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Cadillac XLR VIN Check

NHTSA holds 76 owner complaints on the Cadillac XLR from 32 production runs; the worst run has 6, the typical one 2.4.

NHTSA complaint records · 76 complaints · 32 runs · 2004–2009 · Updated Nov 4, 2026
Quick answer

The most-reported XLR run is 1G6YV34A845 (2004 builds) with 6 complaints, 2.5× the typical run. Structure problems make up 33% of reports; 2005 is the worst model year at 3.5 complaints per run; NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for XLR model years 2004–2009.

Which build runs owners report most

A production run is the first 11 characters of the VIN: plant, model year, body and engine. The Cadillac XLR has 32 of them on record. The five runs at the top of this table hold 34% of every XLR complaint on file.

FIG.01·Cadillac XLR — complaints by production run
Production run (VIN 1–11)YearComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
1G6YV34A845••••••200461—
1G6YV34A255••••••20055——
1G6YV34A745••••••20045——
1G6YV34A955••••••20055——
1G6YV34A245••••••20045——
1G6YV34AX55••••••20055——
1G6YV34A145••••••20044——
1G6YV34A655••••••20054——
1G6YV34AX45••••••20043——
1G6YV34A445••••••20043——
1G6YV34A455••••••20053——
1G6YV34A545••••••20042——
ROWS 12·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records, grouped by VIN prefix

Each of the other 20 XLR runs has 2 complaints or fewer. ForCar has checked 19 XLR VINs so far, most often 2006, 2008, 2005 builds; 1 of them belong to one of the 12 runs above.

Which model years to check twice

Complaints per production run, so a year that simply sold more does not top the list. On the Cadillac XLR the gap between build years is 3.5×: a 2005 car draws 3.5 complaints per run, a 2008 one 1.

FIG.02·Cadillac XLR — complaint rate by model year
YearPer runComplaintsRunsCrashes
20081331
20061.397—
20053.5288—
2004333112
ROWS 4·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Heaviest year here is 2005 at 3.5 complaints per run; lightest is 2008 at 1.

What to inspect on this car

One system accounts for 33% of everything Cadillac XLR owners report: Structure, 25 of 76 complaints. Start the pre-purchase inspection there.

FIG.03·Cadillac XLR — most-reported systems
SystemComplaintsInvolved a crashFire
Structure25—1
Fuel System8——
Gasoline8——
Electrical System821
Exterior Lighting8——
Power Train7——
Service Brakes62—
Fuel/propulsion System6——
ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Recalls to check against your VIN

NHTSA has 5 recall campaigns on the Cadillac XLR; the 5 below cover build years 2004 to 2009. These are for the model and year; whether one is still open on a given car, only that VIN can tell.

FIG.04·Cadillac XLR — recall campaigns
CampaignComponentModel years
11E009000Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump2004–2009
04V525000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings2004–2005
06V263000Exterior Lighting:turn Signal2004–2005
05V046000Vehicle Speed Control:accelerator Pedal2004
04V273000Steering:linkages2004
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA recall campaigns

The XLR against its rivals

The XLR draws 2.4 complaints per production run; the Nissan 350Z 3. That is the lowest rate of the 2.

FIG.05·Cadillac XLR VIN check vs rivals
ModelComplaintsRunsPer runInvolved a crash
Cadillac XLR76322.43.9%
Nissan 350Z50217034.6%
ROWS 2·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

How serious were they

Of the 76 reports on the Cadillac XLR, 3.9% involved a crash against 5.8% across all vehicles, below the norm.

FIG.06·Cadillac XLR — complaint severity
OutcomeCadillac XLRAll vehicles
Complaints filed761,115,966
Involved a crash3 (3.9%)64,194 (5.8%)
Involved a fire1 (1.3%)26,974 (2.4%)
Injuries reported058,013
Deaths reported02,728
ROWS 5·SOURCE NHTSA complaint records

Crash-related reports run 33% below the all-vehicle rate.

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How this check works

The file behind this page holds 1,115,966 complaints filed with NHTSA between 1981 and 2026, across 298,921 production runs. The Cadillac XLR share of that is 76 complaints over 32 runs, 0.01% of everything on record.

Everything on the Cadillac XLR
Recalls12 campaignsFuel economy18 mpg bestReliability4.0/5Common problems79 complaintsDimensionsSize, weight, generationsUsed prices62 listingsWhat yours is worthValue by year & mileageInsurance costEstimated per yearWindow stickerOriginal Monroney labelDecode a VINWhat each character meansAbout this car2003–2009

Frequently asked questions

How do I check a Cadillac XLR VIN for free?

Enter the 17 characters above. ForCar matches the first eleven, the production run, against 76 NHTSA complaints from 32 XLR runs and 5 recall campaigns. No account, no card.

Which XLR production run has the most complaints?

1G6YV34A845, a 2004 build, with 6 complaints, 1 of them after a crash. The typical XLR run has 2.4.

Which XLR years have the most complaints?

Per production run, 2005 is heaviest at 3.5 complaints per run and 2008 lightest at 1.

Does the XLR get more complaints than the Nissan 350Z?

No: 2.4 complaints per production run for the XLR against 3 for the Nissan 350Z.

How many XLR complaints involve a crash?

3.9% of 76 reports, against 5.8% across all vehicles; 1 involved a fire.

Complaint and recall records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Per-run rates computed by ForCar. Federal data covers safety only — title, odometer and insurance history are not included. Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.
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