking differential fluid. I contacted several other owners of the same type of car and they have the exact same problem. I'm concerned that this is a re-occurring problem due to a under rated differential.

Filed Feb 5, 2006 · Suspension, Transmission · OH

I own a 2004 cadillac cts-v. After owning the vehicle for a few months, with approximately 6,000 miles on the car, I began to experience an extreme whining noise from the rear-end of the car. I took the car to the dealership and they said the noise was normal for my vehicle. I continued driving the vehicle and about 5 weeks ago I took my car in for excessive noise coming from the rear of my car. The dealership found that the rear differential unit had excessive play and needed to be replaced under warranty. This concerned me so I did some research. My research found that many, many cts-v owners are having the exact same problem and that my problem was in no way isolated. I also found that the differential unit used in the cts-v is underrated and is not designed to handle the power produced by the engine from the factory. I am concerned that a failure in the near future will cause serious injury to someone if no action is taken.

Filed Feb 5, 2006 · Transmission · 4,800 miles · NV

Two differential failures in the first year and under 10,000 miles of ownership. Currently on the 3rd differential and it is whining/leaking. Have read several reports of failed differential's causing substantial damage to the vehicle on cts/srx platform vehicles. Cadillac denies there is an issue. Dealership unwilling to accept the defect either.